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 'health-related'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:11:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742285&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F10%2Fptsd-benefits-now-easier-to-get-through-va%2F Good news for veterans — the U.S. Veterans Administration is easing rules in order to qualify for benefits related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the new rules to be introduced as early as next week, soldiers will no longer have to show documentation that they directly experienced or were witness to a “traumatic event” — like a firefight, a bomb blast, or the death of a friend in combat. Getting supporting documentation has sometimes been a frustrating and challenging experience for soldiers. War zones aren’t always known for keeping the best paper records, and not every action or firefight is well-documented. According to The New York Times’ article, “Under the new rule, which applies to veterans of all wars, the department will ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742285 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:10:41 +0100 3742285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733124&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F07%2Fare-you-a-picky-eater-or-selective-eater%2F As kids, many of us engaged in what our parents called “picky eating” — “Don’t be such a picky eater — try it, you might like it!” For whatever reasons, most kids grow out of most of their picky eating habits and learn to try new foods. Some of us may have a few food hangups, avoiding certain popular foods like the plague. But for most, eating different foods is part and parcel of the culinary experience. Some adults, however, don’t grow out of their picky eating habits and, in fact, it may sometimes get even worse as they grow older. Adults with picky eating habits (also known as “selective eating”) may find it more difficult to eat in social situations, because of the limited choices on their own personal food menu. Nobody knows... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733124 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:45:19 +0100 3733124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718457&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F01%2Fpsychotherapy-in-your-doctors-office%2F One of the trends that isn’t likely to change significantly much is the fact that most people talk to their primary care doctor or family physician about a mental health problem first. Your family doctor is seen as the expert in all things, even when those things include mental health issues or concerns. So how effective are brief psychotherapy interventions conducted in a primary care setting? Researchers (Cape et al., 2010) looked at the results of 34 studies involving 3,962 patients and found the answer — therapy in a doctor’s office is surprisingly effective. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety had the most powerful effect size, meaning it’s likely the most effective brief intervention for anxiety disorders. General counseling and problem solving therapy w... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718457 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:18:14 +0100 3718457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706730&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Fgood-versus-evil-in-strength%2F You have to hand it to Kurt Gray, a doctoral student at Harvard. He knows how to spin a set of three small experiments he conducted to make headlines. Here’s what Gray had to say about his findings: “By perceiving themselves as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more capable of physical endurance.” and “But in fact, this research suggests that physical strength may be an effect, not a cause, of moral acts.” Did Gray actually measure a person’s inherent “goodness” or capacity for evil (or did he measure artificial situations created in a lab that may or may not actually mimic these qualities)? And if so, did he also measure physical strength (or simply one small aspect of strength, physical endurance)? In the three exper... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706730 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:33:44 +0100 3706730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690894&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F23%2F18-ways-to-manage-stress%2F In her insightful book, “The Superstress Solution,” Roberta Lee, M.D. assesses the stress level in most homes today, and offers a word of caution about chronic stress. In her introduction, she writes: We’re deluding ourselves if we think that we can indefinitely endure the macro stresses that accompany impersonal encounters, less sleep, more work, less leisure, raising kids in this dangerous world, bad marriages, less exercise, junk and processed foods eaten on the run, hyper-caffeinated and sugar-saturated beverages, addictive devices that give us “screen sickness,” traffic jams, flight delays, and so much more, and come away unscathed. Stress isn’t all, bad, of course. In fact, like dark chocolate, small chunks here and there can be good for you, or a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690894 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:19:43 +0100 3690894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671784&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F17%2Fput-down-your-iphone-while-driving%2F Not only is it dangerous to drive while talking on your mobile phone or iPhone or Blackberry, it’s also not good for your relationship either. So says a professor who thinks that if driving while distracted by your technological gadget is bad enough, imagine what trying to hold up your end of the conversation in your relationship might be. Relationships rely on good, clear communication. Driving relies on good, clear undivided attention and no distraction. The two don’t seem entirely compatible, so it seems to reason the good professor has a point. “In general, cell phone usage while driving might lead to missed relationship stop lights, slow reactions to dangerous relationship circumstances, loss of control of one’s part of the interaction, and interaction mistakes that co... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671784 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:28:19 +0100 3671784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3658999&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F14%2F7-depression-busters-for-men%2F In Spring 2006 the depression of two very successful men made newspaper headlines in Maryland: Phil Merrill, a renowned publisher, entrepreneur and diplomat in the Washington area took his own life. Eleven days later Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan withdrew his candidacy for governor of Maryland because of his struggle with depression. For weeks, newspapers covered male depression, including the stories of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Archbishop Raymond Roussin, Mike Wallace, William Styron, Art Buchwald, and Robin Williams. That was unusual. Because, in the majority of media stories and infomercials, depression is regarded as a feminine thing … a result of all of the hormonal shifts and baby-making stuff. The reality? Six million men, or seven percent of American m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3658999 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:36:03 +0100 3658999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655633&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F12%2Fobesity-or-an-eating-disorder-which-is-worse%2F I fear that I’m giving my daughter an eating disorder with intentions of teaching her how to eat right. Which begs the question: which is more harmful — obesity (and diabetes) or an eating disorder? I’ve implemented a “one-treat rule” in our home, which simply means that if my kids get ice-cream after school, they have already had their treat and don’t get dessert after dinner. I try to explain as delicately as I can that too many sweets and too much junk food makes you sick. Fat too, yes. But, more importantly, sick. “What happens when you eat more than one treat?” my daughter asked me awhile back. And, well, I’m not proud of this, but I think I said, while my mind was somewhere else: “You blow up.” So yesterday she had a s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655633 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:19:08 +0100 3655633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644832&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F09%2Fmiddle-age-suicides-continue-to-rise%2F Suicides amongst the middle-aged — 45 to 54 year olds — continued to rise for the second straight year in a row, from 2006 to 2007 (the last year we have the final government data on). This means this age group enjoys the highest suicide rate in the U.S. The rate in 2007 was 17.6 per every 100,000 people, up from 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2006. Typically, according to the article in the New York Times, the eldest segment of the population — those 80 and older — suffers the highest suicide rate. Men typically commit suicide nearly four times as often as women, and most people who contemplate suicide would carry a depression diagnosis. Since 2000, the age-adjusted death rate for suicide has increased by 8.6 percent, according to the U.S. National Center for Health St... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644832 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:00:38 +0100 3644832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632301&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F05%2F12-ways-to-beat-addiction%2F By far my most popular post is the gallery, “12 Depression Busters.” But those suggestions were actually a response to Beyond Blue reader Peg’s query on how to stop smoking. They absolutely do help a person fight depression and the ongoing war against negative thoughts; however they were designed as techniques to use when getting pulled into addictive behaviors. The last month or so I have used every single one of these. And I’m happy to report that I actually feel a lot freer from insidious, destructive behavior than I did several weeks ago. Here they are: 12 Addiction Zappers. They work! 1. Get Some Buddies It works for Girl Scouts, depressives, and addicts of all kinds. I remember having to wake up my buddy to go pee in the middle of the night at Girl Scout camp... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632301 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:30:38 +0100 3632301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621754&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F02%2Fssri-antidepressants-linked-to-cataracts-miscarriages%2F It’s not been a good news week for SSRIs, a popular and common class of antidepressants that are widely prescribed by family physicians, interns and psychiatrists alike. A study released in the journal Ophthalmology showed that in seniors, SSRIs can increase the risk of developing cataracts in your eye by 15 percent in general. But researchers found it was even worse for some specific kinds of antidepressants — Fluvoxamine (Luvox) increases the risk by 39 percent, venlafaxine (Effexor) increases the risk by 33 percent and paroxetine (Paxil) increases the risk by 23 percent. A separate study also published this week found that taking SSRI antidepressant medications (and the SNRI Effexor) significantly increased — by 68 percent — the risk of miscarriage. Read on for t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621754 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:22:09 +0100 3621754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603590&cid=t_362643_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgames-for-health-2010%2F2010.05.27 It’s time for the 6th annual Games for Health conference. The conference, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides a forum for experts in the fields of video games, healthcare, and science to come together and share the latest and greatest in health-related video game news and research. From their promotional pamphlet: Because digital games can actively engage and challenge people of all ages, they have the ability to help individuals manage chronic illnesses, support physical rehabilitation, pursue wellness goals and contribute to changes in health behaviors. Public health leaders, doctors and nurses, rehabilitation specialists, emergency first responders and other health professionals are also using games and game technologies to advance their skills and ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603590 Thu, 27 May 2010 14:00:01 +0100 3603590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603651&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F27%2Fdo-you-think-you-smell-olfactory-reference-syndrome%2F Do you think you smell? Well, if we assume for a moment that you actually don’t smell or emit some sort of stinky odor, you’re like most people. In this modern world where many don’t think twice about showering each and every day, our bodies often have little chance to work up any kind of odor. However, if you’re amongst a small group of people who think they smell even when they don’t, then you might be suffering from Olfactory Reference Syndrome. Olfactory Reference Syndrome is a “new” syndrome coined by researchers who’ve discovered that amongst people who think they smell bad — even when they don’t — suicidal thinking and behavior is rampant. And it’s no wonder — if you think you smell bad and others are not... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603651 Thu, 27 May 2010 13:37:40 +0100 3603651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588913&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F22%2Fpreschool-depression-real-or-imagined%2F Joan Luby, a Professor of Psychiatry in the Early Emotional Development Program at the Washington University School of Medicine, argues in a new journal article (Luby, 2010) that preschool depression is a real disorder that is important to identify early on. Preschool depression refers to preschool-aged children (between 3 and 6 years old) suffering from significant depressive symptoms that cause impairment in the child’s daily functioning and development. She argues, however, that we can’t use the adult criteria for depression, since some of those criteria wouldn’t make sense in a preschool child. A preschool child, for instance, can’t experience the loss of sexual pleasure, but they can experience a loss of enjoyment in ordinary child play activities. It makes a ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588913 Sat, 22 May 2010 11:06:33 +0100 3588913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588914&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F21%2Fthe-power-of-forgiveness%2F In the 1980s psychologist Everett L. Worthington, Jr. Ph.D., began studying forgiveness while working with troubled couples. On New Year’s Eve, 1995, his mother was murdered. Dr. Worthington then dedicated his life to encouraging and educating people about forgiveness. He turned grief into mission by writing books, speaking, and founding A Campaign for Forgiveness, which has raised millions of dollars to support the search of forgiveness. In her book, “The Law of Forgiveness,” author Connie Domino devotes a chapter to the scientific evidence for the power of forgiveness. Some of the studies she includes are fascinating, and will have you dump your righteousness and mend the strained relationships in your life before you’re ready. For example, Dr. Fred Luskin, direc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588914 Fri, 21 May 2010 18:00:33 +0100 3588914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567941&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F16%2Fface-it-6-steps-to-help-women-deal-with-aging%2F Mark Twain once wrote, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” I like that. But get real. In a culture preoccupied with youth and beauty, where there has been a 114 percent increase in the number of cosmetic surgeries performed since 1997? How do women escape the judgment conferred on them every time she opens a magazine, gets online, or turns on the tube? How does she silence the menacing messages she sends herself when a new gray hair is found, or her crow’s feet grow an inch longer? Very deliberately and carefully say Vivian Diller, Ph.D and Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D, both professional models turned psychologists, in their new book, “Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change.” The authors propose a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567941 Sun, 16 May 2010 10:30:29 +0100 3567941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560282&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F13%2F10-ways-to-find-new-motivation%2F How often do you lament, “If only I were more motivated, I could get so much done and be successful”? For many of us, motivation seems hard to find. Whenever a tough project pops up or we have to do something we’ve been dreading — whether it’s stripping the wallpaper in the bedroom or collecting the year’s receipts at tax time — our motivation vanishes. Here’s an excerpt from my recent article on how to find it, keep it, and overcome the most common roadblocks along the way. 1. Assess your values. Consider whether the task at hand aligns with your values, Maynard said. To figure out your values, she suggested asking, “How do you want to see yourself in the world today?” Another way to think of this is to mull over what accomplishing the task would give you “tha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560282 Thu, 13 May 2010 10:05:36 +0100 3560282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560283&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F12%2Fwhats-involved-in-mental-health-recovery%2F This article is refreshing not only because it’s from researchers who receive mental health services, but because it’s peer-led participatory research. It’s local to Toronto, and the Canadian authors identified points of “inclusion, community, critique and resistance” that the people who popularized “recovery” didn’t discuss. With this cross-cultural analysis, the concept of mental health recovery is enriched. Social supports beyond vague ideas like “it’s about creating the life one wants to live” are revealed as cornerstones of health and wellness. They provide hope: vital to any process of recovery. *** Mental Health “Recovery” Study Working Group. 2009. Mental Health “Recovery”: Users and Refusers, Toronto: Wellesley Inst... