According to a 2016 CDC study, an estimated 50 million Americans are living with chronic pain, and almost 20 million report that it limits their life and work activities in significant ways. Many medications exist for pain—from over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to stronger prescription medications. For many people, these work well and are an … Continued
According to one study, about 60 percent of Americans make New Years resolutions, but only about 8 percent of us actually achieve them. In this episode, we discuss how we can improve our ability to set and honor our resolutions. And we particularly focus on one of the most common resolutions, according to surveys: to … Continued
One of the most common questions that mental health professionals get asked is “How do I know if therapy is right for me?” That’s the question we’ll discuss in this episode, along with related issues including: How do I locate therapist? How much does it cost? How do I decide which therapist is a good … Continued
We all have our “go-to” coping mechanisms. Some of these are healthy—mindfulness practices, journaling, and exercise, to name a few. But most of us also have coping mechanisms we wish we didn’t turn to so easily, from eating too many baked goods and binge-watching all 11 years of Cheers, to reading too much news even … Continued
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a lot of grief to go around. In addition to COVID-related loses, people continue to die of more typical illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and numerous other age-related causes. Unfortunately, our normal ways of mourning have changed along with the rest of how we live our lives. … Continued
It’s hard to believe that it was only March 11 when the World Health Organization pronounced the novel coronavirus to be a global pandemic. As we “shelter in place,” it can sometimes seem like the end of the world. But, even the most cynical of the world’s scientific and medical minds are saying that the … Continued
Dozens of times a week, we ask people, “How are you?”. Given this fact alone, you’d think our society was very interested in how people feel. But, all of us know that this question generally doesn’t get an honest answer. For many of us, it may feel risky to get in touch with our feelings, … Continued
A century ago, out of the carnage of World War One and the wave of revolutions that swept Europe, came an artistic movement that put personal and societal liberation at its center: surrealism. Penelope Rosemont, a later member of the movement, discusses the art and politics of surrealism — and her own personal history within … Continued
It seems like the American public is more “stressed out” than at any time in recent memory. But why? Is this seemingly sudden increase in stress due to current events in our world? Is technology to blame? Perhaps financial strain or increased pressures at work? Or is it all simply a coincidence? In today’s episode, … Continued
One of the tools often used by psychotherapists is mindfulness meditation, a technique adapted from Buddhism. Research shows that mindfulness-based therapies are effective for treating depression, anxiety, and even physical pain. But, apart from this technique, Buddhism contains a detailed view of the mind that, in many ways, is different from the Western view. Host … Continued
