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We're in a volatile political climate in the United States and are heading into what will be an interesting election. Whether it’s a twitter storm or fake news, there’s plenty of ammunition for social media fights over political beliefs. And recent research found that general social media use has a negative effect on political knowledge, which may only fuel the fire in upcoming months. [More]

A study by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles had found it is possible to determine a person’s ability to feel empathy by studying their brain activity whilst resting rather than when engaged in activity. [More]

Alzheimer’s is one of the United States’ top ten causes of death but the only one on that list with no known cure. Alzheimer’s is actually the third leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease. About 5.7 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease and the rate is expected to triple to 16 million by 2050. A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders looked at the conversion rates of from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease in monolingual and bilingual patients. [More]

Adolescents who spend too much time sitting still and engaging in sedentary behaviour are at an increased risk of depressive symptoms. [More]

Dopamine fasting encourages people to avoid stimulation to become better versions of themselves. Dr. Cameron Sepah describes it as “an evidence-based technique to manage addictive behaviors, by restricting them to specific periods of time, and practicing fasting from impulsively engaging in them, in order to regain behavioral flexibility.” [More]

Break ups are never easy, but in the age of social media, they’re even more complicated. That’s why a group of researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder set out to explore break ups in the age of Facebook. [More]

Marriage is common and so is divorce. Over two million marriages occur in the U.S. per year. By the time a person turns 50 years of age, over 90 per cent of people in the U.S. have tied the knot. According to the American Psychological Association, a happy home gives a child the chance to be a healthier adult in all ways - mentally, physically, and emotionally. So what happens to teens whose parents’ divorce? Is it possible to create a happy home post-divorce? A recent Norwegian study published in the Journal of Public Health aimed to answer that question particularly when it came to divorce and conversational difficulties with parents and the effects on adolescent health and self-esteem. [More]

I happen to be a therapist who believes we could all benefit from therapy at some point in our lives. Therapy is a place to work on values, define purpose, strengthen relationships, learn coping skills, have a safe place to process emotions, and help with mood. Basically, if we need support, are struggling, or need a strength-based approach, counseling can help us. However, most people do not know where to start when searching for the right fit in a counselor. [More]

“Keep a gratitude journal.” A common statement made to people who are depressed or experiencing other negative emotions and research says gratitude can increase happiness.And it makes us more altruistic because it biases the brain’s reward system towards rewards for others. [More]

Across cultural and religious norms, food has been symbolic for attempts to heal the hurt. Death leaves a hole. Some are far deeper and filled with more despair than others. The loss of a parent, a child, a spouse, a close friend, and/or the loss of a pet companion commonly leaves a feeling of emptiness. This emptiness may well engulf body and soul. Who to lean on? Who to pick up the role that has, literally, turned to dust? How to withstand the pain that cannot (and should not) be ignored? [More]