Meditation has immeasurable benefits – decreasing stress, improving well-being, reducing cardiovascular disease, and so on. The society we live in seems so fast-paced sometimes that the idea of sitting down to meditate for 15-30 minutes a day seems out of reach. Ironically, many of the other things that keep us so busy that we can’t …Read More
Relaxation Techniques
Aug 22, 2010
Practicing a few simple relaxation techniques can help ease stress, anxiety, and even chronic pain. In our busy everyday lives, it may be difficult to make relaxation a priority; however, in just a few minutes, you can: Lower your blood pressure Reduce your heart rate Increase blood flow Decrease muscle tension Improve concentration Reduce frustration …Read More
Laughter is Good For Us, But Best If Shared
Aug 1, 2010
Research has shown that laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, increases the levels of beneficial hormones such as endorphins, can break up negative cycles of thinking, broaden our perspective, and enhance social connectedness. In fact, much of laughter’s benefits might come through (or be significantly enhanced by) the improved social connections …Read More
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Jul 28, 2010
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe form of anxiety where you have distressing thoughts or fears that lead to repetitive behavior. Usually, people with OCD realize that these obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable but are unable to stop them. Symptoms of OCD typically revolve around certain themes. One example could be feeling afraid of being contaminated by …Read More
Depression and Chronic Pain
Apr 29, 2010
Depression and body aches or pain often go together. Depression is actually one of the most common psychological issues that people with chronic pain must endure. While some people have a painful medical condition that eventually brings their mood down, others experience feelings of depression that may create bodily pain. Either way, depression and chronic …Read More
Depression and the Economy
Jan 31, 2010
Major depression affects approximately 15 million American adults each year. The current economic crisis may contribute to this statistic and may actually increase the amount of people struggling with depression. A recent national survey by Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Depression is Real Coalition have found that people who are …Read More
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn (audiobook recommendation)
Jan 23, 2010
I’ve read and listened to a number of books and presentations by Jon Kabat-Zinn. He earned a Ph.D. from MIT in molecular biology in 1971. He is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical …Read More
Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Recess?
Jan 18, 2010
In my last blog, I highlighted that importance of play for decreasing childhood stress. I recently reviewed an article titled “Playtime in Peril” by Lean Winerman (published in the September 2009 edition of the Monitor, a publication of the American Psychological Association). As greater and greater emphasis has been placed on high stakes testing, school …Read More
Coping with Childhood Stress
Jan 10, 2010
According to an article entitled The Kids Aren’t All Right, published in the January edition of the Monitor on Psychology (a publication of the American Psychological Association), a significant number of children ages 8 to 17 experience significant stress. Specifically, in a recent survey, 44 percent of children reported sleep difficulties related to worrying, over …Read More
To Do…or To Do Tomorrow
Jan 5, 2010
Most people, myself included, have procrastinated about something at one point or another. Depending on the scope of the project, the result of procrastination can be relatively minor to producing significant anxiety symptoms. If procrastination generally leads to negative outcomes, how come the vast majority of us continue to engage in this behavior? I recently …Read More