MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'gretchen'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:24:19 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159202&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fsecrets-of-adulthood-family-vacation%2F Good-bye, I’m off for vacation! Right now, I’m in that stage where it feels like so much work to get away, I’d rather just stay home. But I’m sure once we’re underway, I’ll be glad we undertook it. As I’m getting ready to leave, I’m reminding myself of my Secrets of Adulthood for family vacations. What are they? Click through to find out! (And then add your own in the comments…) Less is more. Start early if possible. When packing an item that might leak, put it in a plastic bag. Don’t let anyone get too hungry. Especially me. Cheerfulness is contagious, and crabbiness is even more contagious. Wear sunscreen. Carry tissues. Remind kids to visit the bathroom—don’t wait for the thought to occur to them. Never choose the buffet opti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159202 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:37:03 +0100 5159202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057764&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2F7-tips-for-deciding-how-best-to-spend-your-time-energy-and-money%2F We all have to make decisions about how to spend our time, energy, and money. Because of my happiness project, I now explicitly ask myself, “Will this decision make me happier?” I’m determined to get the most happiness bang for the buck. Here are some questions I consider: 1. Is this decision likely to strengthen my relationships with other people? Strong relationships with other people are a key — the key — to happiness, so decisions that help me build or strengthen ties are likely to boost my happiness. Yes, it’s a hassle and an expense to go to my college reunion, but it’s likely to have a big happiness pay-off. 2. Will this decision provide me with novelty and challenge? Novelty and challenge make me happier—but they also make me feel insecure, intimidated, frustrated,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057764 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:55:45 +0100 5057764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036277&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F16%2Fwhy-is-this-particular-part-of-happiness-so-hard%2F I love the novels of J.P. Marquand, and over the weekend, I re-read The Late George Apley. (I love to re-read.) I thought I remembered that it touched on the issue of happiness, and it does. The novel is terrific — funny, poignant, and very thought-provoking. The first, and most important, of my Twelve Personal Commandments is to Be Gretchen. Why is it so hard to know myself? and to act in accordance with my own nature, my interests, my values? It would seem that nothing would be easier and more obvious — and yet it’s very, very challenging. The novel describes the life of the late George Apley — a man who does not manage to “Be George,” and instead allows himself to be pushed by his parents and others away from the choices he wants to make, and who in ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036277 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:05:00 +0100 5036277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934331&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F15%2Fcultivating-your-passions%2F Many of my happiness-project resolutions are meant to help me keep my vision wide. To counteract my impulse to work all the time, I push myself, with moderate success, to follow resolutions like Force myself to wander, Take time for projects, Read at whim, and Take notes without a purpose. And my most important resolution, of course, is to Be Gretchen. These resolutions have dramatically changed the way I react when I develop — as I sometimes do — unusual interest in a new subject. Nowadays, I allow myself to follow a new passion as far as I want. Sometimes, it’s true, I’m lucky enough to have been able to turn these passions into my work. When I became obsessed with Winston Churchill, I wrote a book about Churchill. What a joy it was to write that book! My preoccupatio... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934331 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:49:12 +0100 4934331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934337&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F13%2Fwhen-my-mother-died-she-told-me-to-try-to-enjoy-life-more%2F Happiness interview: Meghan O’Rourke. Meghan O’Rourke is a writer in many incarnations — an essayist, poet, critic, and editor. I got to know Meghan during the time that this blog appeared on Slate , and I was very eager to get my hands on her new book. The Long Goodbye is a memoir of her mother’s death from cancer in 2008, at the age of 55, when Meghan was 32 years old. Going through great unhappiness is one of the best, and most difficult, teachers of happiness, so I was very interested to hear what Meghan had to say. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Meghan: Taking a walk. I used to run a lot, and that always made me happier (even if I was unhappy lacing up my shoes to do it). But I tore the cartilage in my right hip and n... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934337 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:34:15 +0100 4934337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820924&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fi-focused-on-who-i-wasnt-by-my-mid-30s%2F One reason that this blog has brought me so much happiness is that blogging has widened my circle of friends so much. I met Melanie Notkin because we’re both interested in using social media to engage with readers, and I’m very excited for her this week — her first book just hit the shelves, Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids. In it, she shines a light on relationships that bring a tremendous amount of love and happiness — the bond among “aunties” and their nieces, nephews, god-children, etc. I knew Melanie has done a lot of thinking about happiness, so I was eager to hear what she had to say. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Melanie: I call my... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820924 Thu, 12 May 2011 12:27:26 +0100 4820924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489726&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F17%2Ffree-webinar-on-happiness-feb-22%2F We’re all seeking paths to increase happiness in our lives. Indeed, there are many different ways to improve your chances of happiness, but sometimes we just don’t know where to begin. Have I got the answer for you! The PBS series, This Emotional Life is hosting a free webinar and interactive discussion about happiness with some of the top happiness experts, in cooperation with Psych Central. Join us on Tuesday, February 22nd at 4:00 pm EDT (1:00 pm PDT) for the discussion — Holding on to Happiness in the Face of Life’s Challenges. Learn and listen in on a discussion about the most effective ways to find happiness. Featuring: Gretchen Rubin, author of the best-seller The Happiness Project, an account of the year she spent test-driving studies and theories about how... