While the holidays are immortalized in song as “the most wonderful time of the year,” the fact is that they can also be the most stressful time of the year. This is true even if you and your family members are healthy and not filled with fear, anxiety or stress that comes with these challenging… Read more »
When was the last time you checked your mood? How often do you ask yourself, “How am I feeling today?” Our go-to answers might be “I’m good” or “I’m fine,” protecting ourselves from feeling a much more uncomfortable emotion. The truth is there is no such thing as a “bad” emotion. Humans experience a spectrum… Read more »
My last article, “Embracing the Unexpected” (July/August 2021), chronicled a severely wounded cat that showed up at my door this last April. He was a mere five pounds of sick and tired. That was the bad news. The good news is he is now thriving — physically. The mental emotional part is in question, which… Read more »
Wouldn’t it be nice to glide through life without a care in the world like a free and easy wanderer? It is certainly a nice dream, but not reality for most of us. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we have a famous herbal formula called Xiao Yao San, which means “free and easy wanderer.” It… Read more »
Frank Meadows was a high school track and field star with a promising future. He had a passion for running and dedicated himself to staying in shape. Raised in a military family, he entered the US Naval Academy Preparatory School at 17, looking forward to a naval career. Unfortunately, life had different plans for Meadows.… Read more »
First, you fall in love. Then you decide to adopt that adorable cat, dog, parrot, rabbit. So you set off together, learning to adapt to each other’s expectations. Life is fun. Life is fuller. Your pet cheers you up in ways you never imagined possible. You catch yourself speaking in funny voices. You both grow… Read more »
Not surprisingly, mental health providers cite a marked increase in clients reporting depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19. The pandemic has affected many of us in ways we have never experienced before. From being fearful of getting the virus, caring for someone who has COVID or other conditions such as dementia, being isolated at home,… Read more »
If we look at the practice of meditation from a distance, we notice that this process of rebalancing our body, mind and spirit is something natural. In fact, it is the most natural process for us human beings to recharge and recover. It takes place every night while we sleep. We rest our mind and… Read more »
The art of relaxation comes naturally for some people, while for others, it is hard to turn off the chatter in their minds. You don’t need to sit in a lotus position and meditate; however, this is one way to start the feeling of easing out of fight or flight and into the parasympathetic response… Read more »
There is a relatively new segment studying human behaviors, happiness and overall well-being referred to as positive psychology. Defined by the Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, it is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. In other words, focusing on the positive side of the human life… Read more »
Drew Ramsey, MD, a psychiatrist in New York who lives on a family farm in Indiana, introduced me to nutritional psychiatry. I did not realize such psychiatrists existed; it turns out they have international meetings. Leading the way is psychiatrist Daniel Amen, MD, who has authored over 30 books and established more than 7,000 clinics.… Read more »
You become what you think about. Throughout history, philosophers, historians and even poets have written about the power of the mind. Your thoughts become your reality. Norman Vincent Peele said, “Change your thoughts, and you change your life. If you think in negative thoughts, you will get negative results; if you think in positive terms,… Read more »
What led me to write this article is the noticeable increase in clients seeking help for their mental and emotional distress, particularly as the pandemic has drawn on. Is the rise in people seeking psychological help coming from the stress of the current pandemic’s circumstances? For many, it is. However, I’ve also seen a surge… Read more »
How can there be a crisis of loneliness when there are more than 7 billion people in the world? Doesn’t that seem counter-intuitive? A few years ago, the UK created a Minister of Loneliness because loneliness in England was increasing at such an alarming rate. This crisis poses as grave a threat to global… Read more »
Do you feel like your brain has checked out and gone on vacation while you’re stuck at home quarantining? Does your thinking seem foggy? Are you more forgetful? Having problems making decisions? Many people are complaining of a range of cognitive difficulties arising from the current situation caused by COVID-19. People are experiencing increased stress,… Read more »
Since Labor Day, inflatable Santas have been pestering us, signaling that the holidays are rapidly approaching. Trees, lights and decorations have been rushing the season back into summer. But now, it really is time to focus on them. For some, the holidays are a joyful and magical time of year. We decorate our homes, celebrate… Read more »
Grieving is a normal process of reacting to the loss of a loved one and affects you mentally, physically, socially and emotionally. While there is no real order to the grieving process, those affected may experience a range of feelings, including denial, disbelief, anger, confusion, shock, sadness, despair, guilt and anxiety. It can also cause… Read more »
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) estimates that more than 75 percent of doctor visits are related to stress while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Safety Council estimate this number to be closer to 90 percent.1, 2 Reasons for visits include, but are not limited to, insomnia, fatigue,… Read more »
Suicide has surpassed car accidents as the number one cause of injury-related deaths in the United States, especially for cancer patients and teens.1,2 What if we could change that? Integrative medicine expert Deepak Chopra, MD and a collaboration of mental health experts and activists have launched the Never Alone Summit to bring awareness and solutions… Read more »
st, we learn how much we’re able to handle – mentally, emotionally and physically. The coronavirus pandemic has caused nearly insurmountable amounts of stress for almost every human being on the planet. Knowing that, alone, is stressful, but it’s what we do in times like these that will define us forever. Normally, when we experience… Read more »