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560283 Wed, 12 May 2010 20:48:44 +0100 3560283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560284&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F12%2Fa-phone-call-may-be-as-effective-as-a-hug%2F At least when it comes to your body’s physiological responses. If you’re a young girl. So says a new study that studied young girls’ release of the stress hormone cortisol as well as their levels of the hormone oxytocin — thought to be important in social bonding — after a stressful public presentation. One group of girls talked to their mom on the telephone, another talked to them in person and received a hug, and a third group watched a neutral movie. The two groups who received mom-contact — whether it was by telephone or in-person — both had much lower levels of the stress hormone than the group that had no mom contact. Both groups also had significantly more of the bonding hormone, oxytocin. The upshot? A simple phone call to mom — if yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560284 Wed, 12 May 2010 19:00:33 +0100 3560284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556155&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F12%2Fa-womans-touch-increases-risk-taking%2F We all know the value of human touch. It’s one of the defining cornerstones of our existence since our birth — the connection between mother and infant. The importance of maternal physical contact and nurturing has been demonstrated time and time again in previous research. But what we don’t always realize is the impact simple human touch has on another person. A handshake, a touch of the shoulder — these things matter in more ways than we may realize. Could human touch increase our sense of security, as prior studies have suggested, which in turn could make us to make more risky decisions? That’s what two researchers (Levav & Argo, 2010) set to find out in a series of three experiments… The main hypothesis we tested is that certain forms of physi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556155 Wed, 12 May 2010 15:05:23 +0100 3556155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552305&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F10%2Fwhen-violence-strikes-on-a-psychiatric-ward%2F Milwaukee County’s Mental Health Complex features a short-term inpatient psychiatric facility that seeks to help those with serious mental health issues — including survivors of trauma and sexual abuse — get better. Patients stay an average of 11.5 days while at the facility and more than 90 percent of them are discharged back to their own care or home. By far, most people who are admitted to the facility carry a diagnosis within the “psychoses” category of diagnoses — which usually means schizophrenia or a related disorder. Over one-third of their patients are under 19 years old — teens and children. About half the patients they treat are men, the other half women. More than half the people who seek out treatment at a facility like this will have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552305 Mon, 10 May 2010 19:36:00 +0100 3552305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545475&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F07%2Flonely-teens-communicate-more-online%2F New research recently published suggests that teens who are lonely communicate more online than teens who aren’t so lonely. Perhaps this should be filed in the “No duh” section of research findings about online behavior, but it actually answers a long-standing question — Does the Internet make people more lonely, or do lonely people turn to the Internet for solace? The answer, from this study anyway, appears to be the latter — lonely people communicate online significantly more than non-lonely people do. The Australian researchers (Bonetti et al., 2010) arrived at this finding by gathering survey data from 626 children and teens (10 to 16 years old). The surveys assessed subjects’ frequency of communication online, as well as loneliness (via an abbreviat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545475 Fri, 07 May 2010 16:45:53 +0100 3545475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522674&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F01%2Fhealthy-nutrition-through-behavior-modification%2F For the past two years I have been attempting to manage my weight through behavior modification, healthy eating and exercise. After losing 190 pounds with diet and exercise, I can assume that I am very capable of making healthy choices; however, this past weekend illustrated how emotions can contribute to slipups in the healthy lifestyle department. I am as human as anyone else and I ended my week with a weight gain. Through each painful experience I have learned much about managing my emotions. Finding my inner balance may always be a struggle for me and many of you as well. The important factor in finding my inner balance is to modify my behavior through discipline and goal setting. The negative factor in my equation of healthy lifestyle choices are unforeseen events, which by their very... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522674 Sat, 01 May 2010 13:15:51 +0100 3522674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502831&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F25%2Fultrawellness-or-ultra-hype-antidepressant-as-demagogue%2F Mark Hyman, MD, is a “practicing physician and pioneer in functional medicine,” according to his bio on the Huffington Post where he recently penned the nonsensical, “Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Treating Depression.” I say “nonsensical” because this article is based upon a study that came out 3 years ago, so writing this article to educate the public seems not to be its primary purpose. Exhibiting sound reasoning and logic also doesn’t seem apparent in this article, since generally a scientist or doctor would not dismiss an entire class of medications — antidepressants — based upon a single study. Or when there are many different types of antidepressants and sub-classes — SSRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, SRNIs, etc. The stud... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502831 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:45:16 +0100 3502831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501563&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F24%2Foff-the-internet-for-24-hours%2F What happens when you take 200 journalism students and cut them off from the Internet for 24 hours? It’s something I might call “information anxiety,” because the students expressed a great deal of anxiety in the narratives they provided the researchers after the experiment was over. (But I would be quick to add, I’d never consider this a ‘disorder’ — just a simple, predictable result of removing an important set of tools we’ve come to rely on from our everyday world.) “Students expressed tremendous anxiety about being cut-off from information,” observed Ph.D. student Raymond McCaffrey, a former writer and editor at The Washington Post, and a current researcher on the study. “One student said he realized that he suddenly ‘had less in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501563 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:34:08 +0100 3501563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494349&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F22%2Falcoholism-family-and-the-limits-of-love%2F On April 25th, Hallmark Hall of Fame will broadcast the movie “When Love Is Not Enough — The Lois Wilson Story,” starring Winona Ryder and Barry Pepper (CBS, 9:00 pm ET). The movie, which portrays the life of Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon Family Groups and wife of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson, is based on William G. Borchert’s 2005 book, The Lois Wilson Story: When Love Is Not Enough. Borchert’s earlier screenplay was the basis of the acclaimed movie My Name is Bill W. which starred James Woods, James Garner, and JoBeth Williams. The premiere of the movie also falls during the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.’s (NCADD) 24th Annual Alcohol Awareness Month with its theme, “When Love Is Not Enough: Helping Families Coping With Alco... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494349 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:16:15 +0100 3494349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490680&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F21%2Fthe-pocket-therapist-mental-health-to-go%2F Imagine a GPS navigational system that said something like this: “In approximately 30 minutes, you will run into your old boss, who will want to make you feel like a worthless pile of feces. Erect personal boundaries immediately…. I said, Get in your bubble, Woman … Are you listening? She’s approaching you on your left. Lock up all childhood tapes now (the ones that convinced you that were weak, ugly, and pathetic) and DO NOT, I said DO NOT play them for her. Remember, their messages are no longer valid. Proceed carefully. You will speak to her in approximately 3, no 2, no 1 second.” Me? I would like one of those. So I made one. In book form. You see, I am an obsessive-compulsive woman who has recorded, in her journals, 12 years of therapy sessions, 21 years ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490680 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:07:59 +0100 3490680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479726&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F17%2Fdoes-marriage-help-your-health-and-happiness%2F The answer to this question of the ages is found within an insightful, detailed 3,800 word article by Tara Parker-Pope over at The New York Times. Although lengthy, it explores the research into this issue and focuses on the work by Ronald Glaser and Jan Kiecolt-Glaser from Ohio State University who’ve been studying the intersection of psychology on the biology of humans since the 1980s: The two scientists were fascinated by each other’s work, which they often discussed over meals or while jogging together. Glaser suggested that they collaborate professionally, but finding common ground was a challenge: he studied virology and immunology; she was a clinical psychologist who focused on assertiveness and other behavior. In the early 1980s, however, Kiecolt-Glaser came across a book ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479726 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:24:43 +0100 3479726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463639&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F13%2Ffast-food-induces-haste-impatience%2F We often think of fast food as a simple, quick, time-saving meal while we’re on the go. Families especially embrace the ability to fill up for a quick lunch or dinner without all the fuss of cooking (especially if they are already out shopping or going to the movies). All of this makes fast food a multi-billion dollar industry. The lack of nutritional value in most fast food — such as that found at McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell or KFC — has been well-documented in numerous studies and documentaries. It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of calories and sodium in a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (740 calories, 42 grams of fat, and 1380 mg of sodium) or a Whopper with Cheese (720 calories, 44 grams of fat, and 1240 mg of sodium). But few... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463639 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:43:21 +0100 3463639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3456719&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F09%2Flook-whos-depressed-now-interns%2F As though medical school wasn’t difficult enough, now new research suggests that internship is even more difficult. In a study of 740 medical students who were on internship, researchers (Sen et al., 2010) found that nearly 4 percent of the students met the criteria for depression before their internship started. That number jumped to over 25 percent of students when the researchers measured their depression level at four points over the course of the internship year. That’s right — 1 in 4 medical students on internship suffer from serious, clinical depression. Most of the students who met criteria for depression were classified as moderately depressed. That’s in-between mild and severe depression, and in most people, means their daily functioning is significantly ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3456719 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:38:54 +0100 3456719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453957&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F08%2Fthe-doctor-will-see-you-in-3-or-4-months%2F One of the problems neither the new health care bill nor the mental health parity law that kicks into full effect in another month or so will address is a growing problem in America’s mental health system — the lack of professionals who can see you now. The problem is most seriously felt within psychiatry, where the number of medical students who choose psychiatry over a different medical specialty continues to shrink. A friend of mine who currently sees a psychiatric nurse for her medications wanted to switch to a psychiatrist so that she can try to get off of Effexor, a commonly prescribed antidepressant than can be extremely challenging to get off. She lives north of a major metropolitan area in the U.S. and has decent health insurance. So she started the thankless process e... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453957 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:19:32 +0100 3453957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443760&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F06%2Fgood-ole-exercise-for-depression%2F Time and time again we hear about the importance of regular exercise for our bodies. But not only does such exercise help our bodies — it does wonders for our minds as well. The latest finding comes from two researchers who found that simple exercise can be helpful with some people’s depressive mood: [The researchers] based their finding on an analysis of dozens of population-based studies, clinical studies and meta-analytic reviews related to exercise and mental health, including the authors’ meta-analysis of exercise interventions for mental health and studies on reducing anxiety sensitivity with exercise. The researchers’ review demonstrated the efficacy of exercise programs in reducing depression and anxiety. And this is good news, since not everyone can afford psychoth... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443760 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:32:27 +0100 3443760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435083&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F03%2F7-strategies-to-help-you-recover-from-a-relapse%2F It’s a dreadful place. Relapse. Maybe you had hoped you’d never go there. Or maybe you stay awake fearing you will. It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to stay there for long. You’ll be on your way shortly. I prefer to use the term “set back” when I get sucked back into the Black Hole — bam! — stuck inside a brain that covets relief, any form of relief, and will do just about anything to get it. Because it’s certainly not the end of recovery. From depression or any addiction. A relapse merely gives you a new starting place. Since I’ve been struggling with this recently in my own life, I’ve laid out seven strategies to get unstuck … to recover from a relapse. 1. Listen to the right people. If you’re like me, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435083 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:46:50 +0100 3435083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420539&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F29%2Fteenage-bullying-leads-to-9-indictments%2F You know things have gotten bad when prosecutors start prosecuting teens — some on felony charges that could result in significant jail time — because of bullying. Yes, bullying. Most of us have experienced bullying at one point in our lives, or know someone who has been bullied. Of course for most, the bullying didn’t result in lifelong scars. Part of that is because the extremes of bullying were not really known 20 or 30 years ago. You couldn’t bully someone 24/7 through Facebook, Twitter, email and forums devoted entirely to making other people’s lives miserable (yes, such online communities exist). So nowadays sometimes bullying is taken to an extreme. Not by one or two teens or kids, but by a whole gang of them. In central Massachusetts, it led Phoebe P... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420539 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:17:02 +0100 3420539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416084&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F29%2Fnew-health-bill-helps-postpartum-depression-ppd%2F The historic passage of the federal health care legislation last week included a provision for a new national postpartum depression (PPD) program. It leaves out the federal screening program so feared by the bill’s opponents, but it includes more money for greater education outreach and more research into this condition. The Melanie Blocker Stokes Mother’s Act passed in watered down form. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition suffered by a minority of women who just gave birth. It is characterized by severe depression and sadness, and often either a lack of interest or even thoughts of harming one’s newborn baby. There is also often the feeling that one will not be a good mother. Postpartum depression may be called the “baby blues,” and sometimes an obste... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416084 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:45:19 +0100 3416084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403927&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fwomen-and-mens-defensiveness-impacts-health%2F You probably already know that men and women deal and react to stress differently. What you may not have realized is just how different we are when it comes to dealing with stress. And one of the keys appears to be how defensive we are: Defensiveness is a trait characterized by avoidance, denial or repression of information perceived as threatening. In women, a strong defensive reaction to judgment from others or a threat to self-esteem will result in high blood pressure and heart rate. But in older men, the researchers found those with low defensive reactions have higher cardiovascular rates. This is not a finding that has previously been noted in the research. Conventional wisdom would have expected that one’s defensiveness would have a similar impact on health, regardless of gend... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403927 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:19:53 +0100 3403927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3398987&cid=t_362643_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=3386910&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F21%2Fspirituality-and-prayer-relieve-stress%2F The last thing I think of when I’m stressed out with work deadlines and complicated homework projects with the kids is to get on my knees or attend Mass. But a growing body of research suggests prayer and religion rank high among the best stress busters. In her new book, “The SuperStress Solution,”, Dr. Roberta Lee devotes a section to the topic of spirituality and prayer. “Research shows that people who are more religious or spiritual use their spirituality to cope with life,” notes Dr. Lee. “They’re better able to cope with stress, they heal faster from illness, and they experience increased benefits to their health and well-being. On an intellectual level, spirituality connects you to the world, which in turn enables you to stop trying to cont... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3386910 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:22:46 +0100 3386910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385382&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F20%2Fthe-truth-about-quitting-smoking%2F Usually, I like to point out all of the positives of the self-help methods available to help an individual with a specific problem in life. Whether it be reading a self-help book about your relationship, or trying out a self-help program online to combat depression, I find such methods a good first step toward seeking help. Or getting better. But sometimes such methods obscure the truth. For many –but not all — mental health concerns, the truth is that time alone will often heal a person — it just takes longer as you grapple with the concern. This doesn’t work for things like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, but for an adjustment disorder or even a simple phobia, treatment is often unnecessary (adjustment disorders usually resolve on their own over time and simple... