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
Lately I’ve been thinking about sex differences in brain and cognition. There are undeniable differences in the physical size of the brain, and different brain areas, even if there are no ‘female’ and ‘male’ brains categorically. These physical differences do not translate directly into commensurate differences in cognition. Indeed, there is support for a ‘gender similarities hypothesis’ which asserts that on most measures there is no difference between men and women. Most, but maybe not all. There are a few areas of fundamental cognitive ability where gender differences seem to
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
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
You say ‘thank you’, but do you really mean it? Time for a gratitude tune-up. Most people have heard about the psychological benefits of expressing gratitude. But, admit it, do you really keep up with this sort of thing? Here to help you top-up on gratitude are five little things you can try today. 1. Appreciate your partner Gratitude can work like a kind of glue for your relationship. Saying thanks for the small things that partners do for each other can work wonders. It is especially true if they
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
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
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
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.
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
Meet our new therapist! – Fatima Mohamed
DBT Skills Group for Depression and Anxiety – Now Accepting Applicants!
Kids Going Back to School: Navigating Mental Health Challenges
Oxytoxic: Understanding the Impact and Finding Hope
The Power of Communication: Strengthening Mental Health in Couples
Meet our new therapist! – Hannah Lenertz
