By Angus Whyte In many 12-step addiction recovery programs, the practice of a musical instrument is considered to be a top-line behavior. In this article, I’ll discuss the relationship between music and mindfulness, and describe how I incorporate the mindful practice of guitar scales into my addiction recovery program.
The first daughter of New York City continues to go public with her depression and addiction story, and this week she was recognized for inspiring hope in other young people facing mental health problems. Chiara de Blasio, the 19-year-old daughter of Mayor Bill de Blasio, had startled the public with a Christmas Eve video revealing …
Chiara de Blasio Honored for Sharing Story of Addiction, Depression Read More »
Uses for CBT For many years, CBT was used primarily to treat anxiety disorders and depression. However, over the years it has gained recognition as an effective therapy for a vast array of other psychiatric disorders. It’s also an effective treatment for emotional, interpersonal, and life challenges that many people encounter at some point in …
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Part 2 Read More »
Anxiety is a healthy and normal response to certain situations, especially those involving danger or personal difficulty. The feeling of anxiousness is part of what drives a person to prepare for challenges in life. The key difference between healthy and unhealthy anxiety has to do with frequency and function – how often are the symptoms …
How to Know if Your Anxiety is Healthy or Unhealthy Read More »
Anxiety disorders impact millions of people at some point during their lifetimes. From excessive worry to extreme avoidance of certain types of social situations, anxiety is distressing and can even be debilitating. It negatively impacts relationships, damages or derails careers, and often causes self-confidence to plummet. It can make what should be a happy life …
“Mainstream psychology views disturbing feelings, behaviors, or experiences as an indication that something is wrong with us—an attitude that often shames people.” — David Bedrick Ruby had been described as a fearful child, one who shied away from pets, playground equipment, other children—even her teachers. Twenty-four years old, she sat on her hands in her …
Making Friends With Symptoms: A Love-Based Approach Read More »
Going off to college is a major life event for a teenager. For many it is the first time away from home for an extended period of time. In a way, going to college and living on campus is like a first step toward living without your parents and toward becoming an adult in the …
Anxiety, Depression Plague College Students, Survey Finds Read More »
Anxiety is the common term for the presence of certain feelings—such as worry, dread or fear—that can put the brain and body into the unusually alert state known as the “fight-or-flight” response. While this state isn’t harmful in and of itself, its ongoing or recurring effects can lead to the onset of significant mental health …
Oxytocin is the name of a natural substance, classified as a hormone, which forms in the brain and circulates throughout the bloodstream. During childbirth, doctors can use oxytocin injections to induce labor, quicken labor or decrease the risk for bleeding immediately following labor. Scientific evidence indicates that this hormone also plays a vital role in …
‘Love Hormone’ Oxytocin Can Also Breed Fear, Anxiety Read More »
Do you usually eat yogurt for breakfast? If you do, it’s likely because you know it will keep you regular. Many people eat yogurt for the probiotics, the healthy bacteria, which helps keep the digestive tract functioning well. Your gut is full of bacterial cells. These little organisms are there helping you to break down …
Yogurt Can Affect Brain Function, UCLA Study Finds Read More »