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385382 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:34:13 +0100 3385382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3338252&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F06%2Flearning-about-transcendental-meditation%2F Discussion tab makes clear feuding editors battling for control about tone and focus. I don’t know what to make of transcendental meditation personally, but I find studies like the recently published one interesting. I know people who use it and swear by its positive effects (but I also know people who use other techniques and methods and swear by them as well). I suspect some of the skepticism comes from the pseudo-religious nature of technique, or the fact that it costs money to learn it. But in my experience, many things worth learning cost money (look at my graduate education, for instance). My only concern is that if it is something that is “simple, natural, effortless, and easily learned,” why does it cost $1,500 and an entire day to learn? I’ve read enough t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3338252 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:32:15 +0100 3338252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311748&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F25%2Fbuilding-assertiveness-in-4-steps%2F All of us should insist on being treated fairly — to stand up for our rights without violating the rights of others. This means tactfully, justly and effectively expressing our preferences, needs, opinions and feelings. Psychologists call that being assertive, as distinguished from being unassertive (weak, passive, compliant, self-sacrificing) or aggressive (self-centered, inconsiderate, hostile, arrogantly demanding). Because some people want to be “nice” and “not cause trouble,” they “suffer in silence,” “turn the other cheek,” and assume nothing can be done to change their situation. The rest of us appreciate pleasant, accommodating people but whenever a nice person permits a greedy, dominant person to take advantage of him/her, the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311748 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:29:08 +0100 3311748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306896&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F25%2Fharmful-side-effects-of-psychotherapy%2F You cannot look up drug information on the Internet today without coming across at least one page about the negative side effects of taking the drug. In fact, such side effects are deemed so important, their publication alongside the benefits of a drug are strictly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But the FDA requires no such warnings connected to other mental health treatments, including the use of psychotherapy. How could psychotherapy ever be harmful? That’s a good question, and one explored in three articles in the January issue of American Psychologist. The one I’ll focus on is the one by David Barlow (2010). David Barlow is a well-respected psychologist and researcher, with a long career made on studies examining the positive impact of cognitive b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306896 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:05:12 +0100 3306896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298378&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F22%2Fnational-eating-disorders-awareness-week-2010%2F Eating disorders affect five times as many people as schizophrenia, and twice as many people who have Alzheimer’s disease. And yet Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia regularly make the news and research headlines, while eating disorders are relegated to the equivalent of the back pages of the public’s interest in mental health. Sadly, eating disorders receive significantly less research funding than either schizophrenia or Alzheimer’s, for no good reason. People with an eating disorder no more “ask for it” than someone “asks” for schizophrenia. Yet schizophrenia received $350 million in research funding in 2005, while eating disorders received less than 10 percent of that amount. We clearly have a lot of work to do. Somewhere between 3 to 4 percen... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298378 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:31:57 +0100 3298378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298379&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F22%2Fdoes-happiness-follow-on-vacation%2F One of the holy grails of modern psychology is figuring out what makes people happy. The thinking goes, “If we know what makes people happy, people can then do more of that thing and increase happiness in their own lives.” Makes sense. We’ve noted previously how an experience — such as a vacation or going out to dinner — is more likely to increase happiness than buying a material gift. The reasoning behind this is that experiences create (hopefully fond) memories, which can be later recalled and enjoyed again. While you may also enjoy a gift, it just doesn’t seem to have the same impact that an experience does. But research published last week demonstrates that this finding be more complicated than we originally thought. That research by Nawijn and col... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298379 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:30:54 +0100 3298379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283608&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F17%2Fthe-buzzkill-of-google-buzz%2F Google Buzz is a new social networking tool that Google unleashed upon its unsuspecting Gmail users last week. I say “unsuspecting” because suddenly, without warning or notice, this new “feature” appears to Gmail users as a part of their email program. This was an unprecedented way to launch a product — in disguise right in the middle of another product. Google, despite generating billions of dollars in revenue every year and employing the supposedly brightest minds in the industry, didn’t foresee the backlash that would occur. Apparently, despite its ridiculous hiring process and wading through oceans of money, Google can’t hire people who understand privacy. But this isn’t the first time Google has had a lack of empathy or understanding abo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283608 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:33:06 +0100 3283608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3266985&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F12%2Fsnow-blizzard-2010-and-mental-health%2F I’M GOING CRAZY. Ahem. Okay, here’s the deal. Annapolis was hit with 30 inches of snow last Friday and Saturday. Annapolis owns three snowplows. Most roads have at least six inches of ice. Ours do. And if you’ve ever witnessed the way I drive, you would agree that I shouldn’t be on the road. Moreover, our cars won’t be moving from our icy driveway anytime soon because… we’re supposed to get another 10 to 20 inches tonight. Schools have been canceled all week, of course, and schools are canceled next week (Monday through Wednesday) for some other lame reason. So, I’m grumpy. Bite-everyone’s-heads-off grumpy. Because I can’t use most of the tools in my sanity box this week. The discipline to eat well is buried under three feet of ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3266985 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:01:24 +0100 3266985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254498&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F09%2F7-office-depression-busters-tips-for-work-depression%2F In his classic, “The Prophet,” Kahlil Gibran writes: Always you have been told that work is a curse … But I say to you that when you work you fulfill a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born. Unfortunately Kahlil’s words don’t jibe with a new Australian study that found almost one in six cases of depression among working people caused by job stress, that nearly one in five (17 percent) working women suffering depression attribute their condition to job stress and more than one in eight (13 percent) working men. In the last decade, the number of American workers that say job stress is a major problem in their lives has doubled. In fact, the US Department of Health reported that 70 percent of physical and mental complaints... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254498 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:25:28 +0100 3254498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239618&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F04%2Fsuper-bowl-sunday-domestic-violence-your-health%2F It’s that time again… When Super Bowl Sunday dominates the U.S. headlines, and people plan their Sunday evenings around a get-together, party, or the game. It’s also a good time to look at two stories related to Super Bowl Sunday. The first is the largely debunked myth that domestic violence calls spike around Super Bowl Sunday and other drinking holidays of the year (like New Year’s). Snopes originally tracked down the myth and showed it to be nothing more than another urban legend. Since their last update on the myth in 2005, however (and our article 4 years ago), there’s been further research examining the myth. A 2007 study by Oths & Robertson examined 2,387 crisis call records covering a previous 3-year period. They supplemented the call records with... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239618 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:53:23 +0100 3239618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3224872&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F30%2Fwhy-crash-rates-dont-automatically-fall-with-cellphone-bans%2F Last week, the Highway Loss Data Institute released a report that examined whether collision claims had gone up, down, or stayed the same in states that have banned cellphone use while driving. Their findings should have surprised no one, but seemed to have surprised everyone — crash rates did not go down after a hand-held cellphone ban took effect. Why should this have been of little surprise? 1. A law doesn’t automatically change human behavior. Laws can be wonderful things, but they are only as effective as when people obey them. This is often done with a stick — enforcement — rather than a carrot (such as incentives for safe driving practices). The laws have, according to the New York Times reporting on this study, reduced the use of hand-held cellphones 41 to 7... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3224872 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:06:56 +0100 3224872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3224873&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F30%2Fself-help-course-may-have-led-to-suicide%2F I’ve often wondered what would happen if an undiagnosed manic-depressive participates in The Landmark Forum, receiving counsel from a Forum leader with no education on mood disorders. The result could be devastating, I would think. In real life, let’s take Rebekah Lawrence from Sydney who burst into song while standing naked in her downtown office building, her final words being “I know I am going to jump.” And then leaped out the window. An Associated Press story published a few months ago tells the details. A few days before her jump Lawrence participated in an intense self-help seminar called The Turning Point, comparable to the Forum in the US. Says the article: The course had pledged to change her life. Instead, some say, it led to her death. For nearly 40 year... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3224873 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:55:36 +0100 3224873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216639&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F28%2F7-tips-for-making-the-most-of-online-support-groups%2F Online support groups can be a great source of emotional support and valuable health information you won’t find on any website from the National Institute of Mental Health or others. Some people are a little leery of joining an online support group, however. Others don’t quite understand what benefit they may gain from joining one. Still others understand a support group’s benefits, but feel like they still don’t gain as much from joining one as they had hoped. Your experience in an online support group will inevitably vary. But these tips may help you get the most from your experience, and keep your expectations in check. 1. Take what you need, leave the rest. Many people come into an online support group with their story, asking a specific question about treatment... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216639 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:01:20 +0100 3216639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3208447&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F25%2Fhaiti-relief-a-mindful-dialogue%2F I know many of you have already given to charities in order to help Haiti. Today, as the crisis enters its third week, I ask that you consider giving a little more… A Mindful Dialogue is a new e-book edited by our blogger Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. and that was written to be a companion through life when dealing with stress, pain and difficult emotions. Through 24 interviews with leaders in the field such as Jack Kornfield, Dan Siegel, Sharon Salzberg, Tara Brach, Jeff Brantley, Zindel Segal and Others and 23 short explorations of simple quotes from leaders such as Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Rumi, Hafiz, Pema Chodron and Others, you’ll uncover a mindful path toward working with the stress, pain and difficult emotions in daily life. 100% of the proceeds will go to HOPE FOR HA... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3208447 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:05:31 +0100 3208447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3204933&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F25%2F6-steps-toward-freedom-from-depression%2F After trying 23 medication combinations, 7 psychiatrists, two hospitalization programs, and every form of alternative therapy available–from homeopathic remedies to yoga, I assumed I was one of those unfortunate statistics with treatment-resistant depression, a Humpty-Dumpty type that would never recover from the fall of a nervous breakdown. There was no magic that happened between then and now, the month my book about my recovery hits the shelves. I just kept on getting out of bed. Even on the days where my thoughts were cemented in the black stuff, in negativity and toxic emotions, I tried to pick up one foot and place it in front on the next. Here are the tools I picked up along the way, the basic lessons that help me in my mission to stay Beyond Blue, or at least out of black fo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3204933 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:01:48 +0100 3204933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3204934&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F24%2Fshould-you-lock-up-your-sweets%2F I read a most strange article this morning in my copy of The Boston Globe Magazine by Virginia A. Smith. The author talks about the fact that she and her spouse have a padlocked drawer in their kitchen in which they keep all of their sweets: The lockbox is a large drawer with a padlock worthy of Gitmo in which I store anything loaded with sugar and fat — cookies, chocolate chips, Tostitos, marshmallows, frosting — all stuff I don’t mind my kids having in small quantities. But to John, my middle child, there’s no such thing as moderation. He has never met a grain of sugar, a gram of fat, or a chip of chocolate that he hasn’t wanted to consume immediately. His two sisters keep reasonable control over their food-related cravings. My spouse, Kathy, cannot control herself in ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3204934 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:00:32 +0100 3204934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200483&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F23%2Fbrace-yourselves-for-jan-24-the-most-depressing-day-of-the-year%2F I wanted to give you guys a few days notice … to brace yourself for … the most depressing day of the year! According to Dr. Cliff Arnalls, a British psychologist with Cardiff University, it’s almost like clockwork. A number of factors coincide to make Sunday, January 24th “the perfect storm” when it comes to feeling down. According to Dr. Arnalls, an expert on seasonal disorders, a number of factors “line up” to give this date in late January this dubious distinction: While it is not technically the day with the least sunlight - that’s December 21st, the “Winter Solstice” - weather patterns often conspire in late January to deprive us of the sunlight we might otherwise enjoy, Christmas bills come due around this time, and - espec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200483 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:42:10 +0100 3200483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3175938&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Ftwitter-falsehoods-fly-after-haiti-tragedy%2F Demonstrating the intrinsic nature of twitter as a stream of group consciousness more than anything else, the Haiti tragedy has brought out the rumor mill. And with it, it demonstrates one of the underlying weaknesses of relying on a group stream of consciousness — it’s not always the most accurate thing in the world. The rumors were, thankfully, limited to things that didn’t cause any real harm or damage. Except to the companies who were the subject of the rumors. Their reputations were inadvertently tarnished by being included in the rumors, which they then had to publicly deny. The denial makes them seem a little heartless, so they followup with a public declaration of what they are doing to support the Haitians in their time of need (usually generous monetary donation... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3175938 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:52:56 +0100 3175938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149113&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F07%2Fintroducing-therese-borchards-new-book-beyond-blue%2F Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past year, you probably noticed that one of our regular contributors here has been Therese Borchard. However, she blogs more often and more regularly on her beliefnet.com blog, Beyond Blue. It was actually her wonderfully witty and touching writing there that led me to invite her to blog more regularly here. Therese is a rare find, combining a love of prose with a wealth of personal experiences with depression and other concerns to make for always engaging reading. So it’s no wonder she was able to bundle up that wisdom and publish her first book, Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes. If you’ve enjoyed Therese’s posts either here or on her regular blog at beliefnet.com, then yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149113 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:08:24 +0100 3149113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149115&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F06%2Fthis-emotional-life-why-does-religion-make-people-happier%2F Harvard psychologist and bestselling author Daniel Gilbert has teamed up with Vulcan Productions and the NOVA/WGBH Science Unit to create a multimedia project called This Emotional Life . This 3-part documentary ends tonight on PBS. Featured in the third episode is Dr. Edward Diener, who has studied happiness across cultures and has pinpointed some universal reasons that people are happier. One is religion. