Trust is a Key Component to Loneliness
Razi Berry Loneliness is a painful feeling. If it persists, it can lead to mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders. Researchers from the Universities of Bonn, Haifa (Israel) and Oldenburg have now discovered how loneliness is associated with reduced trust. This is reflected in changes in the activity and interaction of various brain […]
Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness Peaking in College Students
Razi Berry A survey by a Boston University researcher of nearly 33,000 college students across the country reveals the prevalence of depression and anxiety in young people continues to increase, now reaching its highest levels, a sign of the mounting stress factors due to the coronavirus pandemic, political unrest, and systemic racism and inequality. “Half […]
What Does Social Isolation do to the Brain?
Razi Berry Since the coronavirus pandemic began in the spring, many people have only seen their close friends and loved ones during video calls, if at all. A new study from MIT finds that the longings we feel during this kind of social isolation share a neural basis with the food cravings we feel when […]
Post-COVID Stress Disorder
Sarah Cimperman, ND The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 1.5 million deaths worldwide as of late November 2020.1 It’s also been the source of considerable suffering as people struggle with economic devastation, food insecurity, unemployment, workplace safety concerns, the loss of loved ones, and social isolation. Even after individuals infected with coronavirus recover, the psychological […]
Volunteering Is Good For Everyone
Razi Berry A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, takes a closer look at the benefits of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers, both validating and refuting findings from previous research. The results verify that adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year […]
Social Contact Important in Preventing Dementia
Razi Berry Being more socially active in your 50s and 60s predicts a lower risk of developing dementia later on, finds a new UCL-led study. The longitudinal study, published in PLOS Medicine, reports the most robust evidence to date that social contact earlier in life could play an important role in staving off dementia. Socially […]
Take my hand
Razi Berry In any stressed or painful situation – a visit to the hospital, a presentation at work, or a funeral for a loved one – it helps to have someone holding your hand. We all know this to be true. Recent experiments have validated our intuitive knowledge and provided explanations as to why having […]