Mental & Emotional Health – Page 19

The Power of Writing Down What You Want

What do you really want? With our busy lives and the stress of working, making a living, caring for others, and getting older, some people feel like they’ve totally lost control of their mind and body. They operate entirely at other people’s bidding. Many feel like they’ve hit a brick wall trying to change their… Continue reading The Power of Writing Down What You Want

Facebook Envy May Cause Depression

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have found that Facebook use can lead to symptoms of depression if the social networking site triggers feelings of envy among its users. Margaret Duffy, a professor and chair of strategic communication at the MU School of Journalism, says that how Facebook users use the site makes a difference… Continue reading Facebook Envy May Cause Depression

The Most Important Relationship in Your Life

By Terry Barnett-Martin, LMFT The most important relationship of your life is the one you have with yourself. When you were born, you were already perfectly you, ready to unfold. To the extent that you were encouraged to be you and not just the reflection of those around you, you came to know and love… Continue reading The Most Important Relationship in Your Life

How to Slow Down Your Life and  Enjoy the Ride

It’s finally Friday night, the beginning of a weekend of freedom, which also happens to include your birthday. Your family, friends, and spouse all have celebratory plans for you. You have a rewarding career and a network of beautiful people who want to rejoice in your life. As you walk out to your car to… Continue reading How to Slow Down Your Life and  Enjoy the Ride

Male/Female Differences: Not as Big as You Think

Although conventional wisdom says men and women are very different – men are stoic, women are emotional, for example – a new study indicates that the two genders are much more alike than commonly believed. Zlatan Krizan, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University, and colleagues conducted a synthesis of more than 100… Continue reading Male/Female Differences: Not as Big as You Think

“Selfie” Videos for Mental Health Monitoring

Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York have developed an innovative approach to turn any computer or smartphone with a camera into a personal mental health monitoring device. In a paper to be presented in January 2015 at the American Association for Artificial Intelligence conference in Austin, Texas, Professor of Computer Science Jiebo… Continue reading “Selfie” Videos for Mental Health Monitoring

Using Food to Beat Winter Blues

This article originally appeared on Demos Health. Depression during winter, or the so-called “winter blues”, can affect anyone at any age. The lack of consistent sunlight and vitamin D, plus the long stretches of cold, rainy or snowy days can leave a body worn down. Unfortunately this also leaves many of us prone to constant… Continue reading Using Food to Beat Winter Blues

A New Clue to Anxiety

Researchers have discovered a new pathway in the brain that controls “fear memories and behavior” – and that may be good news for the nearly 40 million adults who suffer from anxiety disorder. Scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory had already discovered that “fear learning and memory are orchestrated by neurons in the central amygdala,”… Continue reading A New Clue to Anxiety

All Family Members of the Mentally Ill Need Help

Listening to older sisters of mentally ill siblings discuss their mothers’ difficult caregiving experiences made Case Western Reserve University co-investigator M. Jane Suresky wonder if something important about families was missed in a prior study that focused on women caregivers of mentally ill family members. A release from the university explains that to find out,… Continue reading All Family Members of the Mentally Ill Need Help

What’s Holding You Back?

by Terry Barnett-Martin If you knew that you would be successful if you took a chance and ventured out, would you do it? How about if you knew that you’d learn something important even if you it didn’t work out the way you’d planned? Would you try anyway? It takes a certain courage, which all… Continue reading What’s Holding You Back?

Curvy Women Happier When Told That Men Desire Their Body Type

Women who are told that men desire larger-body women who aren’t model-thin are happier with their weight, according to a series of studies published online in January 2015 in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Results of three independent studies suggest a woman’s body image is strongly linked to her perception of what she… Continue reading Curvy Women Happier When Told That Men Desire Their Body Type

Warning Signs of Potential Suicide

Suicide causes immeasurable pain, suffering, and loss to individuals, families, and communities nationwide. On average, 100 Americans die by suicide each day. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds and more than 8 million adults in the United States had serious thoughts of suicide within the past 12… Continue reading Warning Signs of Potential Suicide

A New Insight into Schizophrenia?

Researchers have identified a specific brain circuit that provides insight into how we filter out distractions. The discovery, by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, has implications for understanding and treating severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Such disorders are characterized by substantial attention deficits. In their investigation, the researchers proved that a “neuronal skin”… Continue reading A New Insight into Schizophrenia?

12 Ways to Lift the Winter Blues

By Terry Barnett-Martin January is a time when the winter blues often set in and dampen the joy in our hearts. The winter brings cold weather and shorter daylight hours that can cause many of us to slow down and pull in. It is so important to listen to the wisdom of your body and… Continue reading 12 Ways to Lift the Winter Blues

4 Ways to Start Healing Your Life

Neglect. Abuse. Divorce. Addiction. These are just a few of the life experiences that can leave children emotionally bruised or worse, causing some to develop dysfunctional outlooks and behaviors that condemn them to perpetual self-victimization as adults. “We not only perpetuate, but also protect the obstacles that stand in the way of our healing and… Continue reading 4 Ways to Start Healing Your Life

How to Live Like Your Ego Is Not Your Amigo 

Human beings are capable of a rich inner life that, sadly, seems to elude so many, says dating and life coach Deborah Downey. “I doubt that most of us fully realize just how much worry, doubt and fear we experience on a daily basis; it seems to me that acknowledging this default setting and finding… Continue reading How to Live Like Your Ego Is Not Your Amigo 

Anxiety Drug Use Highest in Older Women

Prescription use of benzodiazepines–a widely used class of sedative and anti-anxiety medications–increases steadily with age, despite the known risks for older people, according to a comprehensive analysis of benzodiazepine prescribing in the United States. Popular brand are Valium and Xanax. Given existing guidelines cautioning health providers about benzodiazepine use among older adults, findings from the… Continue reading Anxiety Drug Use Highest in Older Women

Make 2015 The Year of You!

As a psychiatrist, I have the honor of being with people through the ups and downs of life’s journey. I bear witness to joy, fear, anger, and sorrow, and the ways in which we deal with these emotions. My patients often say to me, “I think what I need is to just stay busy. I… Continue reading Make 2015 The Year of You!