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Diener. Question: Why does religion seem to make people happier? Dr. Diener: Many studies find that religious people on average are happier. But since not all religious people are happier, and not all religious beliefs seem to lead to happiness, we have to search for the “active ingredient” in what aspect of religion might increase feel... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149115 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:54:06 +0100 3149115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3126654&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F29%2Fpbss-this-emotional-life-an-interview-with-daniel-gilbert%2F I feel sorry for Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and bestselling author of “Stumbling on Happiness.” He is so good at everything that he has a hard time finding a suitable challenge. Alas, he has found one! The 52-year-old scientist whose work has been covered by every major media news outlet — from The New York Times to Glamour — has teamed up with Vulcan Productions and the NOVA/WGBH Science Unit to create a multimedia project called This Emotional Life. A 3-part documentary premieres on PBS January 4-6, 2010, but there is plenty going on already on the fascinating website, which features expert bloggers and clips from the series. “This is an intellectual odyssey of mine,” Gilbert told me when I had the opportunity to interview him. “It fe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3126654 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:36:35 +0100 3126654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3124577&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F28%2Fthe-power-of-the-will-to-live%2F Last year, we delved into the psychology of New Year’s resolutions, describing what little research has been done on why and how people make New Year’s resolutions. So here’s the good news from this year’s research tidbit — if you’re getting old and thinking that death is on your door, the week is yours to live and enjoy. Chances are good that you’ll make it to New Year’s day. Shimizu & Pelham (2008) looked at death records for millions of people using Social Security Death Index (SSDI) records. This database contains more than 70 million records of people who died in the U.S. in the past 65 years, according to the researchers. They wanted to determine whether people died more often before a major holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3124577 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:03:53 +0100 3124577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123400&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F27%2Fstanding-up-for-yourself-from-a-recovering-people-pleaser%2F I think some people grow up believing in their heart and soul that they are loved and accepted and so therefore don’t have to depend so much on other people to give them their daily dose of attaboys, the approval ratings that determine if they’ll be able to function properly throughout the day. Me? I know, in my adult, neo-cortex, sophisticated part of my brain that I am loved. But the reptilian, immature brat part of my brain does most of the thinking in my noggin. So this girl is petrified of not being liked, of doing anything that might hurt somebody’s feelings, of the slightest confrontation, because whenever she raised a concern in the past, the reprimand for challenging Person A was far more painful than the reason she raised her voice to begin with. I learned that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123400 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:20:17 +0100 3123400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111462&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F22%2F5-tips-for-eating-healthy-through-the-holidays%2F If you are like me, you will be spending 90 percent of your energy from today until January 1 repeating the words “choose the apple … choose the apple” because you know what processed flour and sugar does to your limbic system. It’s not pretty. Which is why I asked Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way to Happiness, to share with us some tips for healthy eating during the holidays. Here she is! * * * The holidays are a time of tradition and ritual, the time spent with loved ones, the feelings of connectedness, the memories, the giving, the celebration of the human spirit makes this time of year magical. The key is to preserve the tradition and avoid the binge. This is the season to splurge — not on endless trays of fudge and cookies, but rather ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111462 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:59:24 +0100 3111462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108396&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F21%2F6-holiday-stress-busters%2F I have a theory regarding holiday stress: In the month of December, high levels of Cortisol (stress hormone) turn 80 percent of the American population into fruitcakes–just like the stale one delivered to your house yesterday.  Because on top of adding 675 things to your to-do list, you’ve now got to deal with the strained relationship with your dad and two brothers. Bummer. Here, then, are my tips to keep your stress down a notch, so that you don’t turn into a fruitcake or hurl the mistletoe at an obnoxious relative. 1. Simplify Cut your to-do list in half. In December??? Yep. Keep on asking yourself this question: Will I die tomorrow if this thing doesn’t get done? 2. Prioritize. Santa needs to put something under the tree for maybe your daughter, mother, hus... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108396 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:03:02 +0100 3108396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105068&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F19%2Fvideo-the-eating-season%2F I call the 61 days between Halloween and New Year’s “the eating season,” because the temptation to snack on all kinds of crap is intrusive this time of year, with boxes of Belgian chocolate coming in with every client who has paid his bill, cocktail parties with egg-nog and Yule logs, enough pumpkin pie to make you feel like a pumpkin, and trays of Christmas cookies everywhere you turn. If your brain is as sensitive as mine — sweets turbo charge the brain and then zap it of all its cognitive powers — you, too, have to pull out ever trick of discipline known to man, more even than is used to train those dogs at the airport who can smell pot on a passenger. Remember this during the eating season: Jesus’ period of temptation ended after 40 days. We got 21 ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105068 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:45:47 +0100 3105068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3100852&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F18%2F7-ways-to-manage-your-diabetic-or-sugar-sensitive-waistline-during-the-holidays%2F This article isn’t just for diabetics. I found the tips by Frederic J.Vagnini, M.D., and Lawrence D. Chilnick, authors of “The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes” to be excellent guidelines for everyone who is sugar sensitive, and I’m putting most depressives into that camp (sorry about that). Here they are: During the holiday season many dedicated dieters or those who follow special diets for diabetes, heart disease or other conditions not only “fall off the wagon” but also leap into the deep end of the pool. Don’t feel guilty. This is a normal reaction to attending large family dinners where everyone makes food loaded with seductive carbohydrates. We also go to multiple parties — sometimes on the same day — where the hosts have hir... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3100852 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:24:43 +0100 3100852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3096903&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F16%2F6-ways-to-manage-anxiety-holiday-stress-tips%2F If you are like me, you’re going to need some tips to manage your holiday stress. Here’s my small contribution to your problem, some Holiday stress management. If your mind were a diesel engine, anxiety would be the leaded gas that was accidentally poured in and responsible for all the burps and stutters. Even more so than depression, I think, anxiety is the big disabler in my life, with a capital D, which is why I try to nip it in its early symptoms. That doesn’t always happen, of course, but here are some techniques I try. 1. Recognize the reptilian brain. My therapist friend Elvira Aletta gives a brilliant neuro-psychology lesson in one of her posts where she explains the two parts of our brain: the primitive part containing the amygdala–which is responsible for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3096903 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:35:48 +0100 3096903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084827&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2F5-ways-to-show-you-care%2F Wondering how you can show someone in your life that you care about them? Here’s a few suggestions that may help you do just that. 1. Do It, Don’t Say It. You know that old common wisdom, “Actions speak louder than words”? Well, it’s true. While you can apologize for not doing something until you’re blue in the face, you’ll gain so much more appreciation by another in your life by simply doing it in the first place. Yes, it means you have to work harder to keep on top of things to begin with, even with simple things like taking out the trash or running that errand you said you would. But the reward is that your loved one will know you care because you just did it without being asked or reminded to do so. 2. Refuse to Argue and Pick Your Battles. Ar... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084827 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:35:31 +0100 3084827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3083079&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F13%2Fmedicaid-children-get-4x-more-antipsychotics%2F If you’re a child in Medicaid, you already have a more difficult life than average ahead of you. Children in Medicaid programs have nearly twice the number of mental health problems than other children. But now new research suggests it gets even worse for children in Medicaid, according to an article in The New York Times — they are prescribed four times the amount of atypical antipsychotic medications than other children: New federally financed drug research reveals a stark disparity: children covered by Medicaid are given powerful antipsychotic medicines at a rate four times higher than children whose parents have private insurance. And the Medicaid children are more likely to receive the drugs for less severe conditions than their middle-class counterparts, the data shows. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3083079 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:25:20 +0100 3083079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063298&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F07%2Fperhaps-why-tiger-woods-cheats%2F While more details of the Tiger Woods scandal continuing to emerge, the inevitable question arises — Why would such a successful, attractive man cheat on his wife and family? Why, in general, do men — and women — cheat? And why would Tiger Woods, one of the most successful professional golfers of all time, cheat on his wife, Elin Nordegren? Psychological research has examined this question and has a few answers. Infidelity occurs for numerous reasons, ranging from personality factors (Orzeck & Lung, 2005) to evolution-based theories about how extra-partner relationships are natural while monogamy is unnatural (Barash & Lipton, 2001). It’s not surprising to find personality factors may influence cheating behavior, because people who are more similar in per... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063298 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:58:51 +0100 3063298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063299&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F06%2F10-reasons-i-quit-smoking%2F You’re almost there. You want to quit. In fact, 80 percent of your brain is sure you can. But 20 percent insists that you can’t. How do you make it over to the other side without falling SPLAT on your face? Do this. Make a list. Of ten reasons you should quit. Here’s mine. 1. Smoking Made Me Sick For real. Within a few minutes of inhaling a few cigarettes, my throat would start to tickle and my head would begin hurt. The day after a binge, I’d wake up with a nasty cold that kept me in bed when I had a million things to do. Smoking shrinks your blood vessels, clogs up your lungs, and wears down your immune system. Your body is less able to fight off bacteria and viruses, so, yes, you get sick. And there’s of course the lung cancer and increased chances of heart... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063299 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:30:28 +0100 3063299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059754&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F05%2Fwhen-antidepressants-fail-to-work-brain-stimulating-techniques-for-treatment-resistant-depression%2F Let’s talk about the huge elephant in the living room of most homes of people who suffer from depression: the fear of treatment resistant depression. What if antidepressant medications fail to work? Are you totally screwed? Confined to a life flipping burgers, not that anything is wrong with that? U.S. News and World Report ran an intriguing article last month, “Chronically Depressed? What to Do When Antidepressants Don’t Work.” Reporter Sarah Baldauf discussed several brain stimulating techniques available to help people with treatment-resistant depression and mood disorders. She first presents the problem we face today: Some 27 million Americans were taking an antidepressant in 2005, more than twice the number almost 10 years earlier, thanks largely to the arrival... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059754 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:32:41 +0100 3059754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044804&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F01%2Fdealing-with-eating-too-much-guilt%2F It’s the week after Thanksgiving and as you try and get back into your daily routine, you can’t help but feel that maybe you ate too much. At our house, it was the celebration of Pie-a-palooza that did us in. (Is there such a thing as too much pie?!) So you’re sitting there thinking, “Gosh, I’m full. I must’ve gained 10 pounds over the holidays. Why did I eat so much?” The dark specter of guilt raises it’s ugly head… What can you do?! Weightless blogger Margarita Tartakovsky has six suggestions on how to make it stop: 1. Accept your feelings and move on. OK, acknowledge that you feel guilty and realize that this is just another feeling. But like other feelings, it will go away. 2. Tell yourself you’ll go back to eating healthfully. N... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044804 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:39:03 +0100 3044804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044806&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F30%2Finsecurity-pain-and-depression%2F We often try and highlight the connections between one’s mental health and their physical health complaints, to demonstrate that the two are inseparable. Yet another study has been published to show how our insecurity can even impact something as physical as the feeling of pain. The study of 382 teenagers showed that those who were more insecure had a tendency to amplify the degree they felt pain: We found that adolescents with insecure relationships tend to be more ‘alarmist’ about their pain symptoms; they have a tendency to amplify the degree of threat or severity of their pain. This amplification leads to more intense pain and more severe depressive symptoms. In other words, the more insecure a teen reportedly was, the more intense pain they complained of, often in the form... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044806 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:30 +0100 3044806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3039844&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F29%2Fwhen-all-else-fails-brain-surgery%2F Like many others, I’ve never been a big fan of surgery as a solution for mental disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or depression. A medical procedure done on a bodily organ whose functioning we’re only beginning to grasp — the brain — seems a little premature. It hits too close to the thinking behind frontal lobotomies and the justifications doctors used for them back in the 1950s and 1960s, “By cutting and removing the front part of the brain, we help quiet the unrest in these troubled minds.” As we later found out, we also quieted the entire person to the point of many of those people become drooling vegetables. That was considered “progress” by many well-educated professionals for many, many years during this time. Amazing.