3 Brain Tricks For Great Focus Anytime

The summer slowdown is upon us. Right now you may feel a little unmotivated, to say the least. Unless you’re one of those lucky people who works from the beach, it can be hard to concentrate on the task at hand during the summer months.

You may be dreaming of your vacation and time off, but if there’s still work to do then you need to find a way to kick your motivation into high gear  —  fast.

The truth is, if you keep waiting for inspiration to strike, you’ll be waiting...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/3-brain-tricks-for-great-focus-anytime/

3 Brain Tricks For Great Focus Anytime

The summer slowdown is upon us. Right now you may feel a little unmotivated, to say the least. Unless you’re one of those lucky people who works from the beach, it can be hard to concentrate on the task at hand during the summer months.

You may be dreaming of your vacation and time off, but if there’s still work to do then you need to find a way to kick your motivation into high gear  —  fast.

The truth is, if you keep waiting for inspiration to strike, you’ll be waiting...

[Read More ...]

Think Your Kid Is Smart? Think Again!

Some folks are so proud of their child’s intelligence that they brag about it to the world. Emblazoned on the bumper of their SUV is the message: “My kid’s an honor roll student,” to be replaced years later with a college decal from an elite university.

Since being smart is such a source of pride in our culture, let’s look at what we mean by “intelligence.”

Years ago, intelligence was seen as a single entity, referred to as the “g” factor: “g” for general...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/think-your-kid-is-smart-think-again/

Could A Little Narcissism Help Teens Do Well in School?

A new international study finds that young people who score high on certain aspects of subclinical narcissism may be more mentally tough, and in turn, perform better at school.

“Narcissism is considered as a socially malevolent trait and is part of the Dark Triad of personality traits: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism,” said study leader Dr. Kostas Papageorgiou, director of the InteRRaCt lab in the school of psychology at Queen’s University Belfast in Ireland.

“Previous...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/30/could-a-little-narcissism-help-teens-do-well-in-school/136627.html

Pilot Study Screens for Postpartum Depression in the ER

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20 percent of all mothers. This figure may be even higher (up to 50 percent) among low-income and immigrant women.

The mood disorder can have significant implications for the mother, baby and the entire family. It can hinder mother-child bonding and lead to early discontinuation of breastfeeding, delayed immunizations, or in severe cases, child abuse and neglect.

Although new mothers are supposed to...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/30/pilot-study-screens-for-postpartum-depression-in-the-er/136636.html

Little Difference Seen in Mental Health of Kids of Same-Sex Vs. Hetero Parents

Children of same-sex parents show similar levels of mental health as children of heterosexual parents, according to a new Italian study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

With the rise of assisted reproductive technologies, parenthood has become more accessible for same-sex couples. The new study adds to the growing body of evidence showing no increase in problems for children of gay or lesbian parents, compared to children of different-sex parents.

“Our...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/30/little-difference-seen-in-mental-health-of-kids-of-same-sex-vs-hetero-parents/136621.html

Think Your Kid Is Smart? Think Again!

Some folks are so proud of their child’s intelligence that they brag about it to the world. Emblazoned on the bumper of their SUV is the message: “My kid’s an honor roll student,” to be replaced years later with a college decal from an elite university.

Since being smart is such a source of pride in our culture, let’s look at what we mean by “intelligence.”

Years ago, intelligence was seen as a single entity, referred to as the “g” factor: “g” for general...

[Read More ...]

Could A Little Narcissism Help Teens Do Well in School?

A new international study finds that young people who score high on certain aspects of subclinical narcissism may be more mentally tough, and in turn, perform better at school.

“Narcissism is considered as a socially malevolent trait and is part of the Dark Triad of personality traits: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism,” said study leader Dr. Kostas Papageorgiou, director of the InteRRaCt lab in the school of psychology at Queen’s University Belfast in Ireland.

“Previous...

[Read More ...]

Pilot Study Screens for Postpartum Depression in the ER

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20 percent of all mothers. This figure may be even higher (up to 50 percent) among low-income and immigrant women.

The mood disorder can have significant implications for the mother, baby and the entire family. It can hinder mother-child bonding and lead to early discontinuation of breastfeeding, delayed immunizations, or in severe cases, child abuse and neglect.

Although new mothers are supposed to...

[Read More ...]

Little Difference Seen in Mental Health of Kids of Same-Sex Vs. Hetero Parents

Children of same-sex parents show similar levels of mental health as children of heterosexual parents, according to a new Italian study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

With the rise of assisted reproductive technologies, parenthood has become more accessible for same-sex couples. The new study adds to the growing body of evidence showing no increase in problems for children of gay or lesbian parents, compared to children of different-sex parents.

“Our...

[Read More ...]

Who Is More Likely to Share The Wealth?

A social experiment shows that people assigned a “lower status” are more likely to share their wealth than those assigned a “higher status.”

The new study from Queen Mary University of London involved a series of economic games in which people played with other people for real money. The games involved participants deciding how much money they kept and how much they gave to a group pot. The money in the pot was always shared with all the players, the researchers...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/30/who-is-more-likely-to-share-the-wealth/136611.html

Psychology Around the Net: June 30, 2018

Happy Saturday!

This week’s Psychology Around the Net brings you some insight on “the curse of knowledge” and writers (what is it…and do we care?), the feedback loops among financial, physical, and mental health and how to stop the damaging effects, why physical injuries affect our mental health, and more!

Do Writers Care for What Psychology Has to Say About the Curse of Knowledge? Vera Tobin, a professor of cognitive science at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, explains...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-around-the-net-june-30-2018/

Who Is More Likely to Share The Wealth?

