Patient’s Self-Rating of Health May Beat Medical Tests

-Janice Wood A new study shows that patients’ self-rated health is a better long-term predictor of illness and death than standard blood tests, blood pressure measurements, or other symptomatic evidence a doctor might gather. A research team led by Dr. Christopher Fagundes, a Rice University assistant professor of psychology, and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kyle MurdockContinue reading “Patient’s Self-Rating of Health May Beat Medical Tests”

Income Inequality Linked to Millennials Having Babies Before Marriage

-Janice Wood New research finds that rising income inequality, and a scarcity of certain types of jobs, are key reasons many young Americans are having babies before getting married. A study led by Johns Hopkins University sociologist Dr. Andrew J. Cherlin traces how the income gap affects individual choices about starting a family. The study concludesContinue reading “Income Inequality Linked to Millennials Having Babies Before Marriage”

Sleep Disorders Among Vets on the Rise

-Traci Pedersen U.S. military veterans were six times more likely to experience a sleep disorder in the year 2010 than they were in 2000, according to a new study of more than 9.7 million U.S. veterans published in the journal Sleep. The largest increases were identified in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other mentalContinue reading “Sleep Disorders Among Vets on the Rise”

Danger Behind the Wheel as Emotions Explode

-Rick Nauert, PhD As Americans drive about the country on summer vacations, profound new research should give pause, or a warning, of behind the wheel behaviors. A newly released study finds that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year. TheContinue reading “Danger Behind the Wheel as Emotions Explode”

Trauma is an Experience, Not an Event

-Santiago Delboy, MBA, MSW, LSW, S-PSB It seems like “trauma” has become one of those household terms everyone talks about. I took a look at the number of average monthly Google searches for “trauma” in the U.S., and found that it has grown 22% in only one year. As with other terms that became mainstream (forContinue reading “Trauma is an Experience, Not an Event”

These 5 Foods and Substances Can Cause Anxiety and Insomnia

Before you reach for the medicine cabinet, take a look at your dinner plate. Do you suffer from panic attacks or have trouble sleeping? If so, you may have tried stress reduction techniques or even medications, but has anyone ever asked you what you eat? It may surprise you to learn that certain everyday foods,Continue reading “These 5 Foods and Substances Can Cause Anxiety and Insomnia”

Where did the Joy of Learning Go?

Rekindling Your Child’s Enthusiasm for School Connect your children to what they learn at school through their interests and past positive experiences so they will WANT to learn what they HAVE to learn. Where did the joy of learning go? When school stops being fun, all too frequently, learning stops. Help your child retain thatContinue reading “Where did the Joy of Learning Go?”

Cannabis use alters DNA to increase disease risk, study says

Cannabis alters DNA, leading to genetic mutations that may raise the risk of serious diseases for users of the drug and future generations. This is the conclusion of a new study by researchers from The University of Western Australia. Researchers say chemicals in cannabis alter DNA, which can cause gene mutations that raise the riskContinue reading “Cannabis use alters DNA to increase disease risk, study says”

How Pokémon Go Can Help with Anxiety, Depression

I have to admit it. I’m 31. Officially out of the “youthful” age group, according to some of my favorite students. “Mrs. Meg, no one uses Facebook anymore. That’s for old people.” Fair enough.  So I must venture further to confirm that I am not all too shot down with playing the new Pokémon Go.Continue reading “How Pokémon Go Can Help with Anxiety, Depression”

How to Forgive

Now that we’ve established What Forgiveness is, Really, let’s talk about how one can move toward accomplishing such a cumbersome task. Once we have realized how beneficial the act of letting someone off the hook can be, what’s next? How do we make movement in the direction of truly letting go of the negative emotionsContinue reading “How to Forgive”