Mental & Emotional Health – Page 6

Over One-Third of US Adults May Be Unknowingly Using Multiple Medications That Can Cause Depression

A 2018 study done by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers and published on June 12th in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that more than one-third of U.S. adults may be using prescription medications that have the potential to cause depression or increase the risk of suicide, and that because these medications… Continue reading Over One-Third of US Adults May Be Unknowingly Using Multiple Medications That Can Cause Depression

Psychedelic Drugs Could Help to Fight Depression, Anxiety, Addiction + PTSD

Psychedelic drugs may have mind-altering powers in the physical sense, too. A study done at the University of California, Davis and published June 12th 2018 in the journal Cell Reports found psychedelics — specifically 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) –can change brain cells in rats and flies, making neurons more likely… Continue reading Psychedelic Drugs Could Help to Fight Depression, Anxiety, Addiction + PTSD

5 Ways to Break Free From Your Past & Embrace Your Future

I used to think I was the one with a past. You know, “a past.” A past that set me apart from everyone else and that had, pretty much, damaged me beyond hope. I was raised in a religious cult by one parent, while my other parent’s religion was sex, drugs, and rock and roll.… Continue reading 5 Ways to Break Free From Your Past & Embrace Your Future

Nail Biting, Skin Picking, Hair Pulling: More Than Just Bad Habits

Sometimes it can be hard to explain why we do the things we do. It is common to experience stress, anxiety or frustration in our lifetime, but what we do to cope with these things matters the most. There are times where you may catch yourself biting your nails, picking at your skin, or even… Continue reading Nail Biting, Skin Picking, Hair Pulling: More Than Just Bad Habits

When Mental Health Interferes with Dental Health

Oral health problems often are connected to other health concerns, such as diabetes and heart disease. But one additional challenge dentists face is when a patient’s mental health issues get in the way of caring for their oral health. It’s not unusual for people to be anxious about visiting the dentist, or to fail to… Continue reading When Mental Health Interferes with Dental Health

Stress Hormones Spike as The Temperature Rises

Summer, not winter, is when people are likely to have higher levels of circulating stress hormones, according to a new study. According to a news release from the American Physiological Society (APS), the non-intuitive findings contradict traditional concepts of the taxing physical toll of winter and the relaxed ease of summer. The findings were presented… Continue reading Stress Hormones Spike as The Temperature Rises

Aging Is a Natural Stress Reliever for Many Women

While some research suggests that midlife is a dissatisfying time for women, other studies show that women report feeling less stressed and enjoy a higher quality of life during this period. So, which is it? A 2018 University of Michigan study by Elizabeth Hedgeman, a doctoral graduate of the U-M School of Public Health, and… Continue reading Aging Is a Natural Stress Reliever for Many Women

5 Ways to Learn Fast and Retain More

The sooner you realize that learning never ends, the more willing you’ll be to expand, elevate in your profession, thrive in your life and even generate more income. Learning and studying can be difficult once we are long past our college years. For all the old dogs who might be reluctant to learning new tricks. Here are… Continue reading 5 Ways to Learn Fast and Retain More

When Three Months from Now Feels Like Right Around the Corner

If you’ve ever noticed yourself thinking about the timing of a plan in two opposing ways – something that feels longer off than your actual time calculation — you’re on to something. Research done at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management showed that our different ways of estimating time don’t necessarily move in… Continue reading When Three Months from Now Feels Like Right Around the Corner

Primary Care Doctors May Be Unsure Whether Kids’ Bad Moods Are Serious or Not

All children have moments of moodiness, but family medicine doctors and pediatricians may doubt their abilities to tell the difference between normal irritability and possibly bigger issues, according to Penn State researchers. A release from the university notes that when the researchers interviewed a group of health care providers, the team found that the primary… Continue reading Primary Care Doctors May Be Unsure Whether Kids’ Bad Moods Are Serious or Not

Do You Have the Jitters? Surprising Things That Could Be Causing Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental illness that disrupts daily life, causing feelings of impending doom along with unwanted thoughts and unpleasant physical symptoms. Some people are more predisposed to anxiety than others. Did you know that there are “external” factors and habits in our daily lives that can increase anxiety? Here are some surprising things that could be… Continue reading Do You Have the Jitters? Surprising Things That Could Be Causing Anxiety

Don’t Stop at Your Home. Spring Clean Your Spirit, Too!

Here are the four best places to tidy up your life and how to do it: Your relationships. Evaluate which relationships feel toxic (hint: you’ll feel either tired or agitated if you’re around toxic people); give yourself permission to have some space from these relationships and write out the types of relationships that you *do*… Continue reading Don’t Stop at Your Home. Spring Clean Your Spirit, Too!

3 Ways Stress Takes a Toll on Your Body

Did the latest challenge at work bring on a tightening in your stomach? Does constant worry about a loved one’s health make you physically ill yourself? Everyone at some point feels the effects of stress. Not everyone deals with stress in the best way, though. Often stressed-out people seek relief through alcohol, tobacco or drugs,… Continue reading 3 Ways Stress Takes a Toll on Your Body

High Anxiety: 5 Things That Set Us Off and What to Do

Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. It’s future thinking in a negative way. While it’s normal to have concerns from time to time, chronic anxiety leads to loss of appetite, insomnia, compromised immunity and other diseases. Here are five common anxiety triggers and offers insights and tips for… Continue reading High Anxiety: 5 Things That Set Us Off and What to Do

Recommit to Your Resolutions

We are well into 2018, but unfortunately most of us have already fallen off the wagon with our New Year’s Resolution goals. Remember those? It happens to the best of us, even when we have the best intentions. The good news is that it’s easier to get back on track than you think! Here is my… Continue reading Recommit to Your Resolutions

Why Self-Compassion is A Better Motivator than Self-Criticism

Many of us can be quite tough on ourselves, believing it is necessary to grow, improve, or simply execute our lengthy to-do lists. But research suggests that self-criticism can lead to lowered self-worth, anxiety, and depression. The good news is there is another way. Self-compassion, recognizing a difficult moment or situation, and treating yourself with… Continue reading Why Self-Compassion is A Better Motivator than Self-Criticism

When It Comes to Our Brains, There’s No Such Thing as Normal

Because we think of psychological disorders on a continuum, we may worry when our own ways of thinking and behaving don’t match up with our idealized notion of health. But some variability can be healthy and even adaptive, say researchers in a review published February 20th 2018 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, even though it… Continue reading When It Comes to Our Brains, There’s No Such Thing as Normal