Self-Compassion, Biofeedback, and Mental Health
Self-compassion can contribute to better mental health. Compassion-focused therapy may help those with mental illness self-soothe and better deal with feelings and thoughts in a mindful, balanced way. The 60 participants in the study received either virtual reality based on self-compassion or virtual reality based on self-compassion PLUS visual biofeedback. The Oculus Quest 2 allowed […]
Living with Schizophrenia
Razi Berry A person with schizophrenia typically experiences more negative emotions and has more stressors than average. A new study by University of Georgia psychologists revealed a surprising finding that could help those who struggle with the illness: While people with schizophrenia tend to manage low-level negative emotions, they struggle to do so as those […]
Mental Illness from a New Perspective
Razi Berry The causes of psychiatric disorders are poorly understood. Now, in work led by researchers at McGill University, there is evidence that a wide range of early onset psychiatric problems (from depression, anxiety and addictions to dyslexia, bulimia, and ADHD) may be largely due to the combination of just three factors. The first is […]
Psychedelic Promotes Neuroconnections in Mental Illness
Razi Berry The psychedelic drug psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound found in some mushrooms, has been studied as a potential treatment for depression for years. But exactly how it works in the brain and how long beneficial results might last is still unclear. In a new study, Yale researchers show that a single dose of […]
Cannabis Use in Teens Linked to Decline in IQ
Razi Berry A study has found that adolescents who frequently use cannabis may experience a decline in Intelligence Quotient (IQ) over time. The findings of the research provide further insight into the harmful neurological and cognitive effects of frequent cannabis use on young people. The paper, led by researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and […]
Mental Health Care Even Harder to Access
Razi Berry Eleven years after Congress passed a law mandating that insurers provide equal access for mental and physical health care; Americans are actually finding it harder to obtain affordable treatment for mental illness and substance abuse issues. The barriers to parity continue despite a bipartisan consensus that more must be done to confront the […]
Unhealthy Diets Linked to Mental Illness
Razi Berry A new study has concluded that a poor diet is directly linked to mental health complaints regardless of factors such as gender, education, age, economic or marital status.1 A holistic approach to mental health issues often addresses dietary factors, but to have a conventional study support this link may be a step in […]
Growing Up in the City Could Increase Chances of Mental Illness
Node Smith, ND A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder shows that people raised in an urban environment without pets around have a less resilient immune system and may be at higher risk for mental illness.1 This research furthers the conversation of the “hygiene theory” into realm of mental health, connecting some […]
Meditation for Managing Attention and Emotions
Node Smith, ND A recent study adds to the increasing acceptance that the ability to silence the chaotic inner workings of the mind, through meditation, is a crucial foundation for gaining control over our emotions and attention. In the study, the description used for what meditation facilitates is great – the experience of mental silence. […]