A social experiment shows that people assigned a “lower status” are more likely to share their wealth than those assigned a “higher status.”

The new study from Queen Mary University of London involved a series of economic games in which people played with other people for real money. The games involved participants deciding how much money they kept and how much they gave to a group pot. The money in the pot was always shared with all the players, the researchers...

[Read More ...]

Psychology Around the Net: June 30, 2018

Happy Saturday!

This week’s Psychology Around the Net brings you some insight on “the curse of knowledge” and writers (what is it…and do we care?), the feedback loops among financial, physical, and mental health and how to stop the damaging effects, why physical injuries affect our mental health, and more!

Do Writers Care for What Psychology Has to Say About the Curse of Knowledge? Vera Tobin, a professor of cognitive science at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, explains...

[Read More ...]

Writing Your Heart Out: Re-scripting Your Life and Rewiring Your Brain

One of the most powerful means of expression involves taking pen to paper or fingers to keyboard as emotions spill forth. For those in mental health treatment, it is often a life line.

Sitting with a client recently, I found myself holding back tears as she opened a previously nailed shut window behind which terrifying feelings were held captive. As she maintained a flat affect and read aloud what she had written, it was if she was telling someone else’s story, but we both knew that she...

[Read More ...]

Healing from Addiction: Finding the Road to Recovery

Addiction — and recovery — can look differently from individual to individual. As surely as we can be addicted to alcohol, substances, or medications, we can just as easily be addicted to love, work, sex, dieting, exercise, skin picking, and food. Addiction can refer to any compulsive and unhealthy attachment or behavior that one uses as a way of artificially enhancing, numbing, or avoiding feelings.  Addictions have negative consequences and are difficult to just “stop” doing. 

[Read More ...]

Why You Should Keep Exercising if You Struggle with Depression

Middle-aged people with high fitness levels are 56 percent less likely to eventually die from heart disease following a depression diagnosis, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern and The Cooper Institute.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, reveals the many ways in which depression can impact health and mortality. According to the researchers, the earlier you become active, the better your chances of preventing depression,...

[Read More ...]

Science News » Targeted E-Health HIV Intervention Reduces STIs and Sexual Risk Behaviors

Findings from a new study suggest an electronically delivered HIV prevention intervention may be effective in reducing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual risk behaviors in young men who have sex with men.
[Read More ...]

Writing Your Heart Out: Re-scripting Your Life and Rewiring Your Brain

One of the most powerful means of expression involves taking pen to paper or fingers to keyboard as emotions spill forth. For those in mental health treatment, it is often a life line.

Sitting with a client recently, I found myself holding back tears as she opened a previously nailed shut window behind which terrifying feelings were held captive. As she maintained a flat affect and read aloud what she had written, it was if she was telling someone else’s story, but we both knew that she...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/writing-your-heart-out-re-scripting-your-life-and-rewiring-your-brain/

Healing from Addiction: Finding the Road to Recovery

Addiction — and recovery — can look differently from individual to individual. As surely as we can be addicted to alcohol, substances, or medications, we can just as easily be addicted to love, work, sex, dieting, exercise, skin picking, and food. Addiction can refer to any compulsive and unhealthy attachment or behavior that one uses as a way of artificially enhancing, numbing, or avoiding feelings.  Addictions have negative consequences and are difficult to just “stop” doing. 

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/healing-from-addiction-finding-the-road-to-recovery/

Why You Should Keep Exercising if You Struggle with Depression

Middle-aged people with high fitness levels are 56 percent less likely to eventually die from heart disease following a depression diagnosis, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern and The Cooper Institute.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, reveals the many ways in which depression can impact health and mortality. According to the researchers, the earlier you become active, the better your chances of preventing depression,...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/29/why-you-should-keep-exercising-if-you-struggle-with-depression/136580.html

Science News » Targeted E-Health HIV Intervention Reduces STIs and Sexual Risk Behaviors

Findings from a new study suggest an electronically delivered HIV prevention intervention may be effective in reducing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual risk behaviors in young men who have sex with men.
[Read More ...]

source https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2018/targeted-e-health-hiv-intervention-reduces-stis-and-sexual-risk-behaviors.shtml?utm_source=rss_readers&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_summary

Best of Our Blogs: June 29, 2018

For many of us coping or taking care of someone with an illness, life is a constant battle. We lose track of time. We forget the seasons. We grow up and life’s struggles make us hard, inflexible and serious.

I think summer is a great time to return to the sense of lightness and joy characteristic of childhood. Joy and laughter are important tools for the healing journey.

Something as simple as walking on the beach, reading a summery book or watching the sunrise or set, can be beautiful...

[Read More ...]

Empathetic Police Officers Are More Affected by Public Criticism

Police officers who believe in a more empathetic approach toward criminal justice do not seem to perform as well when they feel they are underappreciated by the public, according to a new study published in the journal Administrative Science Quarterly.

The findings reveal that an officer’s ideology — whether more liberal or conservative — tends to correlate with how well they handle perceived animosity and lack of appreciation from the community.

For the study, 164 officers answered...

[Read More ...]

Best of Our Blogs: June 29, 2018

For many of us coping or taking care of someone with an illness, life is a constant battle. We lose track of time. We forget the seasons. We grow up and life’s struggles make us hard, inflexible and serious.

I think summer is a great time to return to the sense of lightness and joy characteristic of childhood. Joy and laughter are important tools for the healing journey.

