Have you seen the term "mindfulness" online, off-line, and in the health news? Mindfulness is an approach to well-being and health that entails learning how to pay attention in the moment and gain improved self-awareness using techniques like slow breathing, focused concentration, and meditation to relax, gain control over anxiety and depression, deal with fears, reduce stress and pain, and improve concentration. Mindfulness helps you feel centered, helps you slow down, makes you less reactive…

Ask you doctor about Vitamin D, and whether you need more of it. Most people think of Vitamin D as the "bone vitamin," but there's a lot more to it. Some medical experts believe Vitamin D is more like a hormone than a vitamin. Only the recently has the big news emerged: Vitamin D has role in helping prevent many serious diseases and illnesses. The discovery of vitamin D's benefits was a top-ten medical breakthrough in 2007. Sunlight is our primary source of Vitamin D; however, the risk of skin…

Group therapy employs small-group interaction to help participants address mental health issues and make changes in their lives. Professionally-led group therapy focuses on problems like overcoming life struggles, eliminating self-defeating behaviors, and preventing the repeat of problems experienced in relationships. Don't overlook group psychotherapy as an avenue of help for rapid change. Group therapy members usually bond quickly, and the leverage they create is the collective insight and…

Complaints about a partner being "too controlling" are common in couples counseling. Whether you are too controlling or too passive, each of these behaviors is usually learned in our family of origin. Try this exercise for improving communication to see whether it does inspire better communication, improved assertiveness, less passivity, and more excitement in your relationship. (1) Observe your communication for a week, and notice when you are passive and non-assertive or overly controlling…

It's February--are you sticking to your New Year's resolution? Most people are slacking off. Don't let that happen to you. None of us works toward challenging goals without a few speed bumps along the way. This is especially true when trying to break unhealthy habits or establish healthy ones. Note what happened to get you off track, and make adjustments. Then, avoid those circumstances and start again. It doesn't matter how many times you start over as long as you reach your goal. To energize…

Here's a hint to help you achieve a New Year's resolution - make it ambitious and specific, well-defined, and achievable. Many studies associated with goal theory and performance improvement consistently show that a harder goal is more likely to be achieved than an easy goal with a vague understanding of the final result. The reason why is simple: Specifically drives and channels your behavior. Establish a timeline and objectives, and measure your progress. With these steps, you may be among…

If your relationship with a significant other feels too sluggish or routine (a complaint of many couples), research psychologists say the intervention is to plan new activities you both enjoy. Don't panic - routines occur naturally because we are creatures of habit. One study showed an increase in relationship satisfaction while planning something new, while participating in it, and following the activity. Novel experiences need not be expensive vacations. A new hobby, project, or visiting…

Fear, mystery, and stigma often keep people away from professional counseling, but this hesitancy is normal. One question will help you decide whether to go: Are you fed up with feeling miserable? Contrary to what's portrayed on TV, most people do not attend counseling for very long. Some may go once, feel empowered, experience a "reality check," and find the strength they have been searching for to finally take charge and overcome a serious problem. Counseling is challenging because personal…

Stanford researchers are making the case that attitude is more important than IQ. Good news: Attitude is easier to change. Start with understanding your "mindset." Either you have a mindset that is "fixed" or your mindset is "growth-oriented," says researcher, Carol Dweck, Ph.D. A fixed mindset means you're not very open to change or willing to adapt to it. You don't view mistakes as opportunities or stepping-stones to your success. People with a growth mindset do. Embrace challenges, persist…