Exercise: A No-Cost Antidepressant

Depression related to pregnancy is underreported. Various forms of medication and therapy are recommended to mothers with postpartum depression. Studies show that as many as a quarter of mothers struggle with their mood three years after delivery. If you’re feeling depressed during your pregnancy or after birth, don’t keep it...

The health benefits of meditation are innumerable including potentially increasing one's lifespan. Eliminating what the Buddhists call monkey mind is a surefire way to become more present to your life. Higher social standing, once measured by leisure, is now measured by busyness. I have a confession: I once was a...

Borderline personality disorder is typically regarded as a disorder making its first appearance before the age of 30, if not earlier. New research challenges this conventional wisdom, showing that cases can arise for the first time well into the years of adulthood. Early attachment issues reawakened by key events, especially...

Parents can learn from marketing tactics by influencing their children with short teaching moments. Reactive parenting with frustration may be emotionally disruptive to the child impairing their ability to learn new behaviors. Short frequent guidance can build a strong bond and allow parents to model empathy and calmness and provide...

Behavioral economists have long spoken about mental labor in terms of economics—people usually think of effort in terms of costs and payoffs. According to the "law of least effort," people find exerting either physical or cognitive effort aversive or costly. Some people—such as mountaineers and Rubik's cubers—choose to exert...

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is characterized by an intense and distressing preoccupation with one's appearance. Up to 80 percent of people with BDD experience suicidal ideation, and around 25 percent have attempted suicide. The brains of people with BDD look similar to those of people with OCD, emphasizing the ruminating and...

In past eras, there have been reevaluations of the values that underlie society. These reevaluations often follow disasters or social shocks. After the devastation of the pandemic, we take stock of what we have lost and work to establish the foundations for a better future. Questions to explore include the...

Many of us approach change through self-shame. Shame activates our fear-response system, which is counterproductive to lasting change. Science shows us that self-compassion is a more effective approach. As January wanes, so too may your resolve for positive change dwindle. For many of us, January starts with a ray of...

Despite anecdotal evidence across cultures, mainstream psychology knows very little about spontaneous spiritual awakenings. They are often pathologized by the medical community due to overlap with symptoms found in mental disorders like schizophrenia. Spontaneous spiritual awakenings can result in a number of positive long-term outcomes. A recent study published in...

Listening to patient concerns can create opportunity for open dialogue in the healthcare setting. Putting yourself in your patients' shoes can allow for understanding and empathy. Being open-minded, patient, and understanding to patients' concerns can build trust over time. Compassion is warranted for patients' healthcare concerns, not judgment. In today's...

The Ponzo perspective illusion is a classic illusion in which two identical objects appear to be different sizes. Measuring the strength of the illusion can seem arbitrary and subjective. A fun, hands-on group activity teaches students about the scientific method and individual differences in perception. The Ponzo perspective illusion was...

About 70% of your immune system is in your gut. Your gut biome can be impacted by many factors, including age. Research is looking at the role of the gut in neurodegenerative diseases. Last year, I published a post on this blog discussing the role of your gut biome in...

There is unavoidable emotional pain when those we care about are threatened or suffer. Most of our stresses and upsets come from needless suffering that we cause ourselves, which is the opposite of being at peace. Strengthen neural networks in the brain that support spacious mindfulness, staying in the present,...

Cannabis use is common during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. THC concentrations in a fetus are one-third of the concentration found in the mother's blood. THC interferes with a fetus's natural cannabinoid chemistry guiding axon growth necessary for proper brain development. Adverse consequences for cognition and attention throughout childhood...

The dynamic and often emotionally daunting developmental phase of adolescence offers a complex background for psychosis symptoms. Misdiagnosis is common, especially at the time of onset, as psychosis symptoms can be present across psychiatric and medical diagnoses. The most concerning marker for the presence of a psychotic illness is the...

Physiological and psychological function are mediated by biological clocks. Chronotherapy can take advantage of these clocks to improve efficacy of drug treatment in chronic disease. The search is on for biomarkers that can help physicians create personalized chronotherapies for their patients. Are you a night owl or an early morning...

By scanning a person’s brain, scientists may be able to decode people's thoughts, their dreams and even their intentions. Thought-reading techniques can help patients with locked-in syndrome communicate and feel human. We all must ensure that scientific progress serves the best interests of humankind and is not used unethically.

Moms are often blamed when their kids behave in unwelcome ways. Some kids suffer from complicated conditions that aren’t easily seen or understood. Kids who act out in school aren’t necessarily naughty. They might be struggling with ADHD, anxiety, autism, or an undiagnosed disease. When I was pregnant,...

Awe is an emotional experience felt when individuals encounter powerful experiences, such as works of art, giving birth, or nature. The feeling of awe evokes a sense of wonder and can transform the way we see the world. The experience of awe can make us feel diminished and insignificant. Encountering...

Caring for family members who are in vegetative states can feel like an ambiguous loss. In addition, caring for family who live in a different country can bring about additional difficulties. Reliance on social networks for instrumental and emotional support can lessen the difficulty during this time. Self-compassion is another...