The urge then, of course, is to resume using to end the agony of the crash. Anxiety and panic will never "drive you insane." There is no causal link between anxiety and other mental illnesses. Excessive anxiety or panic will not cause you to start hearing voices, seeing things, or …

For example, you value family but currently are not able to see them as much as you would like. If you keep avoiding activities because they might be painful, you never have the chance to see how your body is changing. You are not able to learn when the activity …

Cindy Geyer of the True Health Initiative, the link between stress and depression is a strong one.[9] Some studies show that stress can suppress the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus, which is linked to depression. Stress causes inflammation in the body--also linked with depression. Reducing and improving …

Treatment often involves making some change in the way you think or behave, and that may be uncomfortable. Changing to something unfamiliar can be both scary and hopeful. It is scary because you are doing something different and perhaps a little uncomfortable, and hopeful because the purpose is to feel …

People who suffer from OCD describe feeling a compulsive urge to take part in ritualized activities: for example, checking locks and gas taps many times before being able to leave the house, washing hands or clothes excessively or engaging in excessive cleaning. These behaviours are often accompanied with repetitive actions …

Where would I go? I'd have to climb all over everybody again. Looking at responses from more than 62,000 people, the researchers found that in individualist cultures, emotions were significant predictors of life satisfaction. In collectivist nations, normative beliefs were equally as strong as emotions in predicting life satisfaction--for …

Enlist the help of fitness apps. Downloading a fitness app on your phone or purchasing an activity tracker isn't necessary (so don't put off your fitness goals until you have one) but can be motivating for some people. If counting steps or reaching activity goals by using an app or …

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 …

Human beings are social animals. We are born and hard wired to live in groups of between 50 and 100 people. Our memories are actually formed based on the number of people that tend to exist in an average person's social life. Why do you think you feel so much …

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 …

I am positive. We tend to feel overloaded and overwhelmed. We tend to get distracted and not accomplish the things we need to. Simplifying and organizing are ways to deal with these problems, or even better, to avoid them. Focusing on doing one thing and forgetting about the rest simplifies …

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 …

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will …

"Whew. You seem really normal! I promise you I am too. Plus, you know, the first two minutes of a date are the scariest, and we've gotten through that, so let's see what else we can get through." Then, smile. Congratulations! You've just put your date at ease, and communicated …

After analyzing a recent series of experiments that were said to have found evidence of ESP, she stated, "These experiments, which looked so beautifully designed in print, were in fact open to fraud or error in several ways...the results could not be relied upon as evidence for psi."41 …

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 …

There is nothing wrong with wanting to do things well or be a good worker, student, parent, partner or friend. Set yourself realistically high but not impossibly perfectionist standards. Remember that everyone is equal, regardless of ability. It is possible for someone to have greater talents or skills than you …

As I said earlier, you could say with confidence that you were not a thief: That was a concrete distinction, no problem, no confusion, you have objective, credible data to rely on. But now, when labeled as "hopeless" or "loser" or "ugly," someone is attacking your worth. Who are you …

We miss reality. We enter a world of fantasy. Here is another example: You are sitting in meditation and a sound strikes your ear. It is just an indistinct noise, sort of a muffled crunch; it could be anything. What happens next will probably be something like this. "What was …

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 …

If not, be prepared to move on and spend less time with them. Negativity can be deeply ingrained. Many people get into a vicious cycle of low expectations and low achievement, which begets an inner void. In a sense, there is no bottom to their emptiness, and so trying to …

Your brain and body can't tell the difference between something you vividly imagine and something that's real. That's why your mouth waters when you imagine biting into a slice of chocolate cake. You can use this to your advantage if you're feeling nervous about doing something for the first time …

I began my psychological schooling in a behavioral and social learning theory undergraduate program. I completed cognitive and psychodynamic studies in my doctoral program, and, finally, psychoanalytic training in post-doctoral training. I strongly believe that each of these psychotherapies offers tremendous benefits for dealing with depression. My practice style comes …

But we are holding a tension here. How do we adapt the teaching of mindfulness to a context that is distinct from the origins of this belief system and way of learning (the dharma)? Can it be successfully modified and still maintain its Buddhist historical and ethical roots, and does …

Loneliness, according to researchers, is more dangerous than obesity. But, of course, we can't cultivate close friendships if we're constantly distracted. Consider our children. How can they flourish if they can't concentrate long enough to apply themselves? What example are we setting for them if our loving faces are replaced …

That's the way I feel when I'm sitting too long, antsy. It is strange that I'm less antsy when we are sitting outside, or in a restaurant, or when we're on vacation. Why? When we're sitting in the house, I feel the office calling me, with all of the things …

The person who has experienced this frightening sequence of thoughts might start to try to avoid situations in which they fear they would be unable to contact a hospital if they had an unexpected heart attack. They may avoid camping trips with their families because they do not want to …

Your communication is stronger when the words you say and the way you say them send the same message. Sometimes assertive words don't come across clearly if the body language tells a different story. When the words you say and your body language disagree, the listener will tend to believe …

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 …

There is no need for a sense of self. There is only the sweep of tactile and kinesthetic sensation, an endless and ever-changing flood of raw experience. We are learning here to escape into reality, rather than from it. Whatever insights we gain are directly applicable to the rest of …

They can be an ego trap, luring you right off the track. Your best approach is not to place any emphasis on these phenomena. If they come up, that's fine. If they don't, that's fine, too. There is a point in the meditator's career where he or she may practice …

Polygrapher A found X to be guilty, B found Y to be guilty, and C found Z to be guilty. Research has shown that lie detector tests are quite unreliable--they're open to a lot of subjective interpretation. If a polygrapher has a preconceived notion of who's guilty, he can interpret …

The greater the task, the greater the benefit. As procrastinators, we're quick to think that the greater the task, the greater the cost. We developed that way of thinking because we felt we had too much at stake to lose. We fear that dealing with tasks means losing our free …

I adjust, accommodate, or avoid things in my life to minimize the trauma of triggers and encourage you to do the same. Through trial and error and self-observation you'll learn what experiences are triggers for you. Make them known to yourself, and make them known aloud to others. Insist that …

To experience these emotions strongly is to be human. Many times, these emotions prompt you to act in ways that are safe and appropriate. Other times, even if the emotion makes sense, the immediate action urge that follows does not support your best interests in the long term; plus, when …

Finally, care about what people have to say. I don't mean "appear to care" about what they have to say, I mean literally care. This is the hardest step in the process because sometimes we just don't care. It sounds callous, but it's true. Someone else's problems are just that …

When we think about somebody in particular and suddenly, they call. When we sense we will bump into a particular person and, lo and behold, there they are. The way we can feel a profound sense of familiarity or kinship with a perfect stranger. The way we can walk into …

Do you absolutely have to share crude and tasteless humor and jokes on your newsfeed? Do you absolutely have to rant, rave, complain, and vent to your social media "friends"? Do you absolutely have put others down because of their political affiliations? Do you absolutely have to share your negative …

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 …