Old article, good idea–volunteering in order to feel better. It’s generally understood that helping out others makes a person feel nice, but that experience goes beyond just the feel-good glow of altruism. Studies have found that helping others has tangible benefits, both mental and physical, from lowering your blood pressure to reducing feelings of depression. And research hasn’t […]
Volunteering & Mental Health Read More »
On dialing back from five hours of screen time a day (NYT): For two solid days, I basked in 19th-century leisure, feeling my nerves softening and my attention span stretching back out. I read books. I did the crossword puzzle. I lit a fire and looked at the stars. I felt like Thoreau, if Thoreau
Psychologist-slash-neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett challenges the idea that emotions are innate and universal. Instead, she has shown that emotion is constructed in the moment, by core systems that interact across the whole brain, aided by a lifetime of learning…This new theory means that you play a much greater role in your emotional life than you
How Are Emotions Made? Read More »
Put down the phone for a minute. Daydreaming may make your more socially adept (Scientific American). When our brains are not otherwise occupied, a network of neural regions called the default mode network automatically comes online. It enables us to turn our attention inward and daydream, but it also helps us to project out and
Tried Daydreaming? Read More »
Another day, another stressful election. And they’ll keep on coming. Here’s an NYT roundup of therapist advice about just how exactly to cope. [T]herapists report that many of their patients are even more upset as they struggle to make sense of the direction in which the country is heading. And many can’t tear themselves away
Therapists v. Post-Election Stress Read More »
The NYT illustrates some approaches to controlled breathing: Controlled breathing…has been shown to reduce stress, increase alertness and boost your immune system. For centuries yogis have used breath control, or pranayama, to promote concentration and improve vitality. Buddha advocated breath-meditation as a way to reach enlightenment. Science is just beginning to provide evidence that the
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NYT relays four “well-being workouts” from Dr. Martin Seligman. “Psychology is generally focused on how to relieve depression, anger and worry,” he said…“What makes life worth living,” he said, “is much more than the absence of the negative.” To Dr. Seligman, the most effective long-term strategy for happiness is to actively cultivate well-being. In his
Meaning v. Happiness Read More »
Here’s an oldie but not-baddie: the New Year’s Resolution worksheet I once-upon-a-time put together for residents at the 28-day crisis program where I used to work. It’s been posted here before, but…it’s a new year again, so here it is. Sometimes resolving to take on new, better behaviors just sets you up for disappointment. There’s some wisdom
With all the uncertainty following the November election, anxiety is spiking. Worry and fear can show up for different people in vastly different ways. Here’s an article that sums up some of the possibilities. If you’ve been anxious lately, something here is likely look familiar. Also, up top in the article, some simple suggestions: Make
Anxious in Los Angeles Read More »
From The Ringer—Digital Natives Struggle with Traditional Therapy. How to get help with anxiety or depression from a therapist who has never used a dating app?
Therapy’s Digital Disconnect Read More »