Triple5Light Therapy

  #Hug #Hugging #Emotions #Stress #Mood #BlackMaleTherapist #Psychotherapy #MentalHealth  During the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns and restrictions, one of the things many people missed most was getting hugged by their loved ones. This led to an increased interest in the positive effects of hugging in the psychology research community and several studies published over the last year have yielded new insights on what it means to us to be hugged. Here are four of the most interesting new insights into the science of hugging. 1. Getting hugged by others, but also hugging yourself, reduces stress hormones A recent study by researcher Aljoscha Dreisoerner from the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and his team focused on the positive effects of hugging on stress (Dreisoerner et al., 2021). Interestingly, the scientists not only investigated how getting hugged by other people could reduce stress, but also whether hugging yourself (e.g., when other people are not available

#Stress #Cardiovascularriskfactors #Yale, #JAMA #AfricanAmerican #Alzheimers #cognitivefunction A new study found that people with elevated stress levels are more likely to experience a decline in cognitive function, affecting their capacity to remember, concentrate and learn new things. Stress is known to take a physical toll on the body, raising the risk of stroke, poor immune response and more. It can also drive people to unhealthy behaviors like smoking and poor physical activity. The study, published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, did find that participants with elevated stress levels were more likely to have uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors and poor lifestyle factors. But even after adjusting for many of these physical risk factors, the researchers found that people with elevated stress levels were 37% more likely to have poor cognition. People who struggle with memory slips can be stressed because of the challenges that brings. But the new study suggests that the connecti

#Stress #Anxiety  Everyone experiences stress and anxiety from time to time. Most often, stress occurs when you encounter a frustrating situation or are faced with a dilemma. Social pressures, heavy workloads and financial instabilities also cause stress which can reduce productivity, cause health problems or lead to chronic symptoms of anxiety or depression. I sat down with Ayesha Khan, a certified yoga therapist who has spent multiple years coaching people in the healing tradition of classical yoga and meditation. Here’s what she had to say: Stress attacks your hope, willpower and makes you vulnerable. You get annoyed easily and react to petty issues. You may suffer mood swings and your behavior becomes unpredictable. It might seem difficult or impossible to escape from stress, but eventually, you can fight back. Try these simple stress relieving techniques. 1. Exercise Exercise has unlimited benefits for human body and fighting stress is one of them. Research has shown th

#MentalHealth #BlackMentalHealth #Stress #Depression #Anxiety #PTSD #Therapy It’s important to stay informed, of course. But experts say digesting too much trauma-related news is linked to a host of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. You might be exposing yourself to such news without even realizing it, just by using social media every day. ”[S]ome may log onto social media apps with intentions other than to get news updates but may inadvertently get exposed to news posts from connections,” Jacqueline Sperling, a clinical psychologist and faculty member at Harvard Medical School, tells CNBC Make It. So, how can you effectively manage your mental health while still staying informed? Here are four tips from top experts: Read summaries that don’t involve pictures or videos Audio and video can be very visceral: Seeing or hearing someone else suffering can take a toll on your own psyche. Sperling says news summaries without any pictures or

When  anxiety  hits, it can make you feel disoriented as though everything is spinning out of control. You might feel immobilized, not sure where to turn – or engage in acts that you think will reduce the sense of confusion, but they only end up making things worse. People may tell you to “stay grounded,” but what does it mean to be grounded? I see it as being aware of your body and present in your surroundings. But how can you get there when your mind has whipped you up in a state for anxiety and confusion? I have written a lot about the impact of  attention  on our experience. Our focus has a significant effect on our thoughts and feelings. Controlling our attention plays a crucial role in  managing social anxiety  and  dealing with unwanted attention from others . You can also use your attention to deal with anxiety and calm yourself down. Remembering that you have control over where you put your attention is key to managing your anxiety. How do you come back to your sens

#Stress #College #DMAX #MentalHealth #Survey Are you stressed? DMAX Foundation has launched its “Everybody Has Stress Survey.” Tell us what stresses you out, how you cope, and who you talk to about it. Take our survey, and you can find out what others who have already taken the survey think AND you could have a chance to win:  www.dmaxfoundation.org/survey If you feel stressed, you are not alone. According to the American Institute of Stress, 73% of Americans regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress. The definition of stress is hard to pin down, but most people associate stress with the negative thoughts and feelings it causes which can result in anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, anger, and difficulty regulating emotions. What’s worse is that chronic stress can lead to serious chronic auto-immune diseases, hormonal imbalances, and weight gain. And what a cruel cycle this causes, as worry over health is the #3 largest stressor among Americans, after J