The power of music to reduce stress levels

The power of music to reduce stress levels

By Edison de Mello, MD, PhD

Here is how:

I came to Rio this past December to present my work, visit family and to enjoy the  “Cidade Maravilhosa”, or Marvelous City as Rio is known to most Brazilians.

There’s a lot to love about Rio and its beautiful landscape.

The weather, the beaches, great places to eat…

But there’s one thing that can be a real drag…

O Transito… The traffic.

Crawling along, bumper-to-bumper, watching the minutes on the clock tick… tick… tick away. It can get pretty frustrating — ...

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28
JUN
0

Categories: Cognitive Health, Meditation, Psychology/Psychiatry, Stress Management

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Vagus Nerve Yoga for Sleep

Vagus Nerve Yoga for Sleep

 

By Alicia Maher, MD

One issue that can make sleep so difficult is that of sympathetic nervous system activation. The sympathetic nervous system tells us to fight, flight or freeze. Obviously helpful when you need it, but we rarely do. And being in this sympathetic state makes it harder for us to engage in the parasympathetic side of the nervous system that controls the activities of resting and digesting. This explains why you might have trouble sleeping and relaxing, and ...

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25
FEB
0

Categories: Sleep, Stress Management

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Forget about Setting New Year’s Intentions

Forget about Setting New Year’s Intentions

 

By: Bren Boston, MD

Talk about setting yourself up for failure. Trying to make a decision about a behavioral change that you will stick with for 12 straight months is nonsense. What research shows is that it takes 3 weeks to form a new habit. So, this year, I encourage you to make separate monthly intentions starting with January 2019. Try it on, feel it out, see if it works for you or if it is even possible to ...

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6
DEC
0

Categories: Stress Management, Uncategorized

The Magic of Boswellia, Chamomile and Blueberries for Muscular Skeletal Pain

The Magic of Boswellia, Chamomile and Blueberries for Muscular Skeletal Pain

By Edison de Mello, MD, PhD

Warm weather means more motion and a 50% higher risk of achy muscles and joints. Luckily, you can keep moving with ease, naturally.
Boswellia

Question:

  • What is the ancient herb boswellia, and why might it lessen knee pain and arthritis in other areas, i.e., what’s happening within the body when we take it? What’s an appropriate dosage?

Answer: Frankincense oil, the common name for the resinous extracts derived Boswellia is part of the Burseraceae plant family. Derived from a ...

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2
MAR
0

Categories: bones and joints, diet, Optimal Health, Stress Management, Uncategorized

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Holiday Stress? Recognize and Rebalance!

Holiday Stress? Recognize and Rebalance!

 

By Alicia Maher, MD

Along with the joys of the holidays, there may be quite a bit of stress. Though it may not seem like it, this could be an exciting opportunity for growth. Taking a few moments during this season to learn to relax from the higher level of stress will make it that much easier to relax when the holidays have passed and we’re back to normal everyday tension.

Most of the stressors that we experience throughout the day ...

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30
NOV
0

Categories: Optimal Health, Psychology/Psychiatry, Stress Management, Uncategorized

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Courage is Good For Your Health

Courage is Good For Your Health

 

Dr. Bren Boston

Courage makes us feel good. It allows us to have some control over how we react to our fears. Courage gives us the bravery to stand up to our fears, again and again, whether we conquer those fears or not. Perhaps then, we should appreciate that courage can also have a beneficial effect on our mental and physical health. Staying healthy can allow us to be more courageous.

Courage is one of those intangible powers inside all of ...

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1
DEC
0

Categories: Cognitive Health, Optimal Health, Stress Management, Women's Health

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3 Ways to Practice Patience

3 Ways to Practice Patience

As our world becomes faster our attention span decreases and so does our ability to practice patience. And yes, it requires a great deal of practice.

Why is this important?

I came across this great article posted by the Huffington post on the reasons why one should practice patience as well as some great tips to help you get there:

As virtues go, patience is a quiet one.

It’s often exhibited behind closed doors, not on a public stage: A father ...

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16
APR
0

Categories: Optimal Health, Stress Management

3 Ways to De-Stress This Holiday Season

3 Ways to De-Stress This Holiday Season

 

The holiday season is upon us and, chances are, you are more stressed than usual. Be it difficult family dynamics, arduous travel plans, or simply changing your iron clad routine, the holiday season has a unique way in winding us up.

Alicia R. Maher MD, board certified diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, states that scientifically, when we disrupt our normal lives, we rely more on the “reactive” parts of the brain, and it’s a very overwhelming state ...

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2
DEC
0

Categories: Newsletter Articles, Stress Management

The Psychological Cost of Academic Success

The Psychological Cost of Academic Success

Work hard and go to school. For some, this motto is taken to heart, so much so that they fulfill the highest academic degree available, a doctorate degree.

Earning a PhD is hard work and includes the expected stress associated with a demanding workload, but studies are showing that the stress, lack of sleep, and high expectations are leading to concerning levels mental health challenges.

In a recent article titled “There’s an awful cost to getting a PhD that no ...

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16
NOV
0

Categories: Cognitive Health, Stress Management

Why Working More Can Hurt Your Bottom Line

Why Working More Can Hurt Your Bottom Line

In a culture focused on ‘more is better’ it is no surprise that many of us are overworked. This may be due to a demanding boss, our competitive nature, or the increased availability to tap into work at any given moment. Regardless of cause, it is clear that chronic overwork does not lead to more productivity, rather, it has a negative impact on health and the bottom line:

There’s a large body of research that suggests that regardless of our reasons for ...

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30
AUG
0

Categories: Optimal Health, Stress Management

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