Could om take the edge off of ouch? A new study suggests that mindfulness meditation is an effective strategy for pain relief. The research, published in Biological Psychiatry, analyzed pain signatures in MRI scans to determine the relationship between mindfulness and the body’s experience of pain. When asked to rate their pain, participants trained in mindfulness … Read more
No need to rack your brain for a way to stop your racing thoughts. Dr. Daniel Amen, a double board-certified psychiatrist and brain-imaging researcher in California, suggests deep breathing to slow down fast, relentless thinking. “Four seconds in, hold it for a second and a half. Eight seconds out, hold it for a second and … Read more
It’s time to scale up your weight loss journey. Registered dietitian Courtney Kassis is sharing five bad habits to ditch while trying to drop pounds. “I’m not gonna lie, these are going to surprise you,” she teased to her 424,600 TikTok followers in a clip last week. Kassis advises against skipping social events, adopting a … Read more
Is Shilajit legit? The tarlike resin found in the Himalayas has been used in ayurvedic medicine for centuries and is lately making the rounds on TikTok. Known to some as “the Healer of all weaknesses,” die-hard devotees claim the supplement can boost energy, clear skin, reduce anxiety and increase testosterone. Shilajit develops from the slow … Read more
The key to sleeping like a baby could be swaddling yourself like one. Adult swaddling involves laying in the fetal position, being wrapped up in fabric from head to toe like a baby burrito, and being gently rocked by a partner or pal. Adult swaddling provides gentle, even pressure across the body, a sensation known … Read more
There’s a buzzword circulating on social media called “gatexiety,” otherwise known as “gate anxiety.” It’s when travelers continuously check their gate at the airport, even though it’s listed on the airline’s app. This nonclinical action is advisable, experts say, as checking your departure against airport monitors is a smart move since gates can change at … Read more
A perfect 10? British clinical psychologist Kirren Schnack is sharing 10 simple ways to quickly reduce tension and anxiety. Schnack wrote the book “Ten Times Calmer: Beat Anxiety and Change Your Life,” which came out in January. In a June TikTok, she recommended holding yourself tightly, singing, humming or chanting, counting backward from 100, massaging … Read more
Dry eye disease is no laughing matter — or is it? More than 360 million people around the world suffer from chronically red, scratchy or irritated eyes, a condition that can worsen with stress. Researchers in China and the UK believe they may have found an unusual solution that doesn’t involve eye drops — laughter. … Read more
Heart racing, head pounding and dread building? “Hangxiety,” or the “beer blues,” is the one-two punch of anxiety and the physical consequences of alcohol, an awful unease that creeps in alongside the sobering light of day. Neuropsychopharmacologist David Nutt, who specializes in alcohol’s effects on the brain at Imperial College London, recently told National Geographic, “Almost … Read more
Sick days have taken on a whole new meaning. As Generation Z employees enter the workforce, paid sick days — allotted by a majority of companies — are being used more than ever. Approximately 30% of employees took sick leave in the first 10 months of 2023 – up 42% from 2019, according to the HR platform Gusto, … Read more
It will all work out. Jenna Rizzo, a women’s weight loss coach from Georgia, is sharing four simple ways to overcome anxiety about going to the gym. “I know you know you need to go to the gym because that body ain’t gonna build itself,” Rizzo told her 82,500 TikTok followers last week. Picking a … Read more
Millennials need to treat themselves — to therapy, one boomer-aged physician says. “There’s a lot of things you’re going through now,” Dr. Terry Simpson, a board-certified general surgeon based in California, told his millennial TikTok followers last week. “You’re making career choices. You’re thinking about maybe starting a family,” Simpson continued. “Maybe you have a family … Read more
It ain’t over ’til it’s over, folks, and never is that sentiment more apt than in the case of Mercury retrograde. While the wily planet of communication and exchange stations direct on Aug. 28, we will continue to feel the ill effects of the slow-down for up to two weeks afterward, a charming/jarring little epilogue … Read more
Don’t let these anti-anxiety tips slip your mind. Dr. Daniel Amen, a double board-certified psychiatrist and brain-imaging researcher in California, has shared four solutions for managing the mind and alleviating anxiety. Addressing his 2.8 million TikTok followers last week, Amen reveals some shocking statistics about anxiousness, “It’s just rampant — doubled in children, tripled in adults.” Stress and anxiety … Read more
Summer is nearly over — them’s the breaks. To ease you into the new school year, a pediatric neuropsychologist is sharing the three things that should be top of mind for parents. Jennifer Katzenstein — director of psychology, neuropsychology and social work at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL — wants caregivers … Read more
Put your mind at ease with these no-brainer tips. Emily McDonald, an Arizona-based neuroscientist and mindset coach, is sharing how she protects her brain by avoiding three things — gossip, negative self-talk and doomscrolling. 1. Gossip and drama Being involved in gossip and drama reduces our ability to focus and think logically, neuroscientist Emily McDonald said. .shock … Read more
Never fear — a renowned psychiatrist is sharing his three-pronged method for breaking a panic attack. Panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense anxiety that cause physical symptoms, are very common. Experts say one in 10 Americans will experience one this year. Dr. Daniel Amen, a double board-certified psychiatrist and brain-imaging researcher in California, advises not … Read more
Protect your peace, folks. Mercury retrograde, most maligned of all the astrological transits, brings with it a fair shake of emotional strain. Seeing as the planet rules mental processing and verbal exchange, the retrograde cycle can bring on serious haze and malaise. To help us come through this month with a little more grace and … Read more
Maybe all that weightlifting hasn’t been in vein. Obesity has long been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease because it can cause inflammation that harms the brain, among other reasons. Now, researchers say that focusing on belly and arm fat can lower your risk of developing these debilitating diseases. “Targeted interventions to reduce [belly] … Read more
It’s an ascent into madness. Mountain rescuers in Wales claim they’re constantly rescuing amateur climbers up high amid a spike in regional hiking content on social media. “The team has dealt with some panic attacks,” the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organization wrote while describing this peak anxiety in a Facebook post. The rescues occurred at … Read more