Not if we have ADD. That was on the notes home from school, "Johnny needs to try harder." Then we had to deal with the reaction from home. "Why don't you try harder?" (the underlying meaning of Wilton's "You can do better." ) This had a significant effect on us, on …

I do. Interestingly, Dotty notes that she has also become less critical of other people and she is getting along better with some of them, not just with her husband. Therapy can produce some wonderful results. Flare-ups are a normal part of life for those with persistent pain. Many flare-ups …

In the 1960s, my dad was an astute businessman, entrepreneur, and an avid runner. As a preteen, I can recall many times I'd joined him as he ran around the lake in Denver, Colorado. Being so young and not really understanding the health benefits of running, one day I asked …

The people in one group were asked to sit or stand in `power poses'. Some were seated at desks, asked to put their feet up on the table, look straight ahead and interlock their hands behind the back of their heads. Others stood straight, feet apart, head up and hands …

He drew a breath and said, "You're bigger than those stacks of papers, David. Just do it!" My neighbor's words made me feel worse. The two of us batted the topic back and forth like a tennis ball. He would say, "You have power over these things." Then I'd reply …

And here's what most of us don't see and understand - it's all just a mirage. It's not real. The people you're watching who appear to have these flawless lives are painting a picture of what they WANT you to see - not what's 100% accurate and true about themselves. Athletes, musicians …

I don't allow myself to put them anywhere else, not "just for now," not "just this time," not "because I'm busy." No. On the front table. I do not leave them in my jacket pocket. I do not lay them on my desk or on the bureau top. I put …

They would be either confrontational (playing a police officer interrogating a suspect) or collaborative. Before taking part in the role playing, the subjects chose which type of music they preferred to listen to for a given scenario--tunes aimed at making them feel angry, happy, or neutral. There are two levels …

Giving up a long held belief or lifestyle, even one that works against you, isn't easy. Beating up on yourself doesn't help, nor does trying to hurry the process along. Like a cigarette smoker who only wants to stop smoking--but never gives stopping an honest try, wishing alone doesn't help …

During this stage you become aware of what is happening but seem unable to do anything about it. This is the awareness stage: for example, realizing the ways in which you make yourself feel anxious by seeing everything in all-or-nothing terms but not being able to stop. You now have …

The devil is in the details and the details accumulate to big problems if they're missed. Getting out of bed on time is a good decision, but you also have to decide to turn around and make your bed, pick up your clothes, etc. Making your bed is a good …

If, on the other hand, he contributed effort, or in some way assumed responsibility for the task, either of those options would probably go a long way towards insuring the outcome that the habitual procrastinator so desperately seeks. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an overall term describing a range of …

Stop allowing things to get in your way. Stop allowing people and things to make your job harder. Do what's necessary to make absolutely sure the path to your goals and getting your act together is clear and free of distraction. Then, keep it that way. We're spending time on …

opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve." He continues on to further list his preferences and opinions. Now we have a deeper idea of who the character is, what he values. Using that as an example, and with input from my friends, I made a list of my …

After your basic needs are met (food, shelter, safety) and you have a little left over as a cushion, extra material wealth has little to no effect on life satisfaction or happiness. First, you may welcome the information. It may feel like relief. It fits with the gut feeling you've …

Another variable is age of onset--the age at which you first experience your depressive symptoms. The earlier the age of onset for unipolar or bipolar depression increases the probability of a return of depressive illness. Severity and length of depression, sometimes called "chronicity," will heighten the odds for relapse and …

What values do you have about the role of religion or spirituality in your life? What values do you have related to your physical health and emotional well-being? What does it mean to value self-care? Is this something you value? Why or why not? Psychoanalysis is a deep-exploration therapy whose …

Reaction formation made her seem overly kindly when on the inside she was boiling with rage. Her perceptions of others were tinged with distrust, a mild form of compromised reality testing that left her bereft and with little hope for a better life. Farther down the gradient are defenses that …

Taking a walk in nature is an escape that is good for your body, your emotions, and your brain. Watching a favorite comedy is another escape that won't complicate your life or add to your stress after the credits roll. Finally, you can cultivate healthy habits that you can practice …

But you don't have to go the whole way to reap benefits. The benefits start right away, and they pile up over the years. It is a cumulative function: the more you sit, the more you learn about the real nature of your own existence. The more hours you spend …

