Research shows these psychospiritual forces may be critically important for decreasing risk of illness and death and boosting overall health — When I was in graduate school studying world religion, philosophy, and psychology, I became intrigued by what, if anything, undergirds all the wisdom traditions. I had no interest in diluting them or melting them into one. I was more curious about what was beneath belief. After much research, I arrived…

Surprising ways the ‘yuck factor’ affects our brains, beliefs, and behavior — It turns out that you don’t need a thick self-help book in order to “change your thoughts.” All you need is a bottle of — wait for it — fart spray. Not a big vial either, just a small whiff of “real fart” smell. …

Research shows the health benefits from the gentle motion of rocking are undeniable. — I think my parents glimpsed heaven when they got a Swyngomatic — the thin, metal windup baby swing that was all the rage in 1960s and ’70s. “We took that thing everywhere,” says my mom with an unworldly sigh. “It probably saved our marriage,” laughs my Dad. They are not…

Sweeping new studies shed light on the underlying mechanisms of posttraumatic stress disorder — June is PTSD awareness month. Thanks to the arduous work of researchers, advocates, survivors, and psychological and medical professionals over the years, the acronym for posttraumatic stress disorder is now common parlance. The effects of PTSD are also more widely known: About 8 million adults in the U.S. …

Tips to reset your brain and body when everything feels impossible — According to psychiatrist and neurobiologist Dr. Dan Siegel, each of us has a “window of tolerance.” Siegel coined the term to describe normal brain/body reactions, especially following adversity. The idea is that human beings have an optimal arousal zone that allows emotions to ebb and flow, which, in turn, enables…

New research shows the ‘tapping’ technique reduces anxiety, depression, and PTSD — For years people thought the practice of “tapping,” aka Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), was, well, crazy, to put it kindly. But after 100+ clinical trials have shown its efficacy, even the hard-won U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) got hip to the idea. EFT/Tapping is a brief intervention that combines elements of…

How to open and close the tap on difficult emotions — “Tick… tick… tick…” That’s the sound of the timer on the bomb forecast to detonate on November 3, 2020. Its rhythm is in step with society’s heartbeat (and fluctuating nervous system), a nagging reminder of this election’s high stakes. …

Conscious breathing, cellular breathing, and other easy techniques to feel calmer — Air is vital to our survival. But when we find ourselves facing extraordinary levels of stress, as is today’s daily norm, it can be difficult to catch our breath. Stress can feel suffocating. And eight months into this so-called new normal, individuals and communities are inevitably struggling to hold on…

Some things are just sad — Five words was all it took to break through the blockade that surrounded my heart, freeing it to feel legitimate pain and eventually inspiring it to let go: Some things are just sad. A wise friend said this to me over dinner six months after I, at age 33, had…

Turns out humans are designed for it through the “diver’s reflex”. — Anxiety makes us feel “hot under the collar.” But evolution has provided a mechanism to help cool us down. Enter the “diver’s reflex” — or the mammalian diving response, the body’s physiological response to acute submersion in cold water. Scientists have long known that aquatic mammals, such as seals, whales…

A therapist explains how to distinguish between the two — I was eight years old when the wrecking ball of doom came a-swinging. One minute I was riding my Huffy Sweet Thunder down the road, speed lifting my pigtails, adrenaline twisting the handlebars as I launched off the curb, bravado daring me to let go, as if to say, “Hell…

Part One: The new “How to Tend and Befriend Conflict” series. If you think you know how to deal with conflict, think again. — Today kicks off what I’m calling the “Tend and Befriend Conflict” column : A four-part series that will change the way you understand, navigate, and engage the conflict in your life. The good news is that it works for all types of conflict: personal, professional, and in the broader community…

Yes, they actually work. — Part Four: This is the final installment of the “How to Tend and Befriend Conflict” series. If you think you know how to deal with conflict, think again. Just before COVID struck, I was sitting in my car on an onramp waiting to mount the Bay Bridge, the exceedingly long…

The soulful science behind woulda, coulda, shoulda — Which is worse: regretting what you did or didn’t do? Which is harder to live with: a misstep or a missed opportunity? This is a writing prompt I’ve used in a class I teach called “Writing Your World.” The best writing prompts are evocative, and because much of life writing…

The fascinating science of silence and why it’s healthier to embrace it than fight it — I used to think he was ignoring me, or else that he just didn’t hear me, so I would repeat myself. This “he” is my boyfriend, and almost without fail, any question I ask is met with prolonged silence. Early in our relationship, when this silent scenario played out, each…