Author: Truehope

Being around happy people can make us happy

Did you know that happiness is contagious?

Harvard researchers spent 20 years following over 4,700 people to study the long-term effects of social networks. And we’re not talking about social networks like Facebook and Twitter either. (The study ended before many of those were even conceived.) These are the old fashioned social networks of friends and loved ones who we engage and socialize with.

Here are 5 key findings from the study:

… Continued

Categories:

Popular

5 natural ways to sleep better

Researchers recently published an article in International Journal of Science and Research that recommended these 5 natural ways for dealing with sleep disorders.

Read Now

Categories

Why quitting smoking is smart when you have depression

People have suspected for years that there was a connection between cigarette smoking and depression. However, New Zealand researchers recently discovered that they have found a causal relationship; in other words, that smoking causes depression.

Using data from 1,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, researchers discovered that smokers were twice as a likely to have depression than nonsmokers. Also, using computer modelling based on that data, they discovered that nicotine addiction leads to increased depression risk.

… Continued

Categories:

The key to happiness: positive psychology

Have you ever heard of positive psychology?

Positive psychology is a recent branch (not even 20 years old) of psychology that focuses on personal satisfaction and growth rather than focusing on pathology (or mental illness itself), as conventional branches of psychology does.

Positive psychology research has found that being able to improve happiness is complex and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. There is no one size fits all formula for attaining happiness.

One area of research is what is called the good life,

… Continued

Categories:

Talking to someone can help with your depression

When we feel down, we often keep it to ourselves, maybe because we try to be strong and take care of things on our own or maybe because of the stigma associated with dealing with mental health challenges.

Unfortunately, keeping it inside and coping alone is ineffective. Plus, it may end up creating an endless cycle of our depression or anxiety feeding on itself.

Dr. Richard Raskin, a private-practice psychologist in the United States specializing in stress management, thinks that talking through what you’re dealing with can be key to managing it effectively:

It’s important that you don’t let yourself become isolated.

… Continued

Categories:

The role of nutrition in sleep and mental health

Mental health researchers Dr. Bonnie Kaplan and Dr. Julia Rucklidge highlighted in their most recent Mad in America article a recent study linking nutrition with sleep and mental health.

The study — performed at the University of Canterbury — followed 14 adults suffering from sleep problems to see what effect a broad spectrum formula of vitamins and minerals would have on their sleep. The researchers randomized participants into three groups: the first group started intervention a week later, the second 2 weeks later,

… Continued

Categories:



Promo Fridays

Truehope Newsletter

Get special discounts every other week

Who doesn't like discounts??

Sign up to our biweekly newsletter now to receive a special discount codes and take advantage of some great savings on Truehope's life-changing products!

Don’t self-medicate with drugs and alcohol

It’s normal to use substances to get pleasure. Whether it’s our favourite chocolate, a glass of wine with dinner, or prescription medication to treat an injury, substance use is normal.

There isn’t anything wrong with consuming such substances in moderation; problems arise when we consume them in excess: binge drinking on the weekend, using medication long after the injury has healed, and even consuming illicit drugs at parties.

… Continued

Categories:

Depressed? Keep working, but don’t do too much

An easy trap to find ourselves in when we are dealing with mental health challenges — particularly depression — is feeling overwhelmed.

Dr. Richard Raskin, a private-practice psychologist in the United States who specializes in stress management, thinks that depression can affect how we perceive the work we’re doing, and may even exacerbate those overwhelming feelings:

Depression impacts your judgment about what you ought to be doing, at work and socially: How much is enough? What is OK and not OK?

… Continued

Categories:

The gut–brain connection in mental health

The following guest post was written Dr. Carol Banyas, MD PhD, a physician based in Danville, California, USA.

It has long been believed that depression is due to a decrease in serotonin or a“chemical imbalance” and treated with antidepressants such as Prozac. However, it has been found that often times antidepressant medication responses are due to a placebo effect, simply do not work, or can make the existing condition worse due to side effects and difficulties with harsh physical withdrawal symptoms.

… Continued

Categories:

Singing could make you happier

Researchers at the University of Manchester studied a group of 10 participants to find a connection between loud music and pleasure.

They discovered that music above 90 dB (typical for a concert or night club) can affect the sacculus, an inner-ear organ designed to help us stay balanced but that happens to also be tuned to sound frequencies found in music. The sacculus is part of the vestibular system. This system is responsible for self motion and balance and is connected to the brain’s hypothalamus,

… Continued

Categories:

Stressed out? Maybe you need a hug.

Did you know that frequent hugs can help us beat stress?

University of Carolina researchers studied 59 women to see how their bodies would respond to hugs from their partners.

Participants reported how frequently they received hugs from their partners. Then, researchers measured oxytocin and blood pressure levels. The participants received a hug from their partner, and researchers measured oxytocin and blood pressure levels again.

What the researchers discovered was that the single hug didn’t seem to affect oxytocin or blood pressure levels.

… Continued

Categories: