Inflammatory Pathways Play a Role in Psychological Conditions

The article “When Psychology Meets Biology: Exploring How Inflammation Impacts Behavior” delves into the connection between behavior and immune responses. It also examines the influence of inflammation on brain functions and subsequent behavioral changes. The immune system plays a role in psychological and neurological conditions through inflammatory pathways. This study underscores the potential for developing treatments for health issues by …

Affirming Oneself Boosts Self-Value and Positive Outlook

The study “Examining the Impact of Self Affirmation, on Brain Activity Linked to Self Reflection and Reward Enhanced by Forward Thinking ” delves into the influence of self-affirming statements on brain functions. Per the study, practicing self-affirmations can trigger brain regions associated with self-evaluation and reward processing. This indicates that affirming oneself may boost feelings of self-value and a positive …

Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is the Current Gold Standard of Psychotherapy

Super cool thing (according to David D. Burns, MD): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is almost as effective when self-taught as when used by a therapist… CBT, for me, is the age-old maxim: Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff. But how? How are we not going to get upset? CBT says, “stop distorting.” Original article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5797481 Summary: Cognitive …

“Probably 95% of all cognition, all the thinking that drives our decisions and behaviors, occurs unconsciously.”

Original article Summary: The subconscious mind is an intricate aspect of thought that plays a significant role in shaping our actions and choices, often without our awareness. While we have insight into a fraction of our processes, it is believed that approximately 95% of our cognitive functions—such as thoughts, decisions, feelings, and behaviors—are influenced by the subconscious mind. This profound …

Self-affirmation can Impact how People Respond to Health-related Advice

Original article Summary: The study “How Self Reflection Impacts Responses to Health Advice and Behavior Change” delves into the effects of self-affirmation on individuals’ receptiveness to health guidance and willingness to make lifestyle changes. Self-affirmation in this context involves reflecting on values or key attributes, which can help reduce resistance to health advice that may seem intimidating. The research discovered …

Correlation Between Inflammation and the Onset of Depression

A cool thing to remember is that inflammation can easily be measured in the human body. A blood test for CRP (see below) is standard. CRP goes up, and inflammation goes up. CRP goes down, and inflammation is down. More importantly: Original article: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21037214 Summary: Research delves into the correlation between high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in the …