We often hear about the risks of getting too much sun. While it’s true that sunburns and skin cancer are very real threats and that SPF is essential, there are also positive effects of sun exposure. The sun is much more than its potential pitfalls and can do plenty of good things for your body…
General
In neuropsychology experiments, research participants were asked to douse their hands in ice water for extended periods. Psychologist Dr. Daniel Kahneman called the experiment results the Peak-End rule – that our perceptions about an experience are determined by how it feels at its most intense, and how it feels at the end. The actual duration…
General
How to keep your mind busy when you’re anxious: Personal Have an empathy buddy. Check in daily for each other. Binge watch a show that feels engaging, make it a personal choice. Organize. Make your desk, room, closet, and kitchen a reflection of what you want. Try an online workout. Go outside. The majority of…
anxiety
Seven signs of an anxiety disorder that are hard to recognize: You feel mentally exhausted. Even the simplest tasks feel huge. Everything annoys you. You feel easily irritated and frustrated by seemingly small things. You feel nervous, even when there is nothing threatening happening in the given moment. You might even wake up feeling a…
anxiety
Sleep loss is linked to a slew of medical and mental health issues, including: Cancer, Diabetes, Dementia, and Heart Disease. Dr. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuropsychology at the University of California, Berkeley, has focused his research on the impact that sleep has on human health and disease. In his 2017 book; Why We Sleep,…
strategies for self-care
Metacognition is thinking about your own thinking. It’s the ability to have an internal dialogue and analyze your own thought process. I have named it the personal landscape, in my work. Mediated by the frontal lobes, metacognition is a measure of executive functioning, perhaps the highest measure. People who demonstrate high metacognition talk about and…
General
Honored to be quoted in one of my favorite national mental health journals, Verywell. “How Random Acts of Kindness Are Particularly Important During the Pandemic,” a subject that is dear to me.
Covid-19 Crisis
With almost the whole world confronting changes and losses, large and small, how can people cope as they mourn their pre-pandemic lives and move forward? Language. Historically, storytelling, spoken word, and writing have been ways that humans cope with times of great grief and loss. Testimony is an account of first-hand experience, usually to create…
General
Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, revealed that her mental health suffered significantly while she was pregnant with her son, Archie. Her internal and external environments were both highly stressful. Recently, I was interviewed for a podcast regarding mental health during pregnancy. There are several types of mental health conditions that can occur in pregnancy.…
General
”I am the subject I know best.” -Frida Kahlo From a scientific standpoint, there is surprising evidence that supports cognitive, emotional, and even physical benefits from journaling. Psychologist and expressive writing expert, Dr. James Pennebaker conducted numerous studies that concluded journaling can actually strengthen immunity, decrease blood pressure, reduce stress,  diminish anxiety, lower depression,…
Generalstrategies for self-care
Combined with psychoeducational testing, it helps provide comprehensive information and recommendations to help children and teens six and up.