Something as simple as walking on the beach, reading a summery book or watching the sunrise or set, can be beautiful...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/best-of-our-blogs-june-29-2018/

Empathetic Police Officers Are More Affected by Public Criticism

Police officers who believe in a more empathetic approach toward criminal justice do not seem to perform as well when they feel they are underappreciated by the public, according to a new study published in the journal Administrative Science Quarterly.

The findings reveal that an officer’s ideology — whether more liberal or conservative — tends to correlate with how well they handle perceived animosity and lack of appreciation from the community.

For the study, 164 officers answered...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/29/empathetic-police-officers-are-more-affected-by-public-criticism/136576.html

Peer-Led Groups Can Help College Students Get Mental Health Services

A new study finds that getting college students to engage with peer-run organizations that focus on mental health awareness can reduce campus-wide mental health stigma and help people receive necessary mental health services.

The RAND Corporation investigation discovered improving college students’ knowledge about mental health can play an important role in improving the campus climate toward mental health.

The research is the largest longitudinal study examining the impact of a student...

[Read More ...]

Cohabiting Tied to Less Wealth Accumulation

A new study, published in the Journal of Financial Planning, finds there may be long-term financial implications when unmarried couples decide to live together.

The findings show that couples who cohabited had less wealth compared with those who never lived together before marriage. The gap in wealth grew significantly for those who cohabited more than once.

“Cohabiting relationships tend to be more short-term and unstable, and you keep starting over every time. That is difficult for...

[Read More ...]

Procrastination Has the Power to Sabotage Your Relationships

Don’t wait until tomorrow to figure it out!

Falling in love with someone you’ve been dating is typically a beautiful, romantic experience, but when depression, low self-esteem and other mental health issues crop up and cause you to turn to the negative coping mechanism that is the bad habit of procrastination, it can raise problems in a relationship you otherwise might not encounter.

Procrastination is the gap between intention and action, which is why people who procrastinate...

[Read More ...]

Peer-Led Groups Can Help College Students Get Mental Health Services

A new study finds that getting college students to engage with peer-run organizations that focus on mental health awareness can reduce campus-wide mental health stigma and help people receive necessary mental health services.

The RAND Corporation investigation discovered improving college students’ knowledge about mental health can play an important role in improving the campus climate toward mental health.

The research is the largest longitudinal study examining the impact of a student...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/29/peer-led-groups-can-help-college-students-get-mental-health-services/136554.html

Cohabiting Tied to Less Wealth Accumulation

A new study, published in the Journal of Financial Planning, finds there may be long-term financial implications when unmarried couples decide to live together.

The findings show that couples who cohabited had less wealth compared with those who never lived together before marriage. The gap in wealth grew significantly for those who cohabited more than once.

“Cohabiting relationships tend to be more short-term and unstable, and you keep starting over every time. That is difficult for...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/28/cohabiting-tied-to-less-wealth-accumulation/136521.html

Procrastination Has the Power to Sabotage Your Relationships

Don’t wait until tomorrow to figure it out!

Falling in love with someone you’ve been dating is typically a beautiful, romantic experience, but when depression, low self-esteem and other mental health issues crop up and cause you to turn to the negative coping mechanism that is the bad habit of procrastination, it can raise problems in a relationship you otherwise might not encounter.

Procrastination is the gap between intention and action, which is why people who procrastinate...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/procrastination-has-the-power-to-sabotage-your-relationships/

Why Addicts Are Often Lonely People

Addiction is an incredibly lonely disease. However, we typically associate addicts with two extremes when it comes to sociability. On the one hand we imagine the stereotypical “life of the party” who abuses substances to become sociable, friendly, and functional, or we have the depressive addict who takes substances alone, substituting healthy interpersonal relationships for chemicals. The truth is that most addicts may fall somewhere along this spectrum, but they all experience extreme...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/why-addicts-are-often-lonely-people/

Survey: Benefits of Vacation Time Dissipate Quickly

Vacation time provides most U.S. workers a chance to recover from stress and ultimately improve their well-being and job performance. But for nearly two-thirds of working adults, the benefits of time away dissipate quickly, according to investigators from the American Psychological Association.

Nearly a quarter of working adults (24 percent) say the positive effects of vacation time — such as more energy and feeling less stress — disappear immediately upon returning to work, the...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/28/survey-benefits-of-vacation-time-dissipate-quickly/136558.html

Laying Off Your Partner In Tough Times May Have More Impact Than Comforting

If your partner is going through a stressful time, simply refraining from arguments and other negative behaviors may make an even bigger impact than reaching out with comforting behaviors, according to a new study published in the Journal of Family Psychology.

Although loving gestures are always a good thing, the study found that negative ones tend to trigger more intense and immediate responses, especially during stressful events. And how a couple works together during difficult times is...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/28/laying-off-your-partner-in-tough-times-may-have-more-impact-than-comforting/136539.html

Music Lessons Can Improve Language Ability

A new study suggests piano lessons influence a kindergartners’ ability to distinguish different pitches, thereby improving a child’s ability to discriminate between spoken words. The MIT investigation did not find that piano lessons enhanced overall cognitive ability, as measured by IQ, attention span, and working memory.

Researchers explain that many studies have shown that musical training can enhance language skills. However, it was unknown whether music lessons improve general...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/28/music-lessons-can-improve-language-ability/136535.html

Podcast: Fighting Your Fears with Kate Courageous

 

Fear is something we all face in our lives. For some of us (including some who don’t realize it), fear affects our behavior in profound ways, because we haven’t developed the courage to change this. Many people believe that courage is the same as fearlessness. In reality, courage is what allows us to do something in spite of the fear, whether it’s running into a burning building to save someone, touching someone’s pet snake to get over a phobia, or even just asking someone out...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-fighting-your-fears-with-kate-courageous/

Science News » NIMH Releases Updates to its RDoC Framework

The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is a dynamic and continually developing framework for studying mental disorders. Now, the RDoC Unit has unveiled changes to the RDoC framework–a reorganization of content within the Positive Valence domain.
[Read More ...]

source https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2018/nimh-releases-updates-to-its-rdoc-framework.shtml?utm_source=rss_readers&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_summary

Why Addicts Are Often Lonely People

Addiction is an incredibly lonely disease. However, we typically associate addicts with two extremes when it comes to sociability. On the one hand we imagine the stereotypical “life of the party” who abuses substances to become sociable, friendly, and functional, or we have the depressive addict who takes substances alone, substituting healthy interpersonal relationships for chemicals. The truth is that most addicts may fall somewhere along this spectrum, but they all experience extreme...

[Read More ...]

Survey: Benefits of Vacation Time Dissipate Quickly

Vacation time provides most U.S. workers a chance to recover from stress and ultimately improve their well-being and job performance. But for nearly two-thirds of working adults, the benefits of time away dissipate quickly, according to investigators from the American Psychological Association.

Nearly a quarter of working adults (24 percent) say the positive effects of vacation time — such as more energy and feeling less stress — disappear immediately upon returning to work, the...

[Read More ...]

Laying Off Your Partner In Tough Times May Have More Impact Than Comforting

If your partner is going through a stressful time, simply refraining from arguments and other negative behaviors may make an even bigger impact than reaching out with comforting behaviors, according to a new study published in the Journal of Family Psychology.

Although loving gestures are always a good thing, the study found that negative ones tend to trigger more intense and immediate responses, especially during stressful events. And how a couple works together during difficult times is...

[Read More ...]

Music Lessons Can Improve Language Ability

A new study suggests piano lessons influence a kindergartners’ ability to distinguish different pitches, thereby improving a child’s ability to discriminate between spoken words. The MIT investigation did not find that piano lessons enhanced overall cognitive ability, as measured by IQ, attention span, and working memory.

Researchers explain that many studies have shown that musical training can enhance language skills. However, it was unknown whether music lessons improve general...

[Read More ...]

Podcast: Fighting Your Fears with Kate Courageous

 

Fear is something we all face in our lives. For some of us (including some who don’t realize it), fear affects our behavior in profound ways, because we haven’t developed the courage to change this. Many people believe that courage is the same as fearlessness. In reality, courage is what allows us to do something in spite of the fear, whether it’s running into a burning building to save someone, touching someone’s pet snake to get over a phobia, or even just asking someone out...

[Read More ...]

Science News » NIMH Releases Updates to its RDoC Framework

The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is a dynamic and continually developing framework for studying mental disorders. Now, the RDoC Unit has unveiled changes to the RDoC framework–a reorganization of content within the Positive Valence domain.
[Read More ...]

Do Today’s Kids Have More Self-Control Than Kids of the 60s?

In the 1960s, researchers conducted the original “marshmallow test” measruing the self-control levels of preschoolers as they sat in front of a treat. Most of the children in the study chose to gobble up one treat immediately rather than wait several minutes to get a bigger treat. The study was replicated in the 1980s and then again in the 2000s.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Minnesota compared the marshmallow test results from each of these generations and found that...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/27/do-todays-kids-have-more-self-control-than-kids-of-the-60s/136517.html

Anger May Play Big Role in Postpartum Mood Disorders

Emerging research suggests women in the postpartum period should be screened for anger in addition to depression and anxiety.

Investigators from the University of British Columbia discovered anger to be a significant feature in postpartum mood disturbances. Although anger has been recognized as an element of postpartum mood problems for some women, the emotion has not been well-studied in the perinatal period.

This potential oversight is evident as the emotion is not included in the widely...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/27/anger-may-play-big-role-in-postpartum-mood-disorders/136530.html

​6 Tips For Raising Optimistic Kids

The world today needs optimists more than ever. Optimism, seeing the glass as half full or the conviction that things will eventually work out, is a cornerstone of resilience and an absolute asset in achieving any kind of success in life.

When life gets tough, you want your child to hang on, pull himself together and keep going. Instead of giving up, you want your kids to believe that things can get better and work towards that. Research tells us that encouraging optimism in our kids comes...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/%E2%80%8B6-tips-for-raising-optimistic-kids/

5 Ways You Can Have a Healthy Relationship When You Have Depression

Is your love life suffering because of your mood?

Is it hard to have a healthy relationship when you’re depressed?

Absolutely, yes! Mixing depression and relationships is tricky. I know because I’ve been there.

I’ve struggled with depression for my whole life — 52 years. For a long time, I didn’t have a name for why I always felt so hopeless and full of despair. I just lived with it.

And then I got married. And he had to live with it, too.

Being in a healthy, loving relationship...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/5-ways-you-can-have-a-healthy-relationship-when-you-have-depression/

Should You Try TMS (rTMS) for Depression?

TMS refers to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a treatment method for clinical depression first developed in the 1980s. In the psychology research literature, TMS is often referred to as rTMS — the little ‘r’ is for repetitive, because the treatment needs to be delivered at regular intervals to be most effective. What exactly is it?

TMS is a simple, safe, external outpatient treatment procedure that pulses very specific wavelengths of magnetic fields to specific areas of your...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/should-you-try-tms-rtms-for-depression/

Best of Our Blogs: June 26, 2018

What does Tovah P. Klein, PhD’s book How Toddlers Thrive have to do with mental health. Well if you’re a parent a lot. But even if you’re not, I love this statement and believe it applies to anyone.

“The key to being that good-enough parent that we all desire to be is to know yourself, to be open to change, and to be forgiving.”

You can replace the word, “parent,” with “partner,” or “person.”

Instead of striving for perfection which we all know by now is futile, we...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/best-of-our-blogs-june-26-2018/

Coping with Criticism

Want to receive a great gift? If you can imagine a gift as an item that’s not tangible, not store bought, not gift wrapped, yet is something special that’s been given to you, then I have the gift for you.

I can teach you how to hear other people’s criticism in a manner that will make you feel empowered, not attacked. So empowered, in fact, that you will have no need to become deflated, defensive, enraged, victimized or attack back.

“Are you kidding?” I hear you say. “No...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/coping-with-criticism/

How to Remain Focused in an Increasingly Distracting World

“One way to boost our will power and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us.” – William Goleman

I know I’m not alone in being easily distracted. In fact, with the proliferation of smartphones, smart TVs and other home devices, I’d venture a guess that all this burgeoning availability and use of technology contributes to societal distraction, not the opposite. Indeed, it’s so easy to succumb to the siren call of an incoming tweet or message, to pore...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-remain-focused-in-an-increasingly-distracting-world/

Ep 15: How We Acted Before Recovery from Bipolar and Schizophrenia

In ways that are both extremely flattering and exceptionally stigmatizing, Michelle and Gabe are often told that they don’t really have bipolar and schizophrenia, that they are too mature, intelligent, or well behaved to be that sick. They are told that they may have “a mild case” or are “high functioning,” without acknowledging their past struggles.

In many ways, our hosts understand why people feel this way. They weren’t advocates with a podcast when they were at their...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/ep-15-how-we-acted-before-recovery-from-bipolar-and-schizophrenia/

Top Ways to Love Your Body This Summer — and Forever After

Now that summer is here, you might be more inclined to focus on your outward appearance, but that could potentially be a mistake. Yet 91% of women dislike their bodies, and/or aspects of their bodies and men have been slowly catching up to such loathing.

If you hate your body, you’re certainly not alone. But like other body loathers, you’ve fallen prey to a culture that prioritizes appearance above all else.

The models in magazines teach us how we’re supposed to look, and we forget...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/top-ways-to-love-your-body-this-summer-and-forever-after/

How You Can Marry a Prince

Many of us hold unrealistic fairytale expectations about marriage which result in disappointment with a spouse or with the institution of marriage itself. Both were true for me when single. Now happily married for 30 years, I still now and then need to remember that I live in a real world, not a make-believe one.

Like many adults whose parents divorced while they were growing up, I was conflicted about marrying. Cinderella found her perfect prince, as did just about all the heroines of...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-you-can-marry-a-prince/

Real Event OCD

As many of us are aware, one of the cornerstones of obsessive-compulsive disorder is doubt: Did I hit somebody while driving? Did I say or do or think the wrong thing? Did I shut off the stove, turn off the lights, and/or lock the doors? The list goes on and those with the disorder often find themselves obsessing over things that may or may not have happened.

But what if you are fixated on an event in your life that actually did occur? What if you did “something terrible” a long...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/real-event-ocd/

Harm Minimization and Variations in Recreational Cannabis Experiences

Recreational use of cannabis has been stable in recent years.In recognition that this may remain the case for a time to come, many governing bodies across the globe have adopted a harm minimization approach towards recreational substance use. This approach operates in large part through health education campaigns, towards the goal of increasing public awareness on safe drug use (where abstinence is not a perceived option, at least). For example, reminders not to drive and drive are...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/harm-minimization-and-variations-in-recreational-cannabis-experiences/

Do Today’s Kids Have More Self-Control Than Kids of the 60s?

In the 1960s, researchers conducted the original “marshmallow test” measruing the self-control levels of preschoolers as they sat in front of a treat. Most of the children in the study chose to gobble up one treat immediately rather than wait several minutes to get a bigger treat. The study was replicated in the 1980s and then again in the 2000s.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Minnesota compared the marshmallow test results from each of these generations and found that...

[Read More ...]

Anger May Play Big Role in Postpartum Mood Disorders

Emerging research suggests women in the postpartum period should be screened for anger in addition to depression and anxiety.

Investigators from the University of British Columbia discovered anger to be a significant feature in postpartum mood disturbances. Although anger has been recognized as an element of postpartum mood problems for some women, the emotion has not been well-studied in the perinatal period.

This potential oversight is evident as the emotion is not included in the widely...

[Read More ...]

​6 Tips For Raising Optimistic Kids

The world today needs optimists more than ever. Optimism, seeing the glass as half full or the conviction that things will eventually work out, is a cornerstone of resilience and an absolute asset in achieving any kind of success in life.

When life gets tough, you want your child to hang on, pull himself together and keep going. Instead of giving up, you want your kids to believe that things can get better and work towards that. Research tells us that encouraging optimism in our kids comes...

[Read More ...]

5 Ways You Can Have a Healthy Relationship When You Have Depression

Is your love life suffering because of your mood?

Is it hard to have a healthy relationship when you’re depressed?

Absolutely, yes! Mixing depression and relationships is tricky. I know because I’ve been there.

I’ve struggled with depression for my whole life — 52 years. For a long time, I didn’t have a name for why I always felt so hopeless and full of despair. I just lived with it.

And then I got married. And he had to live with it, too.

Being in a healthy, loving relationship...

[Read More ...]