At the time, going to the gym couldn't have been easier--the fully equipped facility was located in my apartment complex. I couldn't blame my no-shows on traffic, nor could I blame it on membership dues, because membership was free for residents. Even taking a long walk would be better than …

statistics, 60 percent of depression sufferers between the ages of twelve and seventeen fail to get any form of treatment. Of those who do get treatment, only 19 percent receive both psychotherapy and medication. For the rest, almost all receive counseling alone, with only 2 percent receiving some form of …

The experience of pain is like a complex symphony; every pain experience is unique and each person's brain will play a different "pain song" when it processes danger messages. After the pain signals have traveled to the different areas of the brain, the brain automatically decides how best to interpret …

As the saying goes, it is about the journey, not just the destination. Absorbing this attitude can help you create an optimal psychological environment for success. Recognize that positive expectations create a virtuous cycle and a self-fulfilling prophecy! Whether you like it or not, delivering and getting results is how …

They love the pain of the struggle to reach the next level. They love the pain of pushing and pushing and pushing to gain that one inch in the right direction. They love the pain of coming up short because they didn't focus or try hard enough. They love the …

They are especially important when you are trying to manage a mood disorder. The basic steps include maintaining a regular pattern of sleep, a healthy diet, and regular physical exercise; taking prescribed medications; keeping up social contacts; and having a routine and structure to your day. The steps are your …

First thing in the morning, they're in the pants he took off last night. Works great. For me, I have so many keys on my key ring that it would make me lopsided if I did it that way, and my pants pockets are too small to carry the keys …

With training and attention, it is possible to become more objectively aware of your thoughts. Learning about your own thought patterns can help you feel more in control of your life. It gives you the ability to lean towards thoughts that are helpful, and move away from thoughts that are …

Knowing that we pay more attention to anecdotes, I thought they would be the best way to get the main points across. Of course, the conclusions reached here are backed by rigorous scientific investigation. The problem is, when we rely purely on anecdotal information in our everyday decision making, we …

To survive, we need other living beings, beings who are bound to be different from us. That is simply the way things are. Because of the differences we have, the practice of loving friendliness is absolutely necessary. It is what ties all of us together. Lemon balm has long been …

When it gains traction, so shall we--and that will save many lives and countless dollars. It is certainly possible that you could have learnt to become anxious. If one of your parents was so timid that every time you went to try something new as a child he or she …

People are sick, they get the treatment, they get better. And, this happens in thousands of cases. But these are all anecdotal cases, and we must remember that personal experiences can be misleading. What is needed are controlled experiments. So we continue digging through the evidence in search of some …

Some people call it meditation and others might call it mindfulness. No matter what you call "finding inner calm," please don't overcomplicate it. You don't need a ten-thousand-dollar course to learn how to find some peace inside your head. Just sit down, be one with your thoughts, observe them, and …

Your truth. I personally think you should keep an eye fixed on the future, too. A planned future. The direction you are going in. Because when you do that, it provides a reward for doing something now. A reason to carry out even mundane tasks with vigour. A reason to …

Instead, think about what you can do to overcome or prevent the things that are holding you back. Thinking about details is nothing more than doing your job. If you're a writer, your job is to write the best book you possibly can. If you're a designer, your job is …

Hyman gives one kind of deficiency--a deficiency in folic acid--as an example, explaining, "If you have folate deficiency, it is unlikely that antidepressants will even work. People with a low folate level have only a 7 percent response to treatment with antidepressants. Those with a high folate have a response …

Do you fear growing old? If so, why? At what age were you when you first noticed signs of aging? What were the signs? And what were your reactions? What are your thoughts about maintaining a youthful appearance? For many of us who teach Yoga, it is not our only …

Request their direct telephone number as well. Now, sometimes you might not get the rep's last name or direct line, but it sets the stage with whomever you're speaking that you are a skilled consumer. To determine what other researchers are saying on this matter, a systematic review identified twelve …

It's either one or the other, but not both. Since you already know where the stories, lying, and excuses have landed you, the only choice left is to move on from them and let them be part of your past. You've told the exaggerated stories so many times that you …

Life not only feels better but actually goes better, and I function better, when I'm achieving my goals than when I'm not. Knowing our goals helps us be organized, and we need to ask ourselves if the things we're doing are leading us towards our goals. One way to help …