Mental & Emotional Health – Page 7

Our Thoughts About Our Experiences Can Have Physical Consequences

Our own unique experiences shape how we view the world and respond to the events in our lives. But experience is highly subjective. What’s distressing or joyful to one person may be very different to another. These differences can matter, especially as a growing body of research shows that what happens in our inner landscapes… Continue reading Our Thoughts About Our Experiences Can Have Physical Consequences

A Majority of Middle-Aged People Show a High Level of Mental Well-Being

A February 2018 study has found a surprisingly high level of mental well-being among middle-aged individuals. The study, done at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, examined multiple dimensions of mental well-being, including satisfaction with life and psychological and social well-being. Psychological well-being refers to an individual’s sense of having a purpose in life and… Continue reading A Majority of Middle-Aged People Show a High Level of Mental Well-Being

Researchers Find That Grape-Derived Compounds May Promote Resilience Against Depression

In a study published online February 2nd 2018 in Nature Communications, scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describe an extensive analysis of novel grape-derived compounds, dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) and malvidin-3′-O-glucoside (Mal-gluc),which might be developed as therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression. The study results indicate that these natural compounds may… Continue reading Researchers Find That Grape-Derived Compounds May Promote Resilience Against Depression

Wisdom at the End of Life

Wisdom is typically considered to be the fruit of a long life, the accumulation of experiences lived and lessons learned. In recent years, scientists have created a consensus definition of wisdom as a complex trait with several inter-related components, such as compassion, emotional regulation, spirituality and tolerance. For a paper published January 24th 2018 in… Continue reading Wisdom at the End of Life

6 Ways to Breathe Easier and Reduce Stress

People have called me “the breath guy” or “Dr. Calm” for a few years now. If only they knew the truth: I’ve long-struggled with mind-wandering, chronic worry and ups-and-downs throughout most of my adult life. That’s part of why I started the Calming Technology Lab at Stanford University, where we focused our research on using… Continue reading 6 Ways to Breathe Easier and Reduce Stress

Are You Positive? Try Writing from A New Perspective

Dozens of studies have shown that writing, in the form of journaling, is beneficial for both physical and emotional wellbeing. But often, being told to journal simply isn’t enough – your journal fills with repetitive complaints, and although a certain amount of “dumping” is healthy, it can begin to feel like a job instead of… Continue reading Are You Positive? Try Writing from A New Perspective

Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome May Be More Resistant to Depression Treatments

Researchers suspect that having Metabolic Syndrome makes it harder for older adults to respond to therapies for depression. (Metabolic Syndrome is a mix of conditions like increased blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels). In a new, first of its kind study, published in January 2018… Continue reading Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome May Be More Resistant to Depression Treatments

Here’s How Stress May Be Making You Sick

A Michigan State University researcher is providing new insight into how certain types of stress interact with immune cells and can regulate how these cells respond to allergens, ultimately causing physical symptoms and disease. The federally funded study, published in January 2018 in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, showed how a stress receptor, known as… Continue reading Here’s How Stress May Be Making You Sick

10 Ways to Micro-Meditate (No Sitting Still Required)

Meditation, the act of practicing awareness of one’s thoughts, body, and surroundings, has an incredibly long list of mental and physical health benefits. In fact–just ten minutes of meditation each day can help protect against heart attacks, depression, and insomnia among other conditions. And yet, if meditation truly has as many benefits as it is… Continue reading 10 Ways to Micro-Meditate (No Sitting Still Required)

What Happy Looks Like in 2018

January is the saddest month of the year, and that’s not just an old wives’ tale. Despite the promise of a new year, records show that symptoms of depression and related mental illnesses like seasonal affective disorder spike during the month much in thanks to short days, cold temps, and holiday hangovers. But January isn’t… Continue reading What Happy Looks Like in 2018

Do You Really Need the New Year to Make Resolutions?

It’s that time of the year again when most people make resolutions for the New Year. Lose weight. Organize closets. Clean out the attic. Stick to a budget. Sounds familiar? Now think about this for a second. If you really, really want to do any of this, why wait for a particular day on the calendar to… Continue reading Do You Really Need the New Year to Make Resolutions?

How to Make New Year’s Resolutions and Make Them Stick

Every year we begin a new year resolving to do (or quit doing) something and expect to be the game changer in our lives. For some it’s to workout, lose weight, cut out all carbs and sweets. For others, it’s a promise to save more money and get finances on track. Regardless of what you… Continue reading How to Make New Year’s Resolutions and Make Them Stick

Tips to Find Happiness at Any Age

The New Year is a wonderful time to not only evaluate your past, but explore your goals for the year ahead. While it is common that health and fitness resolutions land at the top of people’s list, the truth is that achieving any goal in 2018 is dependent upon good health, especially as we age.… Continue reading Tips to Find Happiness at Any Age

Don’t Mix Business With Pleasure

In working life it’s now almost expected that employees answer work-related emails after hours, or take their laptops with them on vacations. But the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life can affect people’s sense of well-being and lead to exhaustion. This is according to Ariane Wepfer of the University of Zurich in Switzerland… Continue reading Don’t Mix Business With Pleasure

Researchers Find Common Psychological Traits in People Aged 90 to 101

In remote Italian villages nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and mountains lives a group of several hundred citizens over the age of 90. Researchers at the University of Rome La Sapienza and University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified common psychological traits in members of this group. The study, published in December… Continue reading Researchers Find Common Psychological Traits in People Aged 90 to 101

5 Kinds of People Most Likely to Get the Holiday Blues

With the holidays upon us, it’s easy for us to get caught up in the rush of it all. While we may be cooking, shopping, enjoying holiday events there are others, many of whom are in our very own circles, having a tougher time. Here are the people who are most likely to have the… Continue reading 5 Kinds of People Most Likely to Get the Holiday Blues

The Unexpected Force Driving Medical Marijuana Legalization in the USA

When you envision the movement to legalize marijuana, what do you see? Is it a band of hippies or college students? Free spirits of the American West with long hair and peace symbol bumper stickers? If so, you aren’t alone in your thinking. Though public perception of marijuana and marijuana users has shifted with the… Continue reading The Unexpected Force Driving Medical Marijuana Legalization in the USA