Should You Try TMS (rTMS) for Depression?

TMS refers to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a treatment method for clinical depression first developed in the 1980s. In the psychology research literature, TMS is often referred to as rTMS — the little ‘r’ is for repetitive, because the treatment needs to be delivered at regular intervals to be most effective. What exactly is it?

TMS is a simple, safe, external outpatient treatment procedure that pulses very specific wavelengths of magnetic fields to specific areas of your...

[Read More ...]

Best of Our Blogs: June 26, 2018

What does Tovah P. Klein, PhD’s book How Toddlers Thrive have to do with mental health. Well if you’re a parent a lot. But even if you’re not, I love this statement and believe it applies to anyone.

“The key to being that good-enough parent that we all desire to be is to know yourself, to be open to change, and to be forgiving.”

You can replace the word, “parent,” with “partner,” or “person.”

Instead of striving for perfection which we all know by now is futile, we...

[Read More ...]

Coping with Criticism

Want to receive a great gift? If you can imagine a gift as an item that’s not tangible, not store bought, not gift wrapped, yet is something special that’s been given to you, then I have the gift for you.

I can teach you how to hear other people’s criticism in a manner that will make you feel empowered, not attacked. So empowered, in fact, that you will have no need to become deflated, defensive, enraged, victimized or attack back.

“Are you kidding?” I hear you say. “No...

[Read More ...]

How to Remain Focused in an Increasingly Distracting World

“One way to boost our will power and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us.” – William Goleman

I know I’m not alone in being easily distracted. In fact, with the proliferation of smartphones, smart TVs and other home devices, I’d venture a guess that all this burgeoning availability and use of technology contributes to societal distraction, not the opposite. Indeed, it’s so easy to succumb to the siren call of an incoming tweet or message, to pore...

[Read More ...]

Ep 15: How We Acted Before Recovery from Bipolar and Schizophrenia

In ways that are both extremely flattering and exceptionally stigmatizing, Michelle and Gabe are often told that they don’t really have bipolar and schizophrenia, that they are too mature, intelligent, or well behaved to be that sick. They are told that they may have “a mild case” or are “high functioning,” without acknowledging their past struggles.

In many ways, our hosts understand why people feel this way. They weren’t advocates with a podcast when they were at their...

[Read More ...]

Top Ways to Love Your Body This Summer — and Forever After

Now that summer is here, you might be more inclined to focus on your outward appearance, but that could potentially be a mistake. Yet 91% of women dislike their bodies, and/or aspects of their bodies and men have been slowly catching up to such loathing.

If you hate your body, you’re certainly not alone. But like other body loathers, you’ve fallen prey to a culture that prioritizes appearance above all else.

The models in magazines teach us how we’re supposed to look, and we forget...

[Read More ...]

How You Can Marry a Prince

Many of us hold unrealistic fairytale expectations about marriage which result in disappointment with a spouse or with the institution of marriage itself. Both were true for me when single. Now happily married for 30 years, I still now and then need to remember that I live in a real world, not a make-believe one.

Like many adults whose parents divorced while they were growing up, I was conflicted about marrying. Cinderella found her perfect prince, as did just about all the heroines of...

[Read More ...]

Real Event OCD

As many of us are aware, one of the cornerstones of obsessive-compulsive disorder is doubt: Did I hit somebody while driving? Did I say or do or think the wrong thing? Did I shut off the stove, turn off the lights, and/or lock the doors? The list goes on and those with the disorder often find themselves obsessing over things that may or may not have happened.

But what if you are fixated on an event in your life that actually did occur? What if you did “something terrible” a long...

[Read More ...]

Harm Minimization and Variations in Recreational Cannabis Experiences

Recreational use of cannabis has been stable in recent years.In recognition that this may remain the case for a time to come, many governing bodies across the globe have adopted a harm minimization approach towards recreational substance use. This approach operates in large part through health education campaigns, towards the goal of increasing public awareness on safe drug use (where abstinence is not a perceived option, at least). For example, reminders not to drive and drive are...

[Read More ...]

Self-Diagnosis of Personality Disorders May Be More Accurate Than Expected

New research reveals that when using the same evaluative tools, a professional’s diagnosis of a personality disorder and an individual’s self-evaluation may be relatively similar. In fact, individuals may report more personality disorder pathology than was noted by their therapists. The study suggests concerns about invalid self-reports due to under-reporting have been overstated.

Purdue University researchers believe the findings should lessen concerns that people lack awareness of...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/26/self-diagnosis-of-personality-disorders-may-be-more-accurate-than-expected/136158.html

Brain Imaging Finds Dislike & Dehumanization May Be Different Processes

A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that dehumanization and dislike are processed by two completely separate regions of the brain, suggesting they may be two different psychological processes.

The findings have strong implications for the current migrant situation in America. While polls have shown that the majority of Americans believe that separating migrant families at the border is unacceptable, a substantial percentage seem to have no problem with it....

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/26/brain-imaging-finds-dislike-dehumanization-may-be-different-processes/136504.html

Self-Diagnosis of Personality Disorders May Be More Accurate Than Expected

New research reveals that when using the same evaluative tools, a professional’s diagnosis of a personality disorder and an individual’s self-evaluation may be relatively similar. In fact, individuals may report more personality disorder pathology than was noted by their therapists. The study suggests concerns about invalid self-reports due to under-reporting have been overstated.

Purdue University researchers believe the findings should lessen concerns that people lack awareness of...

[Read More ...]

Brain Imaging Finds Dislike & Dehumanization May Be Different Processes

A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that dehumanization and dislike are processed by two completely separate regions of the brain, suggesting they may be two different psychological processes.