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3039844 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:22:31 +0100 3039844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023179&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F24%2Fwhats-it-going-to-take-to-make-you-happy%2F Happiness. Ahh, what an enticing word that is. Psychologists call it “subjective well-being” (and even abbreviate it as SWB in their research), but it boils down to the same thing — what makes us more happy? And how can we do more of that special stuff that will lead to greater happiness in our lives? This Emotional Life, a new PBS documentary hopes to help answer that question in three 2-hour shows from January 4 through the 6th, 2010. “Each episode weaves together the compelling personal stories of ordinary people and the latest in brain science research, along with revealing comments from celebrities such as Chevy Chase, Larry David, Elizabeth Gilbert, Alanis Morissette, Katie Couric and Richard Gere.” Sounds like good stuff and we’re happy to help pr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023179 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:44:22 +0100 3023179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019063&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F23%2Ffor-thanksgiving-week-4-quick-mindfulness-techniques%2F Image Microforum Italia This is Thanksgiving week … the week some of us are very thankful that we don’t live in the same city as our relatives. So I’m calling in the experts. My friend, Elisha Goldstein, who writes the “Mindfulness and Psychotherapy” blog on Psych Central, offers readers like myself, who are having difficulty with a formal meditation practice, several quick tips for mindful living that can be implemented throughout the day. He writes in his post, “Hectic Life? Quick Tips for Mindful Living” that “even without the time and place in life to set up some formal practice, from the minute you get up in the day to the moment you lay your head on the pillow there is opportunity to engage mindfulness as a way of life, opening you up t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019063 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:12:54 +0100 3019063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015323&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F21%2Fsurviving-the-suicide-of-someone-you-love%2F My brother’s childhood best friend committed suicide. I was 16 years old at the time, Mark (not his real name) was 21. Mark’s parents were close friends of my parents; we played together as little kids, he was my first crush. We drifted apart as we grew up. Mark was a Kennedy-esque figure to me, handsome and smart. Everyone expected great things when he went off to an Ivy League law school. Then he was dead. I have a vivid memory of walking around the neighborhood with Mark’s brother at night. The adults were sitting shiva and he had to get away. Suddenly he grabbed a fallen branch and wailed it on the trunk of a tree. Raw anger. This family did heal. Before support groups or national days of recognition they talked about the conflicting emotions pain, anger, guilt. The ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015323 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:19:11 +0100 3015323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015324&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2Fwoman-loses-sick-leave-benefits-for-depression-thanks-to-facebook-pics%2F Quebec woman Nathalie Blanchard poses on the beach in a Facebook photograph that convinced her insurance company that she was no longer depressed.Can you really determine someone’s mental state by looking at a photograph? Manulife, a Canadian-based financial services company, apparently thinks so. Nathalie Blanchard, a 29-year-old IBM employee from Quebec, took a long-term sick leave from her job after being diagnosed with major depression. Her doctor told her to try & have fun, and to take a sunny vacation to get away from her problems. She did just that while she received monthly sick-leave benefits from Manulife. And she posted her vacation photos on her private Facebook profile. But recently, the monthly payments stopped. So, Blanchard contacted her insurance company to see w... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015324 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:17:30 +0100 3015324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015325&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2F2009-rosalynn-carter-symposium-on-mental-health-policy-recommendations%2F Earlier this month, I was honored to attend the 25th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy in Atlanta, Georgia. The focus of this symposium every year is to tackle a particular issue in mental health policy, population or care. This year focused, fittingly enough, on health care reform and how mental health and substance abuse programs need to be an integrated part of that effort: Currently health care in this country is focused on illness rather than health, on procedures and face-to-face interventions rather than on coordination and prevention, and on fragmented, specialty-driven care rather than on a primary care-driven delivery system. There is a solid evidence base that shows that a health system centered on primary care costs less and has better outcomes on a popu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015325 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:05:44 +0100 3015325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008136&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F19%2F12-ways-to-be-thankful%2F To get us in the mood for the Thanksgiving Holiday! Cicero said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” The English preacher John Henry Jowett wrote that “every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road.” And according to Aseop Fables, “gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” A dear professor of mine just acknowledged a thank-you note I sent him and told me that “gratitude is the sign of maturity and wisdom.” I don’t feel like I’m very good at gratitude. This virtue comes hard to a depressive whose first thoughts are seldom positive. It has only been with much work and lots of practice that I have been able to cultivate gratitude and be genuinely t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008136 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:03:26 +0100 3008136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003821&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fholiday-blues-with-some-shades-of-grey%2F Meagan really wanted this Christmas to be “extra special” — not like last year, when the family dinner turned nasty and Uncle Fred left in a huff. But as Christmas approached, the shopping chores multiplied, and the savings account dwindled, Meagan became increasingly anxious and dejected. Paul, her husband, wasn’t of much help — he was preoccupied with his job search, after having been laid off two months ago. Meagan was left to deal with three school-age kids and a part-time “temp” job as a secretary. And all this, at a time Meagan strongly associated with her late mother, who always used to help with the holiday cooking — and who had passed away at about this time last year. In the past few days, Meagan had found it increasingly hard to fall asleep, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003821 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:58 +0100 3003821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003822&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F17%2F2009-army-suicides-highest-ever%2F While most of us will be spending Thanksgiving with our loved ones next week, there are already 140 Army families who will not be spending this year celebrating their time together. Instead, those families will be mourning the loss of one of their own, due to suicide. With 140 suicides already on the books amongst Army families, 2009 is going to the be a record-breaking year for the Army, but not in a way they would like anyone to notice. 2009 will mark the year that the Army has suffered the highest suicide rate ever. So what does the Army do? Does it recognize the significance of this number with a solemn, sincere statement? No, instead it turns on the full denial PR machine: “We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year,” General Peter Chiarelli, the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003822 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:35:44 +0100 3003822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999592&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F17%2Freducing-marital-stress-through-communication%2F One heavily researched area within psychology is couples’ and marital communication. How a couple chooses to communicate — especially during a conflict — affects all sorts of things in the relationship: stress, relationship health, intimacy, even each person’s health. As Gouin et al. (2009) note in a summary of our existing research on this issue: Individuals reporting lower marital satisfaction experienced more non-specific physical illness symptoms over a 4-year period than individuals with higher marital satisfaction. Among healthy women, lower marital satisfaction was also associated with a more rapid progression of carotid atherosclerosis. Furthermore, women who were initially dissatisfied in their marital relationship were more likely to develop metabolic syn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999592 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:23:39 +0100 2999592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2984846&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F12%2Fthe-carter-centers-mental-health-program%2F Last week while attending the 25th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting for a few moments with Thomas Bornemann, Ed.D. who has served as the Director of The Carter Center Mental Health Program for the past seven years. If you didn’t know, The Carter Center has been a leading force in helping to coordinate national mental health policy over the past two and a half decades. It does most of its work behind the scenes and is rarely noted for what it does best — bringing all stakeholders to the same table to talk and work on how they can advance policy and mental health agendas in the country. They do this through year-round work and collaborations with legislatures, advocates, organizations, non-profits, and other... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2984846 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:51:54 +0100 2984846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981138&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F11%2Fin-honor-of-veterans-2009%2F This Veterans Day, as we honor the sacrifices made by soldiers who’ve served and those who continue to do so, we mark the 91st anniversary of the end of World War I. It seems so long ago to most of us — ancient history. Yet history is a teacher and if we don’t listen, we’re bound to repeat the same mistakes. The mistake we’re repeating today is not doing enough to recognize and take care of veterans’ mental health needs. This isn’t some feel good mantra. This is a very real need that the military continues to have problems meeting. A professional, nonprofit that represents 1,600 behavioral healthcare organizations released a press release yesterday detailing some of the continuing issues. “For instance, while the Veterans Mental Health Act wa... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981138 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:46:09 +0100 2981138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967341&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F06%2Fhow-do-you-treat-empty-nest-depression%2F Several mom friends of mine have lately come down with a bad case of “empty-nest depression” — moms who just dropped off their youngest offspring to college, or moms having difficulty keeping busy now that the youngest is in kindergarten all day. I googled the term “empty-nest depression” to see what I could find on this topic. I was surprised to see the Beyond Blue post I wrote in 2007 at the top of the search results. But, after reading it, I can see why it was so popular. I merely asked a question, and all of you answered it. On the comment box of that post are written different kinds of compassionate and insightful responses to my question: How do you treat empty-nest depression? Beyond Blue reader Barbara initiated the discussion with this practical piec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967341 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:27:41 +0100 2967341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963154&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F05%2Fbye-bye-aspergers-syndrome%2F Is the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome — a mild form of autism mostly diagnosed in boys — heading the way of the dodo bird? A new article in the New York Times suggests that the new revision of the diagnostic manual — the DSM-V — is likely to do away with the diagnosis. How can you just delete an entire diagnosis and do away with a diagnostic label that hundreds of thousands of clinicians use everyday and millions identify with? If you’re the American Psychiatric Association, the folks behind the latest DSM revision, you can pretty much do anything you want. Before I get to Asperger’s, I have to note what’s really cringe-worthy in this article — how it completely misrepresents how mental disorders are diagnosed in practice today. Take... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963154 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:29:03 +0100 2963154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963155&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F04%2Fgroup-therapy-for-binge-eating%2F Binge eating disorder is characterized by a person having frequent episodes of eating what others would consider an abnormally large amount of food, while at the same time feeling out of control — the personal feels like they are unable to control what or how much is being eaten. According to government statistics, people with binge eating disorder are considered clinically obese, but plenty of people can engage in binge eating while maintaining an average or less-than-obese weight. Binge eating disorder probably affects 2 to 3 percent of all adults. People with a binge eating problem often experience: Eating much more rapidly than usual. Eating until uncomfortably full. Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963155 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:30:45 +0100 2963155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963156&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F04%2Fintroducing-weightless-a-blog-about-body-image%2F You really can’t help but be overwhelmed by the amount of focus these days on how a person looks. The people who are most harmed by this shallowness are women, especially young adults, as so many of their role models are “perfect and thin.” How can you have a healthy body image when the media constantly bombards us with messages telling us that the only good body image is a thin one? So it is with great pleasure to bring you a new blog about just this very topic — body image, the skinny fad and learning how to attain freedom from the (weight) numbers and dieting. The blog is called Weightless: As our new blogger, Margarita Tartakovsky, wrote in her introduction to her blog, “Weightless is about well-being, not weight; about fostering body image, regardless o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963156 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:55:04 +0100 2963156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954553&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F03%2Fwhat-health-care-reform-means-for-mental-health%2F Now that it looks like some form of health care reform will be passed this year — barring a catastrophe like Joe Lieberman — we have some idea of how the eventual act will affect mental health services. All of the plans now under consideration will mean some real improvements for mental health consumers, and there doesn’t seem much likelihood of these improvements being cut out before passage. However, it appears that individuals and employers will still have to purchase their insurance from private insurance companies, without competition from a strong public option like Medicare available for everyone. Nevertheless, the “reform” aspect of the bill would require private insurers to make some real changes in how they treat mental health issues. Key Benefits Parity for m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954553 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:08:39 +0100 2954553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950776&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F02%2Fdepression-lifestyle-and-processed-food%2F We know that people who are depressed don’t eat as well as people who don’t have depression. So not surprising to anyone, diet and what we eat remain linked to depression. But despite new research, we still don’t know which way the relationship goes — does diet cause depression, or do people with a certain lifestyle or with depression eat poor diets? They split the participants into two types of diet - those who ate a diet largely based on whole foods, which includes lots of fruit, vegetables and fish, and those who ate a mainly processed food diet, such as sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products. After accounting for factors such as gender, age, education, physical activity, smoking habits and chronic diseases, th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950776 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:53:32 +0100 2950776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943864&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F30%2Fdesign-can-encourage-greater-self-disclosure%2F Every day, our behavior is directly influenced by a number of factors, some of which we may not even be consciously aware of. How things are designed is one of those factors. Psychology researchers call it fluency while web developers call it usability, but they’re both basically talking about the same thing — how well something is designed can directly impact how much people use it. And not only the degree to which they use it, but also the amount of self-disclosure a person makes while using it. Online researchers have repeatedly referred to the disinhibition effect of online behavior — people tend to disclose more about themselves or their personal details online than they do in similar face-to-face interactions. But why do people — especially teens — over... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943864 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:23:25 +0100 2943864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2931032&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2F5-emotional-vampires-and-how-to-combat-them%2F In the spirit of Halloween, I thought you’d all appreciate some vampire talk. In her new book, “Emotional Freedom,” UCLA psychiatrist Judith Orloff identifies five kinds of vampires that are lurking around and can zap our energy if we’re not careful. Here is an excerpt adapted from her book. Emotional vampires are lurking everywhere and wear many different disguises–from needy relatives to workplace bullies. Whether they do so intentionally or not, these people can make us feel overwhelmed, depressed, defensive, angry, and wiped out. Without the self-defense strategies to fend them off, victims of emotional vampires sometimes develop unhealthy behaviors and symptoms, such as overeating, isolating, mood swings, or feeling fatigued. Here are five types of emotio... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2931032 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:03:06 +0100 2931032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927363&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F26%2Fwhy-sleeping-on-it-helps%2F We’re often told, “You should sleep on it” before you make an important decision. Why is that? How does “sleeping on it” help your decision-making process? Conventional wisdom suggests that by “sleeping on it,” we clear our minds and relieve ourselves of the immediacy (and accompanying stress) of making a decision. Sleep also helps organize our memories, process the information of the day, and solve problems. Such wisdom also suggests that conscious deliberation helps decision making in general. But new research (Dijksterhuis et al., 2009) suggests something else might also be at work — our unconscious. Previous research suggests that sometimes the more consciously we think about a decision, the worse the decision made. Sometimes what’s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927363 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:35:15 +0100 2927363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927364&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F26%2Fare-the-media-becoming-addicted-to-internet-addiction%2F As Dr. John Grohol has cogently argued, there are many reasons to be skeptical of “Internet Addiction” as a discrete and specific “disorder” or diagnosis. Yet I am impressed, and a bit dismayed, by all the attention this issue seems to garner in the popular media. I don’t intend any disrespect to the reporters and journalists who are trying to cover the topic, several of whom have graciously interviewed me. Some reporters are as skeptical as many of us in the mental health field, and a number have asked pertinent questions as to how real so-called Internet addiction is. I simply wish that devastating illnesses like schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder created such a buzz in the media and in the awareness of the general public. Over the last 30... