I have a patient, Ben, who used to dread heading home for the holidays. Due to the constant criticism from his parents, he and his family found it extremely difficult to relax and enjoy themselves. As soon as Ben walked through the door of his parents’ home, he felt ill…
The holiday season is in full swing, as many of us look forward to celebrating Christmas! In fact, according to a poll from Harris Insights and Analytics, Christmas is America’s favorite holiday. Unfortunately, though, Christmas isn’t beloved by all. Some dread the holiday season instead, as they are forced to…
Zinc, exercise, Vitamin D and potential stress busters top the list of new possibilities to supplement the widespread use of antidepressant medications. This new research is groundbreaking because antidepressants have been found to only work about half of the time, and they tend to bring upon unwanted side effects. The…
Burnout is trudging to your desk each morning and barely putting a dent in your to-do list. It’s feeling depleted even after a full night’s rest. Burnout is exhaustion; and when you experience it, you know it. Burnout results from chronic stress at work that hasn’t been properly managed. Here…
There are many practices for stress relief, like meditating, journaling, and deep breathing. But one underrated technique deserves our attention: humor! Humor helps with stress reduction by relaxing muscles, eliminating distressing emotions, and adding perspective. Here are 3 tips for using it to your benefit: One, access your favorite quick…
Any life transition can come with an unhealthy dose of stress. And when you feel overwhelmed, you might find that performing necessary tasks becomes nearly impossible. When you’re going through a major move, this kind of knee-jerk reaction is expected; unfortunately, it also comes when you need to be on…
Those who seek social support on Facebook when stressed are more susceptible to Facebook addiction. This, according to researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany. The research team conducted an online survey of 309 Facebook users between 18 and 56 years old. Participants answered questions related to stress, Facebook engagement, and…
Overindulging in high-calorie foods when you’re stressed can lead to faster weight gain. When stressed, some of us cope by eating fatty, sugary foods. This might satisfy us in the moment, but a new study from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research says doing so can quickly lead to obesity….
Are you feeling stressed? Spend 20 minutes outside. Researchers from the University of Michigan say it can help. The team asked participants to spend 10 minutes or more outside, at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Participants chose what time of day and where, but were instructed to…
I work predominantly with “millennials” in New York City; those 20-30 somethings who are openly and honestly seeking therapy, very often for the first time, to address certain issues that are more common among this age group. Many consider this age group to be experiencing a “quarter-life crisis.” These individuals…
Stress is a normal part of life, but when it becomes too much it can cause you to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally. The good news is we have power over many potential external stressors—including the quality of our relationships. We often experience stress when our relationships are suffering, such…
Resilience is how well you’re able to adapt: an individual with a lot of resilience can adapt well in the face of struggle, while someone with little or no resilience cannot. A resilient mindset is important as it helps you bounce back from difficult losses and maintain positivity even when…