The findings have strong implications for the current migrant situation in America. While polls have shown that the majority of Americans believe that separating migrant families at the border is unacceptable, a substantial percentage seem to have no problem with it....

[Read More ...]

Probing The Physiology of ‘Brain Tingles’

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is the sensation experienced by some individuals in response to specific sights and soft sounds, such as whispering, tapping or slow hand movements.

These feelings are described as a warm, tingling and pleasant sensation starting at the crown of the head and spreading down the body. The “tingles” are sometimes described as “brain tingles” or “brain orgasms.” They are typically accompanied by feelings of calm and relaxation.

There are...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/25/probing-the-physiology-of-brain-tingles/136448.html

Police Killings of Unarmed Black Americans Takes Toll on Blacks’ Mental Health

The mental health of black American adults is significantly impacted by the police killings of unarmed black citizens, according to a new population-based study published in the journal The Lancet.

With the recent police killings of unarmed black Americans widely perceived to be a reflection of structural racism, the findings highlight the role of this type of racism as a driver of population health disparities, and support recent calls to treat police killings as a public health issue.

The...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/25/police-killings-of-unarmed-black-americans-takes-toll-on-blacks-mental-health/136492.html

Probing The Physiology of ‘Brain Tingles’

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is the sensation experienced by some individuals in response to specific sights and soft sounds, such as whispering, tapping or slow hand movements.

These feelings are described as a warm, tingling and pleasant sensation starting at the crown of the head and spreading down the body. The “tingles” are sometimes described as “brain tingles” or “brain orgasms.” They are typically accompanied by feelings of calm and relaxation.

There are...

[Read More ...]

Police Killings of Unarmed Black Americans Takes Toll on Blacks’ Mental Health

The mental health of black American adults is significantly impacted by the police killings of unarmed black citizens, according to a new population-based study published in the journal The Lancet.

With the recent police killings of unarmed black Americans widely perceived to be a reflection of structural racism, the findings highlight the role of this type of racism as a driver of population health disparities, and support recent calls to treat police killings as a public health issue.

The...

[Read More ...]

Marital Spats May Impact Physical Health

New research from Pennsylvania State University finds that a fight with a partner may result in more than just emotional stress. Indeed, the arguments may lead to physical repercussions as well.

Penn State investigators found marital quarrels can cause symptom exacerbation for those with chronic conditions. They found that in two groups of older individuals — one group with arthritis and one with diabetes — the patients who felt more tension with their spouse also reported worse...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/24/marital-spats-may-impact-physical-health/135627.html

Rat Study Shows How Ketamine Combats Depression

Two out of three participants in clinical studies with previously untreatable depression experience a fast and long-lasting end to their depressive symptoms after receiving ketamine intravenously. The effects of ketamine generally last about a week — much longer than would be expected with ketamine’s six-hour half-life in the body.

But the exact mechanism behind ketamine’s success has remained unclear.

Now, in a new rodent study, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/24/rat-study-shows-how-ketamine-combats-depression/136434.html

Study Shows Education Boosts IQ

How much does education affect intelligence?

A new study has found that a year of schooling improves IQ scores by 1 to 5 points.

“Our analyses provide the strongest evidence yet that education raises intelligence test scores,” said psychological scientist Dr. Stuart J. Ritchie of the University of Edinburgh. “We looked at 42 datasets using several different research designs and found that, overall, adding an extra year of schooling in this way improved people’s IQ scores by between...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/24/study-shows-education-boosts-iq/136418.html

Marital Spats May Impact Physical Health

New research from Pennsylvania State University finds that a fight with a partner may result in more than just emotional stress. Indeed, the arguments may lead to physical repercussions as well.

Penn State investigators found marital quarrels can cause symptom exacerbation for those with chronic conditions. They found that in two groups of older individuals — one group with arthritis and one with diabetes — the patients who felt more tension with their spouse also reported worse...

[Read More ...]

Rat Study Shows How Ketamine Combats Depression

Two out of three participants in clinical studies with previously untreatable depression experience a fast and long-lasting end to their depressive symptoms after receiving ketamine intravenously. The effects of ketamine generally last about a week — much longer than would be expected with ketamine’s six-hour half-life in the body.

But the exact mechanism behind ketamine’s success has remained unclear.

Now, in a new rodent study, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago...

[Read More ...]

Study Shows Education Boosts IQ

How much does education affect intelligence?

A new study has found that a year of schooling improves IQ scores by 1 to 5 points.

“Our analyses provide the strongest evidence yet that education raises intelligence test scores,” said psychological scientist Dr. Stuart J. Ritchie of the University of Edinburgh. “We looked at 42 datasets using several different research designs and found that, overall, adding an extra year of schooling in this way improved people’s IQ scores by between...

[Read More ...]

Probiotics May Relieve Stress in Rats, But Not Humans

New research finds evidence that probiotics can reduce anxiety in rodents, but not in humans.

University of Kansas investigators say that the benefits of probiotics continue to be under investigation. “I think people should wait — that’s the best takeaway here,” said lead author Daniel J. Reis, a doctoral student of clinical psychology at KU.

“We’re in the early days of this research into probiotics. I’ve seen a lot of stories hyping probiotics as helpful for anxiety. We’re...

[Read More ...]

Home Screening Tool Can Help Diagnose Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Scientists have developed a new way to screen for age-related cognitive decline at home using a test that asks people to detect sounds and flashes on their laptop or phone.

Developed by researchers from Switzerland and the U.K., the study shows that the simple test could help improve early diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), leading to early intervention.

