Many terms have been popularized over the decades to denote illnesses that appear to have their causal origins not in identifiable physical ailments, but in overwhelmingly painful emotions or unmanageable stress. Terms such as psychosomatic, somatoform, psychophysiological, functional, and others have been employed to describe illness for which there is no identified physical cause. Read more on Psychology Today
I recently spent two days in continuing education with one of the country’s top experts on mind-body perspectives on chronic pain. The focus of the training was on understanding the differences between structural and neurocircuit sources of pain. It turns out that many chronic pain problems can be understood as a brain coding problem related to the brain turning on the pain signal and misinterpreting sensory signals. Pain and fear are hardwired biological mechanisms that have allowed us to survive when confronted with danger. In [...]
“The sorrow which has no vent in tears may make other organs weep.” —Henry Maudsley Last week, I attended the first Psychophysiological Disorders Association 2021 conference with over 400 participants. I have long been a proponent of the mind-body paradigm for healing which has been around for well over 2,000 years. One of the conference presenters was Nicole Sachs, LMSW, who talked about her work based on her experience as a patient with John E. Sarno, M.D. Read More on Psychology Today
The United States, despite all of its resources, does not do nearly as much as many other countries to adequately train new drivers to prevent roadway crashes. Germany, for example, requires roughly ten times the training for new drivers as the U.S., and the training is expensive. Read More on Psychology Today
According to the CDC, one person in the U.S. dies every 50 minutes due to impaired driving, with the annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totaling more than $44 billion. Considering that almost 50 billion people worldwide are left injured or disabled by crashes—with an annual cost to the US alone of almost $1 trillion—increased safety and prevention initiatives are essential. Read More at Psychology Today
As not only a mental health professional but also a fellow human, I applaud the incredible courage, strength, and self-care shown by Simone Biles for her decision to withdraw from the Olympics’ gymnastic final due to prioritizing her mental health. The overwhelming support for her decision by The International Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, and her sponsors helps pave the way for society as a whole to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues. Read More at Psychology Today
Ask most people what PTSD is, and they will likely tell you it’s a condition that war veterans often suffer from as a result of exposure to war. Much has been written, studied, and shared in popular culture about the war veteran's post-traumatic stress experience of flashbacks, nightmares, and constant anxiety. The American Psychological Association defines PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder as “an anxiety problem that develops in some people after extremely traumatic events, such as combat, crime, an accident, or natural disaster.” Read More at Psychology Today
I first learned about the work of psychiatrist and brain expert Dr. Daniel Amen many years ago; personally, I have always been impressed with his approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of mental and brain health conditions. He was recently featured in the documentary movie, Quiet Explosions, directed by Emmy Award-winning director Jerri Sher and based on the incredible book Tales from the Blast Factory written by Adam and Andrew Marr. In my view, the movie is a game-changer for raising public awareness of brain injuries and empowering hope [...]
Depending on which part of the world you’re in, whether you’ve had a vaccine, or are at high risk of a severe health outcome from COVID-19, your experience of pandemic life right now may differ greatly from others. One thing we all have in common, though, is our exposure to a global trauma that is still ongoing. Read More at Psychology Today
Did you know that the origin of pain can begin in the brain rather than the body? I recently took a deep-dive into the science of pain in a two-day continuing medical education course led by Howard Schubiner, M.D. Dr. Schubiner directs the Mind-Body Medicine Program at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan, and also serves as a clinical professor at Michigan State University College of Medicine. Read More At Psychology Today
Dr. Zender is excited to be partnering with @thebrogliebox, a company that creates thoughtfully curated, specialized boxes for health and wellness. They have created a box for those who are recovering from a car crash. Each item was personally chosen by Dr. Zender and includes a copy of his book Recovering From Your Car Accident: The Complete Guide to Reclaiming Your Life. If you know someone who was recently involved in a car crash, this is a great gift to help support their recovery [...]
A quarter of all car accidents in the United States today are the result of distracted driving. The Founding Director of Detroit Receiving Hospital’s Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Psychological Trauma, and now in private practice in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, Dr. Zender provides treatment for individuals who have suffered psychological trauma from auto accidents. Many if not most of the serious crashes his patients were involved in were caused by distracted driving. As we approach the 4th of July weekend, one of the [...]
"What kind of medical coverage do you have on your car insurance policy? Chances are you don’t know. Most drivers do not give it much thought until injured in an accident. As the political debate about no-fault insurance continues, your auto insurance company would love to shift the cost of providing necessary medical care to your regular health insurance company, but this is not in your best interest." Read the rest of the article published in the The Detroit News.
The content on this site is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for psychological, medical, legal or other professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding specific health concerns. For issues concerning mental health, you are invited to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zender.
© Copyright 2021 – Dr. James Zender
