Blog
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Feelings of Stress, Worry and Anger are Up in the U.S.
A recent Gallup survey found that Americans are among the most stressed people in the world. and that their experience of stress, anger and worry is at a ten-year high. An annual study conducted since 2005, the Global Emotions Report is a snapshot of the current emotional state of 150,000 adults in 143 countries. It…
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Survey: Anxiety and Depression are Top Problems for Teens
More than other problems they encounter, today’s teens believe anxiety and depression are the biggest challenges their peers face. That’s the finding of a Pew Research Center report published last month. In a survey of 1,000 teenagers, 13-17, 70 percent of respondents feel that anxiety and depression are major problems for people their age in…
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The Correlation of Clutter and Procrastination — and What You Might do About it
Much research has shown that, individually, a tendency to clutter and a tendency to procrastinate negatively impacts a person’s relationships and emotional well-being. But do the two behaviors go together? At least one study points to the connection in young and middle-aged adults. “Clutter is an overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly…
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Millennials in Therapy are Interested in Spirituality
It may seem counter intuitive, but millennials — the age group least interested in organized religion — often want to discuss their spirituality when they come to counseling. That’s been my experience as a psychotherapist. And at least one study supports the trend. They do indicate that adults under 30 find that organized religion is…
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How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Kids?
Prior research has established a link between mental health problems in children and teens, such as anxiety and depression, and excessive “screen time,” the time spent using electronic gadgets, including cell phones, tablets, computers, electronic games and television. Thus far, there hasn’t been agreement on how much usage per day is too much. Now a new study…
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Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone?
Do you seem to be on your smartphone a lot of the time — for example while eating at a restaurant, standing in line or watching TV? Do you feel anxious when separated from your device? You might wonder — like a lot of tech users — if you’re addicted to your phone. Researchers from diverse…
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Psychological Implications of a Belief in “Oneness”
The belief in “oneness”–that everything in the universe is part of a fundamental unity–is the core teaching of many religions and most mystical traditions. Duke University researchers were curious as to how this world view might influence a person’s mental health, so they conducted two studies to measure it and understand its possible effect. The…
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Is Post-Traumatic Growth Possible?
Most people have heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the set of negative symptoms that arise after trauma, such as insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, unstable moods, behavioral changes, etc. But have you heard of post-traumatic growth or PTG? PTG refers to the positive mental shift that can be experienced as a result of adverse events. The…
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Developing Your Own Spiritual Practice
If asked if we follow a particular religion, many of us would say “I’m spiritual, not religious.” But can we claim we’re as spiritual in our lives as we want to be? In truth, we’re all very preoccupied — with our jobs, our families and the hundreds of distractions that fill the modern world. So…
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The Mental Health Blessings of Spirituality
In the last blog post, I mentioned two recent studies that provide further evidence of the contribution religion makes to personal well-being. It’s clear religious affiliation is a positive force in people’s lives. Religion provides an individual with membership in a tight-knit social group, with meaning and purpose, with moral and ethical guidance and with…
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New Clues to Why Religious People are Happier
Much research in the past 30 years has demonstrated that people with strong religious beliefs tend to exhibit greater well-being in their lives. The psychological benefits of religiosity are known to include: increased social connections, greater resilience to life challenges, cultivation of compassion, forgiveness and gratitude, and reduced risk of suicide and addiction. But how is…
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Big Change at Soul Wisdom Therapy
“The only constant in life is change,” a quote attributed to the Buddha, but it could have come from any wise sage. Sometimes life will challenge us with unexpected, difficult changes — like a job loss, serious illness, divorce or death of a loved one – that will completely upend our lives. Soul Wisdom Therapy,…