I often find great empathy and identification with my clients in an unlikely place: at the gym. In a recent spin class, my instructor noticed that I wasn’t keeping pace with the rest of the class.“Come on, try harder!” he yelled. “You can do this!” “No sir, I can’t,” said the silent voice in my head. It wasn’t a matter of mind over matter. I was trying as hard as I could with the constraints I have. You see, my limitations are invisible. I have lived my entire life with
What Children Can Teach Us About Paying Attention
Thinking like a five-year-old can help you learn more in a new environment. Young children have one cognitive talent that most adults have forgotten. That is the ability to pay attention to everything. As adults we learn to focus our attention and block out distractions. But, sometimes being distracted means noticing and learning more. Professor Vladimir Sloutsky, study co-author, explained: “We often think of children as deficient in many skills when compared to adults. But sometimes what seems like a deficiency can actually be an advantage. That’s what we found
This Group Depression Treatment As Good As Individual Therapy
The Swedish research included 215 patients with anxiety, depression and stress-related problems. Learning mindfulness in a group can be just as effective as individual cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), new research finds. Professor Jan Sundquist, who led the research, said: “Our new research shows that mindfulness group therapy has the equivalent effect as individual CBT for a wide range of psychiatric symptoms that are common among this patient group, We have shown in a previous study that mindfulness group therapy is just as effective as individual CBT for the treatment of typical
Ericksonian Therapeutic Principles for Hypnotherapy
Ericksonian Therapeutic Principles for Hypnotherapy People operate out of internal maps, not sensory experience *what feels good and familiar to them. Therapists attend to patient communication at all levels *watch body language. Clients can’t not communicate...
A Nurturing Alternative to Calm-Down and Time-Out Rooms
Rose’s parents and teachers were concerned about how to help her find success in kindergarten. Sometimes she went with the flow but at other times Rose fussed so much that she disrupted the whole class. Then her teachers devised a plan that everyone thought would help. They designated a small, separate section of the classroom as the “reset room,” a place where Rose could escape for a few minutes when she felt out of control or when a teacher felt she needed calming. When her mom noticed a scratch on
The Anxiety And Sleeping Drugs Linked to Dementia And Death
Drugs prescribed for anxiety, OCD, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions linked to dementia. Benzodiazepines carry an increased risk of dementia and even death. Benzodiazepines include drugs marketed under the names Valium, Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax. These drugs are often prescribed for anxiety and other mental health issues such as OCD, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Research has now repeatedly linked these drugs to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dr Helene Alphonso, a psychiatrist and Director of Osteopathic Medical Education at Texas University, said: “Current research is extremely clear and physicians
The 5 Life Skills Linked To Lower Depression Rates
Both physical and mental health was better among people with these 5 life skills. Emotional stability, optimism, control, conscientiousness and determination are all vital to people’s success in life. Both young and old alike benefit from these life skills. They are linked to lower depression, greater financial stability, better health and lower social isolation. Professor Andrew Steptoe, who co-led the research, said: “No single attribute was more important than others. Rather, the effects depended on the accumulation of life skills.” The conclusions come from a study of more than 8,000
Major Depression: This New Type Could Account For One-Third of Sufferers
One-third of people experiencing major depression could be of this new type. Inflammation in the brain could explain episodes of major depression in some people, new studies suggest. Around one-third of people experiencing major depression have high-levels of inflammation markers in their blood. This persistent inflammation could explain some of the worst symptoms of depression. The inability to feel pleasure — called anhedonia — is a particularly stubborn symptom. Depressed people often find it hard to experience pleasure from everyday activities like eating or spending time with friends and family.
This Picture Helps People Control Their Thoughts
Cognitive control helps people resist temptations and make decisions that benefit them in the long-term. Pictures of cold temperatures help people to control their thoughts, new research finds. Imagining yourself in that cold environment helps to ‘cool down’ any quick emotional responses. Dr Idit Shalev, who led the study, said: “Metaphorical phrases like ‘coldly calculating,’ ‘heated response,’ and ‘cool-headed’ actually have some scientific validity, which we demonstrate in our study.” Studies have already shown that people who are actually colder, exhibit more cognitive control, Dr Shalev said: “Previous research focused
The Indian Herb That Improves Sleep
The herb is central to the traditional home medicine of India called Ayurveda. Ashwagandha is a herb central to the traditional home medicine of India called Ayurveda. Its Latin name is W. somnifera, meaning sleep-inducing, and it has been used for that purpose for centuries. It is sometimes known as “Indian ginseng”. Modern scientific studies have shown that crude powder of Ashwagandha helps to promote sleep. Now, new research has revealed the active ingredient. The Ashwagandha leaf is rich in triethylene glycol (TEG), which scientists have now found helps improve