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489726 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:36:27 +0100 4489726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464493&cid=t_294866_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthree-rs-of-health-and-wellness%2F2011.02.11 I’d like to talk about how rodents, relationships, and riding relate to overall health and wellness. This idea comes from a nicely-written New York Times piece entitled, “Does Loneliness Reduce the Benefits of Exercise?” Here, Gretchen Reynolds reviews a few intriguing studies about how relationships may affect exercise, stress hormone levels, and intelligence. The combo caught my eye. Anyone who pays attention to wellness knows that exercise produces more flexible arteries, more durable hearts, and leaner body shapes. These benefits are obvious, and honestly, sometimes a bit tiresome to write about. To me, a far more interesting — and lesser known — benefit of regular exercise is that it might make us smarter. Here’s where the rodents come into the story. As ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464493 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:00:40 +0100 4464493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318371&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F06%2Fthe-story-of-your-life-in-six-words%2F Many people think their lives aren’t interesting enough or worthy enough of being committed to paper, even in journals or on scraps of napkins (my preferred writing materials). Whenever I tell people about the importance of journaling or leaving behind some sort of written record of their lives for their families, they usually say the same thing: “Oh, who’d want to read that?” or “My life isn’t that exciting” or “I don’t have much to say.” But just like creativity is in our bones, writing down our lives isn’t just worthwhile. It is within us and it’s a wonderful thing to do to process our world. It’s even good for us. For instance, journaling provides a variety of health and wellness benefits. One way to write our stori... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318371 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:04:12 +0100 4318371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309786&cid=t_294866_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FtmaYrXwA1cA%2F Actress Kristin Davis recently appeared on The Late Show With Craig Ferguson to talk about a new show she’s developing for NBC, based on The Happiness Project, a memoir written by Gretchen Rubin. Beyond our happiness (no pun intended) that Davis is finally done working on the Sex and the City franchise (we may have gotten into the show, but those awful movies pushed us over the edge), we’re actually excited to see how Rubin’s book translates into a sitcom. If you’re not familiar with her, Rubin is a bestselling author who decided to take on the subject of what makes humans happy, resulting in a personal memoir about her own experiences and experiments in improving her mindset, as well as scientific research, philosophical theories, and practical advice on the topic ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309786 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:32:43 +0100 4309786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3398987&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fsurrender-to-the-brain-when-the-reframing-gets-old%2F I sometimes wish I didn’t have fodder for this blog, that I could graduate to writing a Happiness Project like Gretchen Rubin, and give you tips that could increase your happiness level. Alas, after weekends like last, I know that I will have the content to write a blog on depression for many more days. In Beyond Blue the book, I describe my analogy of recovery from depression and bipolar, from anxiety and addiction, as a four-story apartment: the first level is staying alive, the second staying out of the psych ward, the third status quo, and the fourth gusting toward better health. Although I wish I could say the majority is spent in the penthouse on the deck, the truth is that I stay mostly on the third, going up for a quick visit to the fourth some afternoons, and taking the esca... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3398987 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:34:04 +0100 3398987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3157521&cid=t_294866_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F10%2Fgretchen-rubin-the-happiness-project%2F I often quote fellow blogger Gretchen Rubin on Beyond Blue because most of her directives for a happier life apply to sanity, as well. I recognize many of my steps to recovery from depression and addiction both on her blog and now in her handsome and insightful book, The Happiness Project. I have to be honest. When I was first introduced to Gretchen, I thought there was no way in hell that we’d be able to relate to each other. She had two degrees from Yale, lived in the upper-east side of Manhattan, and was, well, way too successful and pretty for me to talk to. If it’s not obvious already, let me just say that I was a tad jealous of her. However, as I started to dig into her material–and especially now after reading her book–I was blown away by how much we do have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3157521 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:14:09 +0100 3157521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497747&cid=t_294866_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F305606668%2F Earlier today we ventured to Pfizer’s 42nd Street headquarters in New York because the drugmaker was holding a briefing on Chantix, to address the controversy over its smoking-cessation drug. In last year’s fourth quarter, the pill was linked to nearly 1,000 serious adverse events, such as potentially lethal cardiac rhythm disturbances, severe skin reactions, acute myocardial infarction, seizures, diabetes, psychosis and aggression. This was on top of national headlines about suicidal behavior. The meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, was largely uneventful, in so far as three Pfizer execs sat at a table in front of approximately 30 journalists and analysts, and reviewed details about the drug, the supporting clinical trials, interactions with the FDA, plans to further exami... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497747 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:56:50 +0100 1497747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1246631&cid=t_294866_145_f&fid=35710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstoryofhealing.com%2F2008%2F02%2F20%2Fmedia-in-medicine-i-love-film%2F This New England Journal of Medicine article is another one worth sharing about the use of media in medicine. Today’s plate is film. This medium of communication is a personal favorite of mine. It is also my favorite learning tool. It is not uncommon to use video as a medium to communicate medicine, to educate, to share knowledge, to present theories, report breakthroughs. Though most commonly, the point of view is that of the professional, student, or authority on health issues. But this time Dr. Gretchen Berland of the Yale University School of Medicine aptly rotated the camera sharing with all of us a stark portrait, “The View from the Other Side—Patients, Doctors, and the Power of a Camera.” As an internist, I was disturbed by the contrast between those two scenes,... the story of healing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1246631 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:42:08 +0100 1246631