A UCLA research study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that people may be able to improve their cognitive function and brain efficiency by making simple lifestyle changes such as incorporating memory exercises, healthy eating, physical fitness and stress reduction into their daily lives. Researchers found that after… Continue reading healthy lifestyle strategies
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tracing depression
what is depression? sometimes tracing the various meanings of words can help in understanding the concept or experience for which the word stands. a while ago i spent a few hours trying to pin down when the word “depression” was first used. it looks like henry maudsley, a british physician (there were no psychologists before… Continue reading tracing depression
stress and the buddha
stress … it’s 9:15 pm and i’ve been at it since 7 am. i’ve had a 10-minute break. somewhere around 4 pm. look at me! i’m such a hard worker! what a bunch of baloney! driving my body, mind and soul like this is nothing to be proud of. and i’m very grateful that i… Continue reading stress and the buddha
a new food and exercise plan
lindsay from dizzyisland has made a decision: After a little encouragement from my psychiatrist on Friday, I decided to bite the bullet and begin my food and exercise plan … Basically what my doctor said to me made a lot of sense; at first I wasn’t hearing her, but she finally got through to me… Continue reading a new food and exercise plan
horticultural therapy
7 am today, when i was watering my garden, my bare feet tickled by the morning dew, i thought, why not do a quick write-up about horticultural therapy? so i googled the term and on the first site that came up, i clicked on “what is horticultural therapy?”, this is what i found: “There are… Continue reading horticultural therapy
gratitude – even when i’m tired
after an 18-hour day, i am incredibly tired. but i can still find a few minutes to express gratitude for the good things in my life. the great weather we’ve been having lately. our lovely gray cat, rum, who has such an easy-going personality. that my blisters never popped! the willingness to exercise most days.… Continue reading gratitude – even when i’m tired
increasing psychotherapy effectiveness
research has shown that when clients are directly involved with charting the course of therapy, therapy tends to be much more effective. because of that, i use two very simple tools in my sessions that help to ensure client involvement. the one i am reprinting here is the one i give at the beginning of… Continue reading increasing psychotherapy effectiveness
mental illness, mental health, mental wellness
the public health agency of canada has a site on mental health – or mental illness, if you prefer that term. the definition is: Mental illnesses are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behaviour (or some combination thereof) associated with significant distress and impaired functioning over an extended period of time. The symptoms of… Continue reading mental illness, mental health, mental wellness
chronic pain – hard to understand
many years ago, when i was still in the early phases of studying, i had a telephone conversation with a friend of mine, who at that point had lived for many years with chronic back pain. inexperienced and naive, and influenced by reading louise hay, i suggested to my friend that at some level she… Continue reading chronic pain – hard to understand
suicide by a friend. or was it a stranger?
last week, a young man in his 20s, let’s call him john, ended his life. he had struggled with depression for quite a while and just couldn’t take the pain of his life anymore. he swallowed the pills he had hoarded over a few months, and then he left us. there was a memorial service.… Continue reading suicide by a friend. or was it a stranger?