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927364 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:01:59 +0100 2927364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2924848&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F25%2Foptimism-software-technology-meets-self-help%2F Ever since I was discharged from the inpatient psychiatric program at Johns Hopkins, I have kept a mood journal where I daily record the amount of hours I sleep, my mood (rating it a fantastic and serene no. 1 to a frazzled, and I’m-headed-back-to-the-community-room no. 5), any foods that have triggered hyperactivity or irritability (such as a triple espresso and half of a chocolate-mousse pie), my anxiety level, any medication and vitamin/supplement changes, and a list of things I’m obsessing about: weight, job, friends, sisters, yada yada yada. My journal looks like my house: messy … dangerously messy. I scribble something down and then Katherine gets a hold of the pad and draws a mermaid, or a big X through the object of obsession. In other words: it’s not a good... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2924848 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:31:31 +0100 2924848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912249&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F21%2Fthe-4-kinds-of-friends-you-need-in-your-life%2F You hear about peer pressure when you are the sixth grade, but no one talks about it once you’ve graduated from college, have a job, and especially once you’re mature enough to find a mate and make babies. But the kind of folks you hang with influence you more than you think. Peer pressure never goes away. Multiple studies show that human beings unconsciously and consciously mimic the behaviors of those around them. Folks hanging out with optimists become optimists themselves. Women who cheat on their husbands dally with other cheaters. In his insightful book, “Bounce: Living the Resilient Life,” psychology professor Robert Wicks recommends that we invite into our circle of friends four types of people: the prophet, the cheerleader, the harasser, and guides. By incl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912249 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:16:33 +0100 2912249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912250&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F20%2Ffat-talk-free-week%2F Talking about our weight, the circumference of our thighs or our disastrous double chin is as natural (and hard to resist) as comparing ourselves to others, which is as natural (and hard to resist) as blinking. And apparently, it brings us together. According to one study, we bond over fat talk. When everyone’s doing it, it can be tough not to join in. “Because women feel pressured to follow the fat talk norm, they are more likely to engage in fat talk with other females,” Martz [co-author of the study] told LiveScience. “Hence, women normalize their own body dissatisfaction with one another. If there are women out there who feel neutrally or even positively about their bodies, I bet we never hear this from them for fear of social sanction and rejection,” she said. And the fat ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912250 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:19:44 +0100 2912250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912251&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F20%2Fqa-with-julie-holland%2F Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, is recognized in the industry as both a clinician and public speaker. A certified eating disorders specialist, she has directed marketing and customer relationship management programs at several leading eating disorder treatment programs across the country. Ms. Holland has specialized in the treatment self-esteem, eating and body image issues for adults and adolescents for more than 23 years. She is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Director of Certification for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, as well as an Approved IAEDP Supervisor. How does fat talk affect one’s self image? Fat talk brings a sense of negativity toward how individuals think about themselves and their body. It can also affect how individuals relate... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912251 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:19:29 +0100 2912251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902814&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F18%2F7-myths-of-depression%2F Depression is often viewed as the “common cold” of mental disorders, because it is so prevalent in our lives. The lifetime prevalence of depression suggests that more than 1 in 9 people could be diagnosed with the disorder at one point in their lives. And unlike some other mental disorders, depression affects virtually every aspect of what you do and how you interact with others. Every year, it wreaks havoc in millions of Americans’ lives, especially amongst those who believe it is something you should just “get over” on your own. Here are seven common myths about depression, and the facts that answer them. 1. Depression means I’m really “crazy” or just weak. While depression is indeed a serious mental disorder, it is no more serious than mos... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902814 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:05:35 +0100 2902814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894565&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F15%2Fminding-the-media-ralph-lauren-sinks-lower-and-lower%2F Model Filippa Hamilton — 5′10″ and 120 pounds — recently was fired from Ralph Lauren for being fat. According to Hamilton, who had worked for the designer since 2002, “they fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn’t fit in their clothes anymore.” After initially picking my jaw up off the floor, I wondered, “Should we really be flabbergasted?” Unfortunately, most of us are well aware of the fashion industry’s skewed standards. Just recently fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld had this to say after finding out that the German magazine, Brigitte was going to use “real women” instead of models: No one wants to see curvy women. You’ve got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying thin models... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894565 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:09:06 +0100 2894565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883060&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F12%2F6-steps-to-quiet-the-mind%2F I was all set to interview Eric Swanson, coauthor (with Yongey Mingur Rinpoche) of “Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Find Freedom,” when I realized that my main question — Can you give me some concrete steps to quiet the mind? — was already addressed in his book! So he and Harmony Books graciously gave me permission to reprint parts of chapter seven on “Attention.” Here, then, is the step-by-step approach to mindfulness or meditation — the basic practices of quieting the mind — provided in “Joyful Wisdom”: Step One: Objectless Attention The most basic approach to attention is referred to as “objectless”–not focusing on any specific “scene” or aspect of experience, but just looking and marveling a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883060 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:05:01 +0100 2883060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2881206&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F11%2Fa-loved-ones-photo-helps-reduce-your-pain%2F Previous psychological research has demonstrated that the mere presence of a loved one — a partner, family member or friend — can help reduce one’s subjective experience of physical pain (for instance, during a medical procedure), versus experiencing similar pain while alone. This research has been replicated over the years in various settings and in such a way as to suggest that this indeed might be a causal relationship. That is, the presence of a loved one actually helps reduce our feelings of pain. What is this same phenomenon could occur without a loved one being present? Would a photo suffice to also help reduce pain? Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (Master et al., 2009) designed an elegantly simple laboratory experiment to find out. They ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2881206 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:09:34 +0100 2881206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879446&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F10%2Femotions-and-sensitivity-an-interview-with-michael-jawer%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Michael Jawer, coauthor of “The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion,” which you can read about at www.emotiongateway.com. He is an emotion researcher and expert on “sick building syndrome” and lives in Vienna, Virginia. I found his book incredibly intriguing and comprehensive. He dabbles in every topic you have ever wondered about in relationship to depression: sensitivities to chemicals, highly-sensitive people, different types of personalities, what the brain does while feeling anger and fear as opposed to compassion and empathy. Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed, Michael! 1. Since you’re a specialist in this area–and I have always wondered this myself, feeling the effects of toxic places–how does poor air ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879446 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:06:13 +0100 2879446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876096&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Ffacebook-myspace-and-twitter-evil-to-teens%2F “This technology may be interfering with the normal development of a generation, prolonging the “normal” narcissism of adolescence and preventing the establishment of mature relationships.” Quiz time! Does this quote refer to: Radio Television Video games Facebook, YouTube or Twitter All of the above None of the above If you answered anything other than #5, you’re incorrect. Although the author of that quote, Lauren D. LaPorta, MD, writing in a recent issue of Psychiatric Times, suggests it is only #4. That suddenly, despite a century of significant technological advances prior to it — including the entire Industrial Revolution! — it is the Internet that’s going to irreparably harm children. By creating a nation of narcissists. But let’... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876096 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:43:09 +0100 2876096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862559&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F05%2Fthe-type-c-personality-are-you-susceptible-to-illness%2F Are you more susceptible to illness than other people? Do you have difficulty establishing proper boundaries in relationships, and communicating your needs? You could be a Type C personality, which makes you more susceptible to illnesses, says Michael Jawer in the fascinating book he wrote with Marc Micozzi, M.D, Ph.D., called “The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion: How Feelings Link the Brain, the Body, and the Sixth Sense,” which you can read about at www.emotiongateway.com.Here’s what Michael writes about the Type C Personality: In recent years, a cluster of personality characteristics has come to be identified as the Type C personality, someone who is at heightened risk for a slew of afflictions, from colds to asthma to cancer. In contrast with the Type A person (who anger... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862559 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:01:25 +0100 2862559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855639&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F02%2F5-ways-highly-sensitive-people-can-live-in-an-insensitive-world%2F The following tips are from Jenna Forrest, an empowerment coach in Durham, North Carolina who helps her highly sensitive clients to understand, refine, and embrace their sensory abilities. 1. Understand their Trait: The sensitive must first get to know him/herself in the context of their trait. They can do this by reading books about their trait and connecting with other sensitives to share experiences. The result can be a wonderful feeling of relief and being “ok.” As understanding develops, the person may fine him/herself - perhaps for the first time in their life - telling themselves and others the whole truth about how they feel and what they need. 2. Receive Validation: Many sensitives grew up being seen as different and odd, being labeled, reprimanded in school, etc. Th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855639 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:50:42 +0100 2855639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842588&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Fadding-counseling-to-doctor-visits%2F The problem? Mental health problems occur throughout many people’s lives and yet they don’t seek out specific help for them. Instead, they turn to their primary care physician to help relieve associated physical complaints. Don Sapatkin, writing for The Philadelphia Inquirer, has the story: Mental health traditionally has been considered a specialist level of care, and often requires a referral. Yet huge numbers of people go to their doctor for problems that have a behavioral component: headache, fatigue, even diabetes that is out of control because stress has gotten in the way of refilling a script. Some have a serious problem but don’t want to see a specialist; more antidepressants are prescribed by primary doctors than by psychiatrists. Others have less significant be... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842588 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:35:35 +0100 2842588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838982&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F28%2F6-healthy-habits-that-can-make-you-sick%2F I dance the Macarena whenever I come across an article that argues against healthy living. I cautioned you against too much positive thinking a few days ago. I laughed while reading research about dark chocolate firing up the happy brain. And I high fived the doctors who warn folks against too much sunscreen — because it blocks the vitamin D that all of us need. I hate that stuff and was looking long and hard for an excuse not to look like a clown this summer. Thank you! I’ve even performed the opposite of an intervention with one of my friends last week who was foolishly trying to give up alcohol and nicotine at the same time. “No, no, no,” I told her. “You can’t do both of these together and expect to keep friends. Now I suggest you go pour yourself a ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838982 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:43:58 +0100 2838982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2836218&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F27%2Fthe-debilitating-effects-of-tv-on-children%2F Most of us are generally aware that television isn’t the healthiest of activities. Yet, like cigarette smoking in the 1970s, it’s one of those harms we continue to whitewash or worse — exposing our children to it as though it were as innocent as playing with Tinkertoys. Yet as today’s Boston Globe reminds us, TV is not this passive device you sit your children in front of with no ill effects. Decades worth of research have shown the harmful effects of TV on your child’s development. Most child psychologists and child development experts recommend no TV whatsoever for a child before the age of 2 or 3. None. Yet a whopping 43 percent of parents plop their toddler down in front of the television set, apparently blind to the consequence of their actions. But don&#... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2836218 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:05:50 +0100 2836218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2834295&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F26%2Fbounce-6-steps-to-become-more-resilient%2F Resilience. That’s what I’m after. To be able to find my balance after hitting a pot hole. To wake up with hope after enduring a series of frustrations. To look beyond the circumstances of my life in order to enjoy the moment. Yes. I want to become more resilient. So it was with great interest that I read Robert Wick’s book, “Bounce: Living the Resilient Life.” Here are six of the suggestions he presents in his book. A professor of psychology at Loyola University, Maryland, Dr. Wicks is author of numerous books, including “Prayerfulness” that I featured earlier this year. Step One: Become Aware of Acute Stress and Toxic Situations In his first chapter, Dr. Wicks talks about how to recognize chronic and acute stress, and what causes burnout. As a s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2834295 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:05:34 +0100 2834295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809717&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F19%2F8-survival-tips-for-the-spouse-of-a-terminally-ill-person-an-interview-with-owen-surman-md%2F Recently I had the honor of interviewing Owen Stanley Surman, M.D., a practicing hospital psychiatrist known internationally for his work on psychiatric and ethical aspects of solid organ transplantation. Following the death of his wife, Dr. Surman devoted six years to writer a memoir, “The Wrong Side of an Illness: A Doctor’s Love Story,” which includes a deeply personal and unique view of events both tragic and transcendent. He now lives in Boston with his new wife.   Question: What words of wisdom would you give the spouse of a person struggling with chronic illness or terminally ill? Dr. Surman: Chronic illness and terminal illness have a pervasive impact on how we live our lives and in our sense of identity. Loss of a loved one affects the part of ourselves that... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809717 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:55:18 +0100 2809717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790299&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F13%2Ftest-predicts-depression-medication-response%2F Did you know that as much as some doctors and researchers like to think that medicine is a science, it is very much an art too? You can see that no more clearly than in the decision process doctors use to prescribe a specific psychiatric medication. Ask a psychiatrist what their usual depression treatment regimen is, and they’ll usually talk to you about using one or two different antidepressants they are most familiar and comfortable with prescribing — not which medication is best for the patient. Why is that? Wouldn’t you like to prescribe the most effective medication for a particular patient based upon their brain’s chemical structure and likely reaction to it? We sure would, but until recently, we had few ways to determine how a person might react to particular... