Blog
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Can Optimism Increase Longevity?
There is considerable research correlating optimism with better health. But is there evidence that a sunnier outlook can actually add years to your life? A recent epidemiological paper by Boston University and Harvard examined public health data from two cohorts: women from the Nurses’ Health Study and men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study….
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Do You Need a Mental Health Day?
Most people think that taking a “mental health day” is a less valid reason to skip work than taking a sick day when you’re ill. But it’s important that we treat our emotional health as seriously as our physical health. So experts advise taking a mental health day when needed. (Interestingly, two states, Utah and…
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Building Self-Confidence
We think of self-confidence as a psychological problem — when we lack it. But what is it exactly? And how is self-confidence different from self-esteem or self-efficacy? A recent New York Times Smarter Living column does a good job of defining the three concepts. Self-efficacy “refers to your belief in your ability to accomplish specific…
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Grieving the Death of a Friend
All of us understand that the death of a close relative — spouse, parent or child — requires a prolonged period of grieving for the survivor’s healing and adjustment. But what about the passing of a close friend? Generally we take the loss of a non-relative less seriously and assume grieving should take less time….
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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. Recent Pew surveys do indicate that adults under 30 find that organized…
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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…