Condition Spotlight
Recent evidence suggests that depression, anxiety, antisocial behavior, learning disorders, or schizophrenia can be caused by biochemical imbalances, toxins, allergies, food sensitivities, and other environmental factors. Advances in nutritional therapy, orthomolecular medicine, mind/body medicine, environmental medicine, and other alternative therapies now offer many solutions to the treatment of mental disorders.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 30% of Americans suffer from some type of mental disorder severe enough to require psychiatric treatment.1 Incidences of depression and suicide are also rapidly increasing, especially among children and adolescents.
A survey of 22 countries revealed that the lifetime prevalence rate of specific phobias ranges from 2.6% to 12.5% across regions, according to a study on NCBI. Everyone has fears that are difficult to rationalize, be Read More
Taking care of your mental health can be one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It can affect every aspect of your life in positive and negative ways, and helping yourself Read More
Getting good quality sleep, exercising, and eating more raw fruits and vegetables predicts better mental health and well-being in young adults, a University of Otago study has found. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, surveyed Read More
Lovers of Indian food, give yourselves a second helping: Daily consumption of a certain form of curcumin — the substance that gives Indian curry its bright color — improved memory and mood in people with Read More
In the first research of its kind, a new University of California, Davis, study suggests that for the most part, people formulate life goals consistent with their personality traits — and an individual’s goals are Read More
Sitting too much is linked to changes in a section of the brain that is critical for memory, according to a preliminary study by UCLA researchers of middle-aged and older adults. This trend seems to Read More
Your brain is only about 3 pounds, or about 2 percent of your body’s weight. Yet, it uses 20 to 30% of the calories you consume, 20% of the oxygen you breathe and 25% of Read More
Being a teenager in this day and age is a lot more challenging than in generations past. As today’s teens go through the physical and psychological changes that come with age and puberty, they’re faced Read More
Mental health is an incredibly complex, diverse, and vast topic of discussion with many different accumulated experiences or causes. It can often lead to many other different symptoms, including anxiety or depression. The growing trend Read More
You have written many books, what inspired you to write “Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades”? Based on the world’s largest brain imaging database, we now know that success or failure at school—and in every Read More
Complementary and alternative therapies are health-related therapies that are not part of mainstream medical care. They are thought to increase wellbeing, aid relaxation, and promote good mental health.
You can use complementary and alternative therapies for different mental health needs and symptoms. There is more research into some complementary and alternative therapies than others. This means that there is more evidence that some work than there is for others.
While many physical conditions and disorders have been shown to cause psychological stress, studies have also found that psychological stress can likewise contribute to physical illness. The central nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system all respond to psychological stress. Depressed immune function is associated with many kinds of stress including bereavement, divorce, job loss, examinations, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and sleep deprivation. Up to 80% of health problems in the U.S. are considered stress-related. In large-scale studies conducted in 1967, those who became seriously ill reported having more stressful life events than those who were well.
Multiple daily stress has been shown to undermine health. When the body systems are overstimulated by stress, illness is likely to occur and cardiac disease may set in. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness increase digestive problems and cancer growth. Fear, anxiety, and stress can also interfere with healing, compromise the immune system, and encourage cardiovascular disease.
Not all complementary and alternative therapies are regulated. It is important to make sure the therapist you choose is qualified.
