Hundreds of apps for wellness, losing weight, mental health, and recovery from addictive disease have arrived on the market over the past several years. Apps run on smartphones and other mobile devices. Many are free or very inexpensive. Recovery apps provide convenient and practical tools to help those recovering from alcoholism track sober time, manage triggers and emotions, find and share 12-step meetings, contact your sponsor discretely, receive daily inspirations, and more. A visit to…

Cognitive decline in older adults may be slowed through their consumption of green leafy vegetables, according to new research. Nine hundred and fifty-four participants averaging 81 years old took part in a Rush Hospital Memory and Aging Project. Over approximately 4.5 years, their cognitive faculties were closely measured. The goal was to discover whether nutrients found in green leafy vegetables reduced cognitive decline. Solid evidence, after other factors accounted for, showed that…

Sometimes we compare our lives with others around us to gauge how we're doing. This is no big deal, but when you combine this with a lot of time on Facebook, you may feel depressed. That's what researchers at the University of Houston discovered. After using Facebook, those users who spent more time online felt more symptoms of depression. Facebook doesn't cause depression, but comparison behavior can leave you feeling in the dumps. One survey found that nearly 70 percent of Facebook users felt…

This year, over 100 college students on spring break were arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida, in the first two weeks of March. Alcohol abuse figured prominently. One drunken student died after falling from the top of a parking garage in Panama City, Florida. Over 1,800 college students ages 18 to 24 die each year from alcohol-related injuries. Many young people are unaware of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning that can lead to death. What many college partiers don't know is that alcohol…

Personal well-being naturally declines in the senior years, but new research demonstrates that you can beat it back and slow it down. The key is remaining socially oriented and involved by leading a socially active life and prioritizing social goals. These behaviors are directly associated with better late-life decline, and a later onset of terminal decline. Research shows the opposite is also true (good research tries to show the inverse relationship): avoiding social prioritizing and not…

It is a myth that alcoholics do not seek help on their own. Like other illnesses, a sense of urgency usually drives the decision. It happens every day by accurate information about the illness arriving in combination with some adverse incident related to alcohol. If you are thinking, "that sounds like me," your next step is an assessment by an experienced professional. Try your employee assistance program or an addiction medicine physician, whom you can find in your area by visiting the…

Controlled deep breathing is standard in stress management training, and knowing why it works can have you doing it more often. One reason deep, slow breaths work so well is brain physiology. When you deep breathe, you use a different part of your brain to control your chest muscles instead of the part of your brain experiencing the "fight or flight" reaction to stress: the amygdala. Your awareness of what's going on with your body improves instantly. This calms you in addition to the…

As you declutter your life, you'll have more time and space to discover your priorities and your passions. Start decluttering these four areas of your life to make positive, long-term changes:

1. Your schedule.

Learning to say "no" is essential to changing your life for the better. Start saying no to activities that aren't important to you or you dread doing. I can't stress this enough. You are either using your time to build the life of your dreams or to build someone's else's dreams...it's…

A regular physical activity routine such as brisk walking helps to --

• Control body weight.
• Improve mood and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Reduce high cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Keep bones and muscles strong.
• Reduce risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
• Increase your life expectancy.

You just need to:

1. Get started. Get a comfortable pair of walking shoes and then keep your shoes at work or in the car. Start slowly to avoid stiff…