Category: Health/Psychology

Most of us understand that a negative self image only serves to work against us. Here are some suggestions to turn that negative image into a positive one.

You’re standing on a gold mine. You know that treasure is buried in there somewhere. So you start digging away… with a teaspoon. How long is that going to take you?

Instead of making resolutions which are often times quickly forgotten, New Years is a good time to take personal inventory of our lives, says a Temple University psychologist.

The end the year is a time when many of us will make resolutions to lose weight or quit smoking. But instead of making resolutions which are often times quickly forgotten, the new year is a good time to take personal inventory of our lives, says Temple University psychologist Frank Farley.

When people experience grief related to death, divorce, or even the loss of jobs or financial security, the mental health and medical professionals they consult for help often apply the Stages Theory of Grief. Now, Grief Recovery pioneers Russell Friedman and John W. James clear up the decades-old debate about what grief really is what it definitely isn't.

For nearly 40 years our society has used and misused the alleged stages of dying first popularized by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. On the positive side, the book exposed the heartless treatment of terminally-ill patients prevalent at the time, and upgraded the care and treatment of dying people. On the negative side, it postulated the now-infamous stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance (known by the acronym DABDA).

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With research consistently showing that clergy – not psychologists or other mental health experts – are the most common source of help sought in times of psychological distress, a new Baylor University study has found clergy often times deny or dismiss the existence of the mental illness.

In a recent Baylor study of 293 Christians who approached their local church for assistance in response to a personal or family member’s diagnosed mental illness, Baylor researchers found that more than 32 percent of these church members were told by their church pastor that they or their loved one did not really have a mental illness. The study found these church members were told the cause of their problem was solely spiritual in nature, such as a personal sin, lack of faith or demonic involvement. Baylor researchers also found that women were more likely than men to have their mental disorders dismissed by the church.

Pediatrician Dr. Olson Huff, MD warns of the affects of the econonic downturn on children and offers practical advice and tips to parents.

Economic Downturn, Wall Street Bailout, Mortgage Crisis and talk of Recession are bombarding the media. How can you talk to your children and help them deal with tough times? How can you make them feel safe and secure in times of economic crisis? Nationally known Pediatrician, Dr. Olson Huff, MD offers practical advice for parents in helping their child deal with the realities of today's economy.

Author Jim Loehr, Ed.D. shows ten ways to use your inner conversations to achieve balance during periods of uncertainty and surprise. A free self-test and others tools are available from the author's web site. His latest book, "The Power of Story," is now available in paperback.

Millions of people will soon arrive at their year-end holidays with unavoidable concerns about the state of the economy, the world, and their personal wellbeing. In addition to normal holiday stress, additional concerns will arise from what they see around them and the conversations that accompany the current state of affairs.

In the wake of America's financial upheaval, one psychologist says it's time to take control of emotions and better regulate the mind-body stress response. University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor Josh Klapow, Ph.D., offers four 'action points' to dealing with stress and anxiety brought on by the crisis.

America’s financial crises is fueling chronic stress and limiting some people’s ability to think clearly, control emotions and regulate bodily functions in a healthy manner. University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor Josh Klapow, Ph.D., says now is the time to take control of emotions and better regulate the mind-body stress response. Klapow is a clinical psychologist and author of Living SMART: 5 Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever.

Depression could affect astronauts during long missions. Researchers are developing a self-guided, multi-media program that will assist astronauts to effectively manage depression and other psychosocial problems. The system could have applications for health care on Earth, especially in locations where access to professional help is limited.

Self-guided treatment for depression could soon be only a mouse click away.

Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing an interactive, multi-media program that will assist astronauts in recognizing and effectively managing depression and other psychosocial problems, which can pose a substantial threat to crew safety and mission operations during long-duration spaceflights.

A growing body of research suggests that there is a potent way to fight symptoms of depression that doesn’t involve getting a prescription. This potent weapon? Hope. “We’re finding that hope is consistently associated with fewer symptoms of depression. And the good news is that hope is something that can be taught, and can be developed in many of the people who need it,” a researcher said.

Cheavens and Laura Dreer of the University of Alabama at Birmingham discussed some of the latest research on how hope can battle depression during a symposium Saturday Aug. 16 in Boston at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Boston.

An insight into some of the most pervasive myths about the science and art of hypnosis from hypnotherapist Taylor Peterson.

Although hypnosis has been repeatedly shown to be able to assist individuals with a number of different problems, ranging from overcoming phobias to kicking bad habits and from reducing pain to speeding up the healing process, a number of different myths and misconceptions remain in place to this day. Some of these misconceptions include: