Mental & Emotional Health – Page 20

Can Meditation Cure Cravings for Painkillers?

People who are addicted to prescription painkillers can reduce cravings by learning to enjoy other parts of their life, according to a new study. The research, published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, was conducted by Eric L. Garland, associate professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work. He and his colleagues looked… Continue reading Can Meditation Cure Cravings for Painkillers?

Why Are the Holidays So Hard and How Can You Get Through Them?  

We’re supposed to be excited for the holidays. But if you’re like many people, you may  find yourself dreading the upcoming season. Here, Graeme Cowan examines why so  many of us feel unhappy, stressed, and depressed during the holidays—and offers  strategies to help you get through them with your well-being intact. With its sparkly decorations,… Continue reading Why Are the Holidays So Hard and How Can You Get Through Them?  

Aging and Depression: Are You at Risk?

The link between aging and depression is no secret nowadays. The problem can affect virtually any person, for any number of reasons and in even more ways. That why when it comes to mental health and aging well, it’s critical to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments for depression so that you can develop… Continue reading Aging and Depression: Are You at Risk?

Biological Causes of Mental Illness Decrease Docs’ Empathy

Give therapists and psychiatrists information about the biology of a mental disorder, and they have less — not more — empathy for the patient, according to a study done at Yale and published in Decemberr 2014 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A release from the university written by Bill Hathaway notes… Continue reading Biological Causes of Mental Illness Decrease Docs’ Empathy

Early to Bed = Greater Happiness

Researchers Jacob Nota and Meredith Coles of Binghamton University in New York have linked late evenings to repetitive negative thoughts. The study, published in December 2014 in “Cognitive Therapy and Research”, found that burning the midnight oil and sleeping only a few hours each night may make it difficult for you to stop worrying. A… Continue reading Early to Bed = Greater Happiness

The Brain and “Social Pain”

When it comes to physical vs. emotional pain, the brain seems to have a separate area to process each, new research shows. Until now, experts have believed that the different kinds of pain went through the same circuits. But investigators from the University of Colorado Boulder have demonstrated that the two kinds of pain are… Continue reading The Brain and “Social Pain”

The Best Gift of All

Editor’s note: In the middle of the holiday season – a season of gift-giving that can be expensive, stressful and unproductive – Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of the multimillion-copy bestseller Love, Medicine & Miracles, reminds us that the greatest gift we can give – and get – costs nothing but means everything. Here, an exceprt from… Continue reading The Best Gift of All

6 Tips for Improving Your “Lines of Gratification”

Now that we are in the year’s final quarter, Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio, a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, says it’s never too early to think about self-improvement for the New Year … and this year. “Habitual procrastination can really hurt you in the long run because waiting to take care of something that’s obviously important to… Continue reading 6 Tips for Improving Your “Lines of Gratification”

Why “I’m So Happy I Could Cry” Makes Sense

The phrase “tears of joy” never made much sense to Yale psychologist Oriana Aragon. But after conducting a series of studies of such seemingly incongruous expressions, she now understands better why people cry when they are happy. The results will be published in the journal Psychological Science A release from the university written by Bill… Continue reading Why “I’m So Happy I Could Cry” Makes Sense

The Brain’s Dilemma: Fear or Reward?

When it comes to learning tricky tasks, it seems we’re motivated more by avoiding punishment than by getting a reward. The discovery indicates that circuits in the frontal cortex of the brain, which calculate the degree of conflict, effort and difficulty of actions, are connected with another part of the brain that govern perceptions of… Continue reading The Brain’s Dilemma: Fear or Reward?

Walking During Work Helps Your Body and Your Mind

“Walking workstations,” or desks that are attached to a treadmill, can improve mental as well as physical health during the workday, according to a new study. Researchers from the Department of Psychology in the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) said they hoped the research would help employers look at ways to… Continue reading Walking During Work Helps Your Body and Your Mind

5 Top Tips on Regrouping Your Psyche

Let’s be sure to give time to our mental health this fall! There are times in all our lives that we all need a little mental rejuvenation. I myself am constantly searching for different ways to stay focused and centered in this ever-fast paced crazy world. Here are 5 of my top tips on how… Continue reading 5 Top Tips on Regrouping Your Psyche

Happy Walking Could Help with Depression

Want to improve your mood? It can help to walk as if you’re happy, according to new research. A study from Canadian researchers showed that people who were prompted to walk in a slump-shouldered style experienced worse moods than those who were prompted to walk in a happier, bouncing style. Nikolaus Troje, of Queen’s University,… Continue reading Happy Walking Could Help with Depression

Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend

Helping someone with depression can be a challenge. If someone in your life has depression, you may feel helpless and wonder what to do. Learn how to offer support and understanding and how to help your loved one get the resources to cope with depression. Here’s what you can do. Learn The Signs and Symptoms… Continue reading Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend

Nature Group Walks Improve Mental Health

Group nature walks are linked with significantly lower depression, less perceived stress, and enhanced mental health and well-being, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan with partners from De Montfort University, James Hutton Institute, and Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom. The findings appear in September 2014 ina special issue of… Continue reading Nature Group Walks Improve Mental Health

Raising Awareness About Suicide Is Key to Prevention

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. As it comes to a close in 2014, Mark Kaplan of the University of California, Los Angeles Luskin School of Public Affairs reflects on his two decades of studying suicide. Kaplan collaborated with a colleague at the University of Illinois on a study in the mid-1980s that was the… Continue reading Raising Awareness About Suicide Is Key to Prevention

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Recovery at Midlife: If Not Now, When?

September is not just the month school starts again. It is the 25th Annual National Recovery Month. The mission is to publicize the societal benefits of treatment, prevention, and of course recovery for mental health conditions and substance abuse issues. During this month of new beginnings, thousands of programs and services nationwide celebrate their success… Continue reading Substance Abuse and Mental Health Recovery at Midlife: If Not Now, When?