Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 1 Issue 74 i The Art of Healing

The Things We Dare Not Tell The fields are fair in autumn yet, and the sun’s still shining there, But we bow our heads and we brood and fret, because of the masks we wear; Or we nod and smile the social while, and we say we’re doing well, But we break our hearts, oh, we break our hearts! for the things we must not tell. There’s the old love wronged ere the new was won, there’s the light of long ago; There’s the cruel lie that we suffer for, and the public must not know. So we go through life with a ghastly mask, and we’re doing fairly well, While they break our hearts, oh, they kill our hearts! do the things we must not tell. We see but…

Even if it’s hiding amid a pile of pain, we can always find something that will shift us into a positive state of mind. There is always a reason to smile. I know it may seem like the world is falling apart, but you can also look at it from the perspective that there is a mass awakening - to the reality that the way society operates does not currently lead to everyone thriving. It does not nurture the continued personal and collective evolution that could lead to extraordinary leaps in consciousness. A new conscious paradigm that is one based on more harmony, coherence, and balance can eventually lead to what Sri Aurobindo called supramental transformation. So, in the case of the global challenges and disintegration of the artificial societal matrix which…

“Viewing images and updates that selectively portray others positively may lead social media users to underestimate how much others actually experience negative emotions and lead people to conclude that their own life - with its mix of positive and negative feelings - is by comparison, not as good,” he explains. Whether you love to hate it, or hate to love it, social media is now integral to most of our lives. But how it affects us isn’t so black and white. According to recent research, it’s not about whether we use social media, but rather ‘how’ and ‘why’ we use it that dictates how it affects our health and In a recent study, Derrick Wirtz, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychological science at the University of British Columbia, asked participants about their use of Facebook, Twitter,…

Immunity is on just about everyone’s mind lately, and it should be because a healthy body relies on a strong immune system for fighting off viruses as well as pathogenic bacteria and parasites. Supporting the immune system is very important, especially in light of the pandemic. But how do we know if our immune system is on the slack side and what does it mean?   The most obvious risk factors for impaired immunity are chronic disease or autoimmune disease, but there are lifestyle factors that can set you up for infections. Typically for the general healthy population that does not have any underlying medical conditions these factors can include (but are not limited to) maintaining an unhealthy diet, having a high-stress job, having a high-stress level home environment, and having a…

“Traditionally, the focus in psychology research has been on the treatment of mental illness. We’re hoping to broaden the conversation to advocate cultivating wellbeing at any stage, even when you’re relatively healthy. These skills help make us more resilient in difficult moments.” A growing mental health crisis is the ‘second wave’ of health issues that experts anticipate due to the prolonged stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking poll from July 2020, 53 percent of U.S. adults reported that their mental health had been negatively affected by worry and stress over the pandemic - up from 32 percent reported in March 2020. Organisations and communities are looking for practical tools to support mental health amidst this growing crisis. In a recently published paper in the Proceedings…

Eating well is important for people impacted by cancer. Having the right types and amount of food before, during and after treatment can help one feel stronger, better able to tolerate treatment, less prone to infections and have a better quality of life. Eating well when you have cancer means providing the body with the macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) it needs to function optimally. The shock of a cancer diagnosis can motivate the adoption of healthier habits. However, it is important to be aware that the nutritional requirements during treatment for cancer may vary from what is generally considered a “healthy diet.” So for example, if you typically eat meat, going vegan right before you start treatment may not be the best option (a vegan diet…

WHY KINDNESS? If you’re performing an act of kindness, chances are it’s to help someone or make them smile. But did you know that there are scientifically proven benefits of being kind? Research has confirmed that acts of kindness can reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, all while increasing your self-esteem, energy, and optimism. And on top of feeling calmer and happier, it’s good for your physical health too. Kindness helps lower blood pressure, reduce pain, and improve overall heart health. Studies also show that kindness is contagious. Whether you see, do, or receive an act of kindness, you’re more likely to pay it forward. Volunteering is another wonderful way to spread kindness. Many people get hooked on helping their community as it gives them a chance to…

A new study has found that when high schoolers are taught about gratitude and given opportunities to practise it, they show improved mental health and wellness. In recent years, many educators have used social-emotional learning (SEL) programs to focus on building skills of understanding and managing emotions in students, along with relating positively with others, and behaving in personally and socially responsible ways. However a study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology has found that when high schoolers are taught about gratitude and given opportunities to practise it, they show improved mental health and wellness. In two urban high schools in the U.S., 152 students participated in lessons and activities to learn about the science of gratitude - what it means, how to practise it, and the benefits it can bring. Additionally,…

Dr Prichard says this suggests that people with a general disposition toward competition may benefit most from using activity apps. Apps alone don’t motivate most people to exercise but interacting with an online exercise community as well provides the impetus for exercisers to do more – and enjoy what they are doing. New research led by Flinders University PhD candidate Jasmine Petersen examining commercial physical activity apps has found that the social components of these apps hold great potential to increase physical activity engagement. Sharing physical activity outcomes and progress to app communities and social networking platforms provides the necessary encouragement for people to engage more enthusiastically with their apps. “Sharing posts and receiving encouragement provides the social support many people need to stay motivated with exercise programs - and…

To say that 2020 was a challenging year for most of us is a profound understatement. While it’s easy to fall into quiet despair, there has never been a better time to cultivate positive mental health habits, one of them being gratitude. Paradoxically, suffering can yield a grateful heart, if approached with care and mindfulness. As reported by CNN Health: In his 1994 book, A Whole New Life, Duke University English professor Reynolds Price describes how his battle with a spinal cord tumour that left him partially paralysed also taught him a great deal about what it means to really live. After surgery, Price describes “a kind of stunned beatitude.” With time, though diminished in many ways by his tumour and its treatment, he learns to pay closer attention to…

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has recently released its major research report for 2020: Defining the Mental Wellness Economy. It’s the first study to define mental wellness as opposed to mental health and to clarify the key concepts and pathways. It’s also the first research to measure mental wellness as a global industry and to identify and benchmark its key sub-segments. The in-depth report has found that global mental wellness is becoming a new industry bubble, capturing a crucial set of economic activities. “Stress, loneliness and burnout were exploding pre-pandemic, and a stronger focus on mental wellness has been a cultural mega-shift these last few years, with people awakening to the importance of integrative solutions including meditation, sleep and brain health, and businesses rushing in to offer all kinds of…

Dr Simon Wilksch; BPsych (Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology) is both a researcher and clinician in the area of eating disorders. He is a Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University in Adelaide, leading research projects in the area of eating disorder risk factors, prevention, early intervention, and improving treatment experience and outcomes for patients and their families. He also runs a clinic with eight other therapists providing treatment to over 300 children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing an eating disorder. In this interview with Dr Wilksch we discuss eating disorders and the relationship between social media use and disordered eating patterns in young adolescents. How long have you been doing your research? I started my PhD back in 2003 and finished in 2007, so approaching 20 years now. And you’re…

Wisdom has gained increasing interest among researchers over the last few decades, as a biologically-based personality trait relevant to physical wellbeing and mental health. Previous studies have identified six common, measurable components of wisdom: • pro-social behaviour including empathy • compassion, altruism and a sense of fairness • emotional regulation, self-reflection or insight • acceptance of divergent perspectives • decisiveness • social decision-making In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, researchers have added a seventh component to wisdom: spirituality. “There has historically been controversy about whether spirituality is a marker of wisdom,” said Dilip V. Jeste, MD, co-first author of the study, senior associate dean for the Center of Healthy Aging, and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego School of…

Their analyses showed that not only does a country’s social justice contribute to people’s happiness, but it is the second strongest predictor of their life satisfaction. Only a country’s social capital (the strength of family relationships and larger social networks, the level of trust in institutions, and the degree of civic participation) mattered more to people’s wellbeing. In this study, researchers Salvatore Di Martino and Isaac Prilleltensky used data from the EU Social Justice Index, which scores countries on indicators like their equity around education and health care for ethnic minorities and the poor, unemployment levels for both native-born and non-native-born people, non-discrimination policies, gender representation in government, and “intergenerational justice” (meaning, low public debt, good pension policies, and low greenhouse gas emissions per capita, for example). They compared these scores to how…

Dr. David Hanscom is an orthopaedic surgeon and specialist on back pain who left his practice to focus on educating others on how to become pain-free without surgery. Most recently, after surviving COVID-19, he turned his attention to prevention … “We’ve known for some time now that with diet, exercise and other interventions, you can radically reduce your risk of COVID-19. The focus of my work is on strengthening immune function through stress and anxiety reduction.” As explained by Hanscom, pain is largely a symptom of stress and anxiety, which in turn are predicated on inflammation more so than psychological factors: “You have to feel safe. When you feel safe, there’s a profound shift in your body’s chemistry. You’re going from adrenalin, cortisol, histamines and inflammatory cytokines to growth hormone,…

TIME REQUIRED 20-45 minutes, 3-6 days per week for 4 weeks, HOW TO DO IT The body scan can be performed while lying down or sitting. 1. Begin by bringing your attention into your body. You can close your eyes if that’s comfortable for you . 2. Feel the weight of your body on the chair or on the floor. 3. Take a few long, deep breaths. 4. As you take each breath, forcus on bringing more oxygen into your body. As you exhale, have a sense of relaxing more deeply. 5. If you are sitting, notice the sensations of your feet touching the floor - the weight and pressure, vibration, heat. Also notice your back against the chair - the pressure, pulsing, heaviness, or lightness. 6. Now bring your…