NUTRITION AND MENTAL HEALTH
A PRESS RELEASE from Medical Express (http://medicalxpress.com/) from January 28 (but just showing up in my inbox!) is a press release from the University of Melbourne. That's in Oz, of course. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-diet-nutrition-essential-mental-health.html "Diet and nutrition essential for mental health" publicizes a recent article by Jerome Sarris and a gaggle of [...]
AGING VS THRIVING
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I like intense intermittent exercise. I can get much of the value of longer exercise episodes in fifteen minutes. Since the body likes habit and routine, High Intensity Interval Training is a way to keep throwing change at the body. It may resent the change, [...]
STAND UP AND LIVE!
A recent report in Medscape pointed out that the total time we spend sitting has a direct relationship with early death. Yes, and I am sitting as I type this. Am I suicidal or what? Here is the link. If you aren't signed up with Medscape, you will have to [...]
IS THE DODO DEAD?
I have recently posted two Dodo Bird articles, arguing that when it comes to psychotherapy, all models seem to get approximately the same results. Now I say that the Dodo Bird is Wrong! In my post, “Is Mental Illness A Disease” [http://drlynnjohnson.com/is-mental-illness-a-disease/], I pointed out that the DSM5 appears to [...]
HOW CAN I HELP?
END OF THE YEAR! - TIME FOR ME TO RE-EVALUATE. - Please help me help you. What have you gained this year from receiving my newsletter? Which posts were meaningful to you? Did you take any of my Online Classes? If so, how did they help? (I really need examples so [...]
MEDITATION: CAN IT BE A STAND-ALONE TREATMENT?
In a new study just released, group mindfulness treatment was just as effective as individual cognitive therapy in treating depression.[1] As usual, the actual article is behind a paywall, but if you sign up for online library services through your alma mater, you should be able to get the actual [...]
Lifestyles solutions
On Dec. 10 I interviewed Sandra Scheinbaum, Ph.D. on functional medicine. She is a psychologist, and has been in a practice with other therapists, medical doctors, and a psychiatrist. Her core argument is that psychotherapy has been too narrow to help as many people as it should. For her, the [...]
Is “Mental Illness” A Disease?
Well, I do admit, people seeking help for emotional disorders are certainly ill-at-ease, dis-eased. But that is not what we mean. We are talking about the Official Disease Model, the DSM 5. In Scientific American, Peter Kinderman makes a case for abandoning the whole DSM 5 model. You will want [...]
IS “NO POACHING” A SOUND RULE?
“Mate poaching” means that you take a partner from another person. A man who seduces (what an old-fashioned word, neh?) a woman, someone who already has a committed relationship with another man, has poached. It works both ways, of course. One large 2004 study estimated that 63% of men and [...]
NEW NDE STUDY ANNOUNCED
The largest-to-date study of Near Death Experiences, NDEs, was just published. Dr. Sam Parnia was the lead investigator. It was a four-year, multi-site and multi-investigator study. It focused on cardiac arrests (CA) in persons brought to the ER. There were 2060 cases of CA over the four year study. All [...]
PSYCHOTHERAPY, NOT DRUGS FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY
The good news is that therapists have much more to offer anxious clients than the drugs that they are often offered. The bad news is that drugs are overused. Patients are robbed of the best treatment. Share this good news! Press release as I received it: Johns Hopkins University [...]
Don’t Judge Robin Williams
Suicide is a terrible thing. It may – or it may not – end the suffering of the severely depressed person, and we are in no position to criticize. What Robin Williams did by hanging himself was a shocking thing, a horrible outcome, and yet, we don't know enough to [...]
WALKING MEDITATION
Walking as a treatment for depression is a good idea. Reports vary, but most suggest that there is a small, positive effect from encouraging people to exercise.[i] I have seen patients who had a large and reliable response to walking therapy for depression. I ask people to simply scale their [...]
HAPPIEST COUNTRIES TO VISIT
My friend Frank sent me a link. CNN recently posted a report on the happiest countries to visit, and Frank asked, "I wonder what these countries might possibly have in common?" Here is the report link. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/travel/happiest-countries-to-visit/index.html What do they have in common? Here is my answer: Frank, you wonder [...]
CHILDREN OUTDOORS
Are children benefitted by playing outdoors? While the answer should be obvious, ask yourself this: How are children growing up now? If playing outdoors is important, why are parents raising their children indoors? A new study says children who spend more time playing outdoors have a stronger sense of self-fulfillment and purpose than [...]
IS SEVEN THE MAGIC NUMBER?
Happiness is mostly a matter of right thinking, would you agree? Practicing calmness, hope and gratitude will all boost happiness? Or perhaps, it is about right action? Acts of kindness and service, focusing on improving skills, embracing a life of savoring and enjoying this world will boost happiness? Undoubtedly, happiness [...]
HAPPINESS VERSUS TRAGEDY?
I received a heart-warming bit of "fan mail" and wanted to thank the wonderful person who mailed it and make a couple of comments. Here is the mail, reprinted with permission: Dear Dr. Johnson Both my husband and I enjoyed your class on Positive Psychology on Feb 14th. I have [...]
CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE = BETTER HEALTH
Here is press release describing some research on conscientiousness and health. As it turns out, conscientious people have better health. Well, how can that be a surprise? They do take more care, are going to be more careful about health, eating, and exercise. The real question is whether this press [...]
WILL PSYCHOTHERAPY SURVIVE?
Mar 14, 2014 Is it wise to adopt the DSM-5? The American Medical Association is facing a similar question with the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition). It has taken a bold step, opposing the new diagnostic scheme. This news should interest everyone in the mental health field. The [...]
WHAT DOES ADAM GRANT MISS?
Adam Grant is a wildly popular professor at Wharton, the business school. He is an organizational psychologist, interested in how people succeed in the workplace, and is the author of a recent book, Give and Take. I like it. I think you should read it. Now the first thing I [...]