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790299 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:35:31 +0100 2790299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778488&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F09%2F3-ways-we-can-control-our-moods%2F Larry Drain of the Hopeworks Community blog wrote an excellent post the other month on three things we can do about our moods: prevention, coping, learning. He writes “Moods are processes — not events. They have a coming and a going.” Like mindfulness specialist Elisha Goldstein, he reminds us of our mood’s impermanence… That they don’t have stick if we can learn how to cook them and our thoughts with Teflon (preferably the non-cancer-causing kind). Even though I know, on some level, that moods are temporary and transient, it was helpful to remind myself of three proactive ways I can, much like my adorable golden-chow mutts, take their leashes into my hands, grab the poop bag, and regain control. Larry writes: Depending on where you are with the mood the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778488 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:24:02 +0100 2778488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766072&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F04%2Fwhat-makes-us-happy-my-interview-with-joshua-wolf-shenk%2F In June of this year, Joshua Wolf Shenk published the fascinating essay “What Makes Us Happy?” in The Atlantic. It was riveting. Joshua spent about a month in the file room of the Harvard Study of Adult Development hoping to learn the secret of happiness. The project is one of the longest-running and probably the most exhaustive longitudinal studies of mental and physical well-being in history. Basically, for 72 years researchers at Harvard have been following 268 men who entered college in the late 1930s–following them through war, career, marriage and divorce, parenthood and grandparenthood, and old age. A brilliant man named George Vaillant has directed the study for 40-plus years, compiling and processing all the information. So what did Joshua learn? What makes for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766072 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:58:48 +0100 2766072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2751973&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2Fcan-art-improve-your-health%2F It’s not news to most of us that our environment can have an impact on our mood. A cloudy day. Working in a cubicle farm. Growing up in poverty. But can it also impact our health? There’s a growing body of research that suggests the beneficial effects of picking and hanging the “right” artwork in hospitals, to help healing and improve patients’ mood: Nanda, who has a doctorate in architecture with a specialization in health-care systems and design, says scientific studies show that art can aid in the recovery of patients, shorten hospital stays and help manage pain. But she says it has to be the right art - vivid paintings of landscapes, friendly faces and familiar objects can lower blood pressure and heart rate, while abstract pictures can have the opposite ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2751973 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:20:00 +0100 2751973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2745520&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F29%2Frecovery-from-addiction-and-depression-an-interview-with-vivian-eisenecher%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing Vivian Eisenecher, author of “Recovering Me, Discovering Joy,” and a sought after speaker, mentor and writer since 1996. Her other published works include articles for “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and Woman’s World. Her inspirational story has been enthusiastically received by churches, companies and corporations, national organizations and national associations. She is passionate about reducing the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse. She loves helping people meet their potential and discover joy in their lives! Question: I love the definition of authentic success that you give in your book. You spell out PROCESS as an acrostic and go through the seven components of process. Could you abbreviate them here for my ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2745520 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:03:17 +0100 2745520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741427&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F28%2Fself-esteem-the-great-weight-debate-acceptance-v-diet%2F Here’s the thing. There are people out there who hate their body for what it is. A lot of overweight people judge themselves in a way they would never judge anyone else. When we get like this, every ounce of our self-esteem is wrapped up in what the scale says. Our lives are measured by pounds lost and gained from day to day, week to week, month to month. At its worst, this way of thinking can lead to a serious, life-threatening eating disorder. But even at its best, self-esteem/weight dependency is not good. Yes, I struggle with being overweight, but I try not to hate myself for it. I am grateful for my body. It’s worked hard to keep me healthy over the years through all my relapses and dealings with chronic illness. God made us the stewards of the earth and our bodies. It&#82... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741427 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:51:45 +0100 2741427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734092&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F26%2Fwhat-is-normal-eating%2F Today, the definition of normal eating is blurry. It’s gotten lost amid buzz words like “diet,” “restriction,” “willpower” and “flat abs.” It’s sandwiched between the sizable stacks of “shoulds”: I should diet. I should abstain from dessert. I should count calories. I should avoid “bad” foods. I should have an invisible stomach, smaller hips and thin thighs. While reading Purge: Rehab Diaries (stay tuned for the review) by Nicole Johns, about the author’s experiences in an eating disorder center, I came across the following definition of normal eating. It was created by Ellyn Satter, an expert on eating and feeding. Satter writes: “Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734092 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:14:32 +0100 2734092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724912&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F21%2F10-things-to-say-to-a-sick-friend%2F Years ago, when I was pretty sick with a bad flare-up of scleroderma and unable to leave the house, a friend of mine would call once in a while to say, “I’m going to the supermarket. Can I pick anything up for you?” That simple offer filled me with love. Most times I’d say, “No thanks, Julie, I’m all set,” but I’d hang up with a lighter heart and a smile on my face. Lisa Copen has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 16 yrs. She’s a mom and wife, an author, speaker and founder of Invisible Illness Week, September 14-20, 2009. Lisa used Twitter in a very clever way. She asked her followers a question: What would be a good thing to say to a sick person? She says, “Oftentimes people are told what not to say. This is a great help in gi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724912 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:51:48 +0100 2724912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719754&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F20%2Fdrinking-diaries-on-rejecting-addiction-and-drama%2F I was recently invited by Caren Osten Gerszberg and Leah Odze Epstein who write and compile the fun blog, “Drinking Diaries” to contribute my two-cents on where I am with the whole drinking thing. Check out the other interesting pieces at www.drinkingdiaries.com. It’s been 20 years since I used vodka like aspirin — to numb my pain. In fact, I’ve been sober 17 years more than I drank, since I quit before I was old enough to buy the stuff. So my brain should be used to ordering Perrier with lime and shaking my head politely as the merlot bottle comes my way. I should be so used to drinking non-alcoholic beverages at cocktail hours that I don’t give alcohol a second thought. But the truth is that ex-drunks need to stay in recovery their whole lives. Like ca... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719754 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:38:05 +0100 2719754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719755&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F20%2Fwhy-doctors-avoid-mental-health-treatment%2F It’s no wonder mental health stigma still exists surrounding issues like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Physicians who are the front-line treatment providers for mental health issues don’t always recognize the value of mental health professionals for their own mental health needs. Or they recognize the value, but don’t use them because of concerns about privacy and confidentiality. In a just-published survey of 3,500 doctors in the UK, researchers found: Nearly three quarters of respondents said they would rather discuss mental health problems with family or friends than seek formal or informal advice, citing reasons such as career implications, professional integrity, and perceived stigma of mental health problems. Let’s go through some of those ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719755 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:42:55 +0100 2719755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712166&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F18%2Fmental-resiliency-training-planned-for-soldiers%2F Filed under the “better late than never” department, we have word via The New York Times today that the U.S. military is finally recognizing the importance of fitness. Not just physical fitness, mind you, but mental fitness training, in the form of improving one’s resiliency: The training, the first of its kind in the military, is meant to improve performance in combat and head off the mental health problems, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, that plague about one-fifth of troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania has been consulting with the Pentagon on the innovative program. There’s no direct research that’s been conducted on soldiers to see if such a pr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712166 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:05:20 +0100 2712166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699656&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F14%2F5-good-reasons-to-track-your-mood-an-interview-with-james-bishop%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my first Internet buddies, James Bishop, who runs the site FindingOptimism.com and writes the Finding Optimism blog which has been voted as one of the top depression blogs by Psych Central. James also is the brainiac behind Optimism Software, a tool to help you track your mood. Question: Why did you develop the software, James? Was there a certain “Aha!” moment you’d like to share with us, as though you were sitting on the Oprah set? James: An “Aha!” moment? Yes, I’ve had lots of those. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 6 years ago, and I started on the difficult path of finding appropriate treatment. At the same time Anna started keeping a paper health journal. In 2004 I took part in a 6-part e... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699656 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:39:37 +0100 2699656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681955&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F08%2F4-ways-to-get-past-cold-feet-or-any-kind-of-anxiety%2F Fresh Living blogger Holly Lebowitz Rossi recently wrote a helpful post on how to get past cold feet or any second-guessing for that matter. She writes: I have a theory about why moving inherently involves a cold-feet stage. Here it is–moving is a zillion tiny decisions all crammed inside a giant, life-altering decision. And inside a human brain, those all conspire to result in self-doubt and second-guessing. I suspect her theory is correct. And it is compounded by any underlying depression or anxiety disorder. In fact, at every “check up from the neck up” as Eric likes to call my psychiatric sessions, Dr. Smith will always ask me, “Have you had a hard time making decisions lately?” To which I will respond, “Ummm. Well…. Let’s see…..&#8... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681955 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:06:07 +0100 2681955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2678684&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F06%2F8-tools-for-happiness-gretchen-rubins-happiness-project-toolbox%2F As someone who suffers from manic-depression, I have a box of tools that I use to help me stay on the path of recovery and get as far away as possible from the black hole of despair. However, they are not all that different from the eight tools that blogger/author Gretchen Rubin uses in her happiness project. Now Gretchen offers a website, The Happiness Project Toolbox, where she helps you tailor the tools to your own life and, in the process, see what others have to say about them. Her site, the Happiness Project Toolbox, offers eight free tools. Like James Bishop’s Optimism Software, Gretchen’s tools help you become an active participant in your recovery, transferring some of the accountability for serenity to you. And because they involve you in the path to peace, you come ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2678684 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:47:48 +0100 2678684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667483&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F04%2Fcoalition-for-patients-rights-interview-with-dr-katherine-nordal%2F I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Dr. Katherine Nordal from the Coalition for Patients’ Rights. She has also been the Executive Director for Professional Practice at the American Psychological Association (APA) since April 2008. She talked with me as a spokesperson for the Coalition for Patients’ Rights. Dr. John Grohol: To get started today, can you tell me a little bit about your professional background? Dr. Katherine Nordal: I came to the APA from Mississippi where I had been in independent practice for 28 years. I owned my own clinic. It was a small group practice. We had a rather diverse practice, everything from individual patient services to business consultation to working with the fire department and police departments and sheriff’s departm... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667483 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:07:24 +0100 2667483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2663989&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F03%2Fjohns-hopkins-when-a-survey-isnt-really-research%2F So when is a survey not research? When it’s a survey conducted by Johns Hopkins, apparently. We all know Johns Hopkins as one of those premier medical institutions in the U.S. Like the Harvard Medical School or the Mayo Clinic, most Americans recognize the name as being synonymous with quality medicine and research. So what would you think if you received a survey called the “Johns Hopkins 2009 Health America Survey?” You’d think, cool, Johns Hopkins wants me to participate in some of their medical research and tell them about my health. You’d be wrong, though. Trisha Torrey, blogging over at the Patient Empowerment Blog, got such a survey and began wondering about the pitch to purchase one of their 15 “white papers” on the conditions listed in th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2663989 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:10:03 +0100 2663989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657716&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F31%2Fdepression-increases-the-risk-of-major-diseases-and-illnesses%2F It’s fairly known that depression can occur after a heart attack and can increase the likelihood of a second heart attack. But did you know that the flip side is also true? That depression itself can increase a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. A recent Johns Hopkins Health Alert reports: Prospective studies show that people who had no CHD [coronary heart disease] but were depressed when the studies began were more likely to develop or die of heart disease. Depression also aggravates chronic illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, back problems, and asthma, leading to more work absences, disability, and doctor visits. Now results from a large Norwegian study suggests that depression increases the risk of death from most other major diseases, including stroke, respiratory... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657716 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:04:17 +0100 2657716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649061&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fdivorce-hurts-not-only-emotionally-but-also-physically%2F This study suggests another reason to seek out marital or family counseling before getting a divorce, which should be seen for what it is — a choice of very last resort, after other honest attempts have been made to fix the relationship. Divorce hurts everyone, even your children. And this study shows that even after remarrying, for some reason people who had previously divorced still report more health concerns than those who never divorced. Of course divorce is a legitimate option for couples who’ve already tried everything else. Perhaps being aware of all the additional concerns you and your children may be at risk for can help you help ward them off — or at least better recognize them if they do happen. The study also demonstrates yet again the intimate connections b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649061 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:40 +0100 2649061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621853&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F20%2F10-tips-for-getting-it-done-today%2F Procrastination is something most people have had to deal with at some point in their lives. We put things off, especially things that are boring, lengthy, drudgery, or might challenge us in some unexpected or unforseen way. It’s not that we don’t think we can do it (although for some people, that’s indeed a thought that enters their mind); it’s more often the case that we know we can do it, we just don’t want to. Procrastination can be beaten through some simple tips — by becoming more aware of the self-defeating thoughts you’re telling yourself about doing the task, and by becoming better organized. Although the tips are easy, putting them into use takes practice and repetition. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed at first; ju... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621853 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:38:07 +0100 2621853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2615381&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F18%2Fimprisoning-people-with-mental-illness%2F People with mental illness are increasingly ending up being imprisoned, rather than in the mental health care system where many of them belong. With the down economy, states and counties — who are primarily responsible for the health of the indigent — cut social services first. And with most public psychiatric hospitals long-since closed, people who have a mental disorder end up being warehoused not in hospitals, but in prisons. Yes, we succeeded in closing down the state mental hospitals. But we moved the population not to outpatient facilities, but to our prisons. Now, finally, people are realizing the short-sightedness of locking people with mental illness up, as the spiraling prison costs of doing so become a burden to cash-strapped local governments. In Philadelphia, a ne... