Psychology Today Blog

Numerous studies have explored the mental health benefits of both physical exercise and listening to music. Not surprisingly, dance therapy has also been found to have a positive impact on mental health, according to recent research conducted at Goldsmiths, University of London. What contributes to dance's powerful effect on the brain? It may have to do with the interaction that takes place between dancers and live bands—a kind of mirroring effect that enhances both the dancers’ and musicians’ performances. Synchronization is promoted on multiple internal [...]

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

“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

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