While certain heavy metals are essential for the proper functioning of our bodies, others can be detrimental to our health when present — even in trace amounts, particularly to growing brains. For example, magnesium is a heavy metal that promotes…
Trauma was always a word I associated with a catastrophic event: a car accident, a war experience, child abuse, or being a victim of crime. So, it was an “aha” moment to learn that symptoms of trauma, like depression, could…
There’s no doubt about it. Our modern lifestyles are not good for our brains. With restaurant food delivered to your door 24/7, never-ending dings and digital screens, 70-hour work weeks spent mostly sitting at a desk, air, noise, and light…
A new year brings both hopes and anxieties. We want things to be better for ourselves and the people we love, but worry that they won’t be, and imagine some of the things that might stand in the way. More…
Science has confirmed that the vagus nerve is important to your mental and physical health. Stimulating it has many health benefits. Here’s how and why to do that. What Is the Vagus Nerve The vagus nerve is the longest of…
Dopamine is a feel-good neurotransmitter produced in your brain and gut. The nervous system utilizes it to deliver signals between nerve cells in the brain. It also transports signals to the body and is essential to movement. You can get…
There’s no denying it. It’s obvious and science confirms that we are already well into the process of the Earth’s changing climate. Just look at the statistics. According to NASA’s Climate change and Global Warming website: Carbon Dioxide is up…
It’s very disheartening to learn that trauma can damage your brain in lasting ways. It gets worse. Trauma can also change your genes so that the damage is passed on to future generations. I find it comforting to remind myself…
Beth came to therapy because she could not stop her mind from worrying. She’d think about the same things over and over, getting stuck in a loop that didn’t lead to resolution or peace of mind. She’d wake up obsessing…
More than one-third of American adults view social media as harmful to their mental health, according to a new survey from the American Psychiatric Association. Just 5% view social media as being positive for their mental health, the survey found. Another…
“You’re not a robot.” I tell myself this often, as an exasperated reminder that I can’t expect myself to perform “perfectly,” and that it’s okay to feel my feelings. Guess what? You’re not a robot either. None of us are. So,…