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2615381 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:11:30 +0100 2615381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613899&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F18%2Fhow-does-a-person-live-and-cope-with-a-dysfunctional-family-an-interview-with-nancy-bachrach%2F Today’s interview is somewhat untraditional, but I think you’ll enjoy it. After I read the hilarious anecdotes in Nancy Bachrach’s newly released memoir, “The Center of the Universe,” I knew I had to dig a little more on how, exactly, she copes with a dysfunctional family. Nancy formerly worked in advertising in New York and Paris, where she got to “spin hot air like cotton candy, glorifying her clients’ beloved denture adhesives and powdered orange-juice substitutes.” Before that? She was a “clumsy waitress at Howard Johnson’s, an overzealous customer-service rep fired for making genuine apologies, a stenographer for an insomniac poet, and a teaching assistant in the philosophy department at Brandeis University, where she was one... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613899 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:19:47 +0100 2613899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610998&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F16%2Fthinking-of-moving-in-think-again-if-goal-is-marriage%2F Research published in February of this year confirms previous research that has found that if you have an interest in marrying a person, you’re better off not living with them before you get engaged. Rhoades et al. (2009) compiled their study by phoning 1,050 individual men and women from different relationships and asking them to complete a brief telephone survey. Participants were generally younger (18 to 34 years old) and had been married for 10 years or less. The majority of participants (91.8%) had never been divorced. Regarding cohabitation history, 40.5% reported that they did not live with their spouse before marriage, 16.4% cohabited only after engagement, and 43.1% cohabited before engagement. After administering their survey — which included demographic information... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610998 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:35:12 +0100 2610998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602046&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Fbremners-false-claims-about-postpartum-depression%2F Psychiatrist J. Douglas Bremner has weighed in on the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, an effort to provide voluntary screenings to pregnant women to help identify postpartum depression before it becomes overwhelming. I’ll let Bremner speak for himself: The problem with this is the attitude that being a mother is a risk factor for a psychiatric disorder. First of all, there is no evidence that women without a prior history of anxiety and depression have any increased risk of getting post partum depression. So to screen all moms as if giving birth is a risk factor for depression is ridiculous. My BS alert goes off whenever someone tries to change the argument from a reasonable effort to help increase education and information about a stigmatized mental health issue, to hyperbole,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602046 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:10:42 +0100 2602046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598285&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Fgroup-exercise-helps-addicts%2F Even before I read Kate Dailey’s Newsweek post, “From Excess to Exercise: Group Helps Men and Women Live Sober Through Sweat,” I was a firm believer in group exercise as a way to treat addiction. For a variety of different reasons: The bond and community element is much like those that form in 12-step groups, The exercise itself has an antidepressant effect: the dopamine release can help to minimize the craving for alcohol and drugs, A kind of discipline is learned that will benefit the recovery from addiction, A sense of empowerment is achieved. I relied on group exercise just as much as my meetings when I was newly sober. A few of us would take long bike rides on the weekends that helped me grieve the loss of my best friend (liquor). I look back with fondness on thos... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598285 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:55:23 +0100 2598285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584213&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F09%2F6-steps-for-beating-depression%2F This study–along with a handful of others like it–suggests that omega-3s may be among the most effective antidepressant substances ever discovered. 2. Engaged Activity According to Ilardi, engaged activity keeps us from ruminating, and ruminating causes depression. I understand his logic, and he is right that we are more isolated now in our lifestyle than even 10 years ago because technology allows us to do our jobs individually. Says Ilardi: The biggest risk factor for rumination is simply spending time alone, something Americans now do all the time. When you’re interacting with another person, your mind just doesn’t have a chance to dwell on repetitive negative thoughts. But, really, any sort of engaged activity can work to interrupt rumination. It can even be som... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584213 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:49:20 +0100 2584213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576650&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F06%2F4-steps-to-mindfulness%2F I’ve been pursuing a better understanding mindfulness — and trying to practice it — for a good six months now. In the last few weeks, though, I think I’ve made some progress due to a CD I’ve been listening to by Dr. Elisha Goldstein (who pens the Mindfulness blog here, too) called “Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression.” I have been listening to the CD in the car on my way to pick up the kids from camp or run an errand (I don’t close my eyes, though, like you are supposed to). At any rate, his four step model to mindfulness has helped me divide the awesome job of becoming more mindful into a few steps that are easier to process. He breaks mindfulness into four categories: calming exercises, mindfulness of thoughts, mindfulness... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576650 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:10:02 +0100 2576650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570606&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F03%2F6-quick-sanity-tricks%2F Awhile back I asked you for your sanity tricks, techniques that help you fight the forces of the dark side. Here are some of the gems. 1. Learn the alphabet. Do you know why the vowel “I” comes well before the vowel “U”? Because a person must take care of herself before trying to help someone else or the world. It’s the same logic that flight attendants use when they swear to you that your plane isn’t going to crash, but in the event that it does, you’d be smart to fasten your own oxygen mask before helping the kiddies. Do it in reverse, and you’ll all run out of air. 2. Stop the singing lessons. I could have used this one a long time ago: “Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.” In other words, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570606 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:02:06 +0100 2570606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561335&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F01%2Fdads-daughters-and-body-image%2F We’ve already talked about how moms and daughters can help boost each other’s body image. However, moms aren’t the only influential ones. Dads, too, play a pivotal role in shaping their daughter’s body image. And parents today have a lot to contend with; our society isn’t getting any easier on girls (or boys). It’s tough enough on full-grown women to navigate the treacherous world of women’s magazines, double-zero clothing and weight-loss ads. Add to that peer teasing and cyberbullying, and it’s understandable why some dads are voicing their concern. Paul Nyhan in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer described his fears of raising his daughter in our appearance-conscious society: “Girls as young as 7 are now treated for anorexia, more than 40 percent of girls in first, second a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561335 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:59:39 +0100 2561335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2550249&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F28%2F4-things-healthy-older-people-have-in-common%2F I’m, right now and right here, sitting on the peak of that so-called hill we always talk about. Things could go swell for another 40 years, at which time I’ll be buried by any remaining friends. Or they could blow up in my face and trim my life back by a few decades. My body is no longer resilient to careless experiments. That’s for sure. At almost 40, I do indeed suffer the consequences of an extra shot of espresso, two nights of interrupted sleep, or a chocolate binge. The forgiveness and flexibility of my youth has officially gone bye-bye. So I’ve begun to ask myself what the energetic 80-year-olds that swim at the Naval Academy with me are doing differently than the lifeless elderly folks at the senior center I occasionally visit. And, yes, I’ll occasiona... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2550249 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:26:41 +0100 2550249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523127&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F26%2Fboredom-can-be-a-door-to-new-growth%2F A few days ago a friend forwarded me a post on DailyOM.com called “Boredom: Fanning the Creative Flames.” It says: The human mind thrives on novelty. What was once a source of pleasure can become tedious after a time. Though our lives are full, boredom lurks around every corner because we innately long for new experiences. Yet boredom by its very nature is passive. In this idle state of mind, we may feel frustrated at our inability to channel our mental energy into productive or engaging tasks. We may even attempt to lose ourselves in purposeless or self-destructive pursuits. While this can be a sign of depression, it can also be an invitation issued from your mind, asking you to challenge yourself. Boredom can become the motivation that drives you to learn, explore the exotic... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523127 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:32:10 +0100 2523127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511155&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F24%2Ftips-to-find-a-good-enough-doctor%2F When you have a chronic illness your relationship with your doctor is second only to your spouse or your parents. Being honest (and you must be honest!) with that person means being able to trust them to hear you. In my CI career I fired three highly recommended specialists because they were rude poopy heads. Thankfully I’ve also had wonderful physicians who literally saved my life and my mind. Not uncommonly for people with chronic illness, the path to find a good-enough doctor is an odyssey. Laura Hillenbrand, author of the fabulous book Seabiscuit: An American Legend, was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but not before she was put through all kinds of humiliation by physicians who out of ignorance did not listen to her. “The doctor I found waved me into a chair and began ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511155 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:11:33 +0100 2511155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511157&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F22%2Fyou-have-the-right-to-your-health-data%2F I sometimes feel like we take one step forward and two steps back as we embrace technology. Because with the advances in providing people with access to their own health care data (including mental health data), there seems to be inevitable stumbling blocks along the way. Insert your data into Company A’s personal health record or electronic medical record and you’ll find no easy or accessible way to get it back out. Explore the health data kept by your hospital about you and you may find important pieces missing, or just plain wrong, with no accountability or record of who put that in there. Want to get Doctor XYZ to see your health data? Be prepared to sign a release and then play the waiting game. Better yet, want to get a copy of all of the health data kept in your recor... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511157 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:55:03 +0100 2511157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511162&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2F10-ways-to-manage-your-weight-on-psych-meds%2F Awhile back, a Beyond Blue reader asked me to address the problem of weight gain and medication. “How do you deal with this yourself?” she asked me. I’ll be perfectly honest. It’s a battle. As someone with a history of an eating disorder, I’ve had to work very hard on getting to place where I eat when I’m hungry. For that reason, I won’t go near drugs like Zyprexa, because the 20 pounds that I gained in one month made me feel ALMOST bad as my depression. I totally understand that body image is important to your self-esteem. I wish I wasn’t so shallow, but look at the ads around us. What’s the message that they’re screaming? “Thin people are beautiful. Overweight people aren’t.” I hate that. So, since this is F... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511162 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:27:39 +0100 2511162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511164&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F17%2Fintroducing-the-psych-central-mood-tracker%2F After taking a look at a few of the mood trackers that have long been available online, I was very unsatisfied with both how they asked you about your mood (”How depressed are you today?”) and the results they displayed (can we say “unhelpful”?). Mood trackers are used to help you track your emotional state on a daily or weekly basis, helping you get a better grasp on your emotions. Mood trackers can also help you determine your treatment’s effectiveness over time. Like a screening quiz for depression or anxiety, you typically can’t just ask a person, “How depressed are you?” and get any kind of answer that you can hang your hat on. People aren’t always the best judge of their own mood states — especially when they are in the down... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511164 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:04:19 +0100 2511164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511165&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F16%2F5-rules-for-living-with-chronic-illness-and-depression-an-interview-with-elivra-aletta%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite therapists, Elvira Aletta, Ph.D., on a very important topic: chronic illness. I say important, because it now pertains to me (and thus is important), and I need to learn some coping techniques ASAP before I fall over, into the Big Black Hole of depression. Dr. Aletta is a clinical psychologist, wife, mom to two teenagers and blogger, seeking the balance in upstate New York. She is working on a book “How to Have A Chronic Illness So It Doesn’t Have You,” and would love to hear your story about how you or someone you love thrives with chronic illness. Write to her at draletta@explorewhatsnext.com. To learn more about Dr. Aletta, check out explorewhatsnext.com. Question: I know that you have dealt with chronic illn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511165 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:34:02 +0100 2511165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473573&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F11%2Fwomens-mental-health-hit-hard-by-recession%2F Many thanks to Molly McVoy, M.D. of the American Psychiatric Association who forwarded me a new survey recently released by the American Psychiatric Association regarding the negative affect of the economy on women’s mental health. You can read the survey results by clicking here. Some highlights: More than two-thirds (68%) of women feel the current economic crisis has had a negative impact on them and their families. More than half (55%) said the current problems with the economy have had a negative impact on their mental health. Despite the negative impact on their mental well-being, most of the women prioritized others’ needs and other responsibilities over their own mental and physical health. Although 76 percent of women polled say they are participating in more positi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473573 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:56:50 +0100 2473573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452709&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fminding-the-magazines-examining-an-editors-letter%2F If you’ve been feeling slightly off, acutely apprehensive or flat-out frightened, women’s magazines likely know the reason: Why, it’s bikini season! And forget fear, you should be plain panicked, whether the villain is your bulging belly or your massive thighs. Fortunately, women’s magazines have graciously excused our past transgressions—when we supposedly inhaled heaping helpings of food and exhibited outright laziness—and offer us salvation in the form of workout and diet tips. In particular, in May’s issue of Women’s Health, editor-in-chief Michele Promaulayko aptly summarized our appearance woes, and, sadly but not at all surprisingly, amplified these worries in her Letter from the Editor entitled “Crunch Time”: You’d think that as an editor I’d have deadlines... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452709 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:57:57 +0100 2452709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447693&cid=t_362643_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F02%2Fvitamin-d-and-mental-health%2F It was with interest that I read Dr. Soram Khalsa’s post on The Huffington Post about the Vitamin D epidemic in this country today. The medical doctor writes this: As a board certified internist, I have chosen, for the last 30 years, to take a personalized approach in my practice of integrative medicine. I have worked with literally hundreds of herbs, vitamins and dietary supplements, to help my patients, often when drugs did not work. In all this time, I have not seen one nutritional supplement that has the power to affect human health as much as vitamin D. This is because Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin — it is a hormone that has the ability to interact and affect more than 2,000 genes in the body. Over my 30 years of practicing medicine, countless times I have had to d... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447693 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:08:11 +0100 2447693