This is particularly relevant, given that MCI can develop into Alzheimer’s disease in 30 to 50 percent of people, the...

[Read More ...]

Parkinson’s Drugs Tied to Impulse Control Disorders

Nearly half of patients taking certain drugs for Parkinson’s disease may eventually develop impulse control disorders such as compulsive eating, gambling or shopping, according to a new French study published in the journal Neurology.

Parkinson’s disease leads to a reduction in dopamine, a brain chemical that regulates movement. This is often treated with levodopa, a medication which converts to dopamine in the brain, or with dopamine agonists, which work by activating dopamine...

[Read More ...]

Can Virtual Reality Enhance Recall?

A new study finds that human recall is notably better when people are immersed in virtual reality (VR), as opposed to more traditional platforms like a two-dimensional desktop computer or hand-held tablet.

The results of the study were recently published in the journal Virtual Reality.

“This data is exciting in that it suggests that immersive environments could offer new pathways for improved outcomes in education and high-proficiency training,” said co-author Dr. Amitabh Varshney,...

[Read More ...]

Psychology Around the Net: June 23, 2018

Happy Saturday, beautiful souls!

Not feeling too happy? Maybe it’s because you don’t live in a big, bustling city — as one new study suggests. Keep reading for more on that, as well as mental health tips for entrepreneurs, how yoga and meditation could be inflating your ego, why night owls are at a greater risk for depression, and more.

Research Claims Living in a Fast-Paced City Is Key to Happiness: For some, staying busy in a bustling environment is beneficial for fostering...

[Read More ...]

Probiotics May Relieve Stress in Rats, But Not Humans

New research finds evidence that probiotics can reduce anxiety in rodents, but not in humans.

University of Kansas investigators say that the benefits of probiotics continue to be under investigation. “I think people should wait — that’s the best takeaway here,” said lead author Daniel J. Reis, a doctoral student of clinical psychology at KU.

“We’re in the early days of this research into probiotics. I’ve seen a lot of stories hyping probiotics as helpful for anxiety. We’re...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/23/probiotics-may-relieve-stress-in-rats-but-not-humans/136395.html

Home Screening Tool Can Help Diagnose Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Scientists have developed a new way to screen for age-related cognitive decline at home using a test that asks people to detect sounds and flashes on their laptop or phone.

Developed by researchers from Switzerland and the U.K., the study shows that the simple test could help improve early diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), leading to early intervention.

This is particularly relevant, given that MCI can develop into Alzheimer’s disease in 30 to 50 percent of people, the...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/23/home-screening-tool-can-help-diagnose-age-related-cognitive-decline/136421.html

Parkinson’s Drugs Tied to Impulse Control Disorders

Nearly half of patients taking certain drugs for Parkinson’s disease may eventually develop impulse control disorders such as compulsive eating, gambling or shopping, according to a new French study published in the journal Neurology.

Parkinson’s disease leads to a reduction in dopamine, a brain chemical that regulates movement. This is often treated with levodopa, a medication which converts to dopamine in the brain, or with dopamine agonists, which work by activating dopamine...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/23/parkinsons-drugs-tied-to-impulse-control-disorders/136399.html

Can Virtual Reality Enhance Recall?

A new study finds that human recall is notably better when people are immersed in virtual reality (VR), as opposed to more traditional platforms like a two-dimensional desktop computer or hand-held tablet.

The results of the study were recently published in the journal Virtual Reality.

“This data is exciting in that it suggests that immersive environments could offer new pathways for improved outcomes in education and high-proficiency training,” said co-author Dr. Amitabh Varshney,...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/06/23/can-virtual-reality-enhance-recall/136452.html

Psychology Around the Net: June 23, 2018

Happy Saturday, beautiful souls!

Not feeling too happy? Maybe it’s because you don’t live in a big, bustling city — as one new study suggests. Keep reading for more on that, as well as mental health tips for entrepreneurs, how yoga and meditation could be inflating your ego, why night owls are at a greater risk for depression, and more.

Research Claims Living in a Fast-Paced City Is Key to Happiness: For some, staying busy in a bustling environment is beneficial for fostering...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-around-the-net-june-23-2018/

Best of Our Blogs: June 22, 2018

Your body isn’t working as it should. Your thoughts are triggering you. It can feel like you’re in a foreign place.

How do you make friends with your body? How do you find peace within yourself?

Acceptance can come from mindfulness. Paying attention can put you back in the hear and now. Viewing your circumstances and feelings without judgment can give you a sense of ease.

We cannot control everything in our lives. For those who suffered trauma, this can be retraumatizing. We can feel...

[Read More ...]

Best of Our Blogs: June 22, 2018

Your body isn’t working as it should. Your thoughts are triggering you. It can feel like you’re in a foreign place.

How do you make friends with your body? How do you find peace within yourself?

Acceptance can come from mindfulness. Paying attention can put you back in the hear and now. Viewing your circumstances and feelings without judgment can give you a sense of ease.

We cannot control everything in our lives. For those who suffered trauma, this can be retraumatizing. We can feel...

[Read More ...]

source https://psychcentral.com/blog/best-of-our-blogs-june-22-2018/

Study Replicates Effectiveness of Blood Test for Autism

A follow-up study confirms that a blood test can help to predict within an 88 percent accuracy whether a child has autism. The new research supports work performed a year ago that suggested the test has the potential to lower the age at which children are diagnosed, leading to earlier treatment.

Results of the study, which uses an algorithm to predict if a child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on metabolites in a blood sample, appear online in the journal Bioengineering &...

[Read More ...]