Theravive Home

With the advance of technology, human lives have become increasingly more hectic and complicated. As a result, many people are deprived of the necessary time to relax and play for pure fun. If prolonged, however, this state of privation could engender adverse ramifications on health and relationships. [More]

Would you have imagined that a Pope would be celebrated for his relaxed and pleasant demeanor? Crowds would assemble and yearn to connect with this ex-bouncer who sees it as part of his calling to wash the feet of a Muslim female prisoner? Or hang on the words of a newly-elected Pope who stands, in muslin, to greet his cardinals rather than receive them from a throne while draped in furs? Who would have expected this? [More]

There are those who say that pandas remind us of ourselves. Consider the way they sit when they eat. The females are far more mannerly than the males (just like homo sapiens?). As a panda chomps on a stick of bamboo using a thumb-like bone to grasp the bamboo, it looks remarkably human. It is said that the human brain is programmed to respond to this creature that has big eyes (accentuated by black markings), a high forehead, a big round head, and a body that is chubby and roly poly, just like a human baby. The panda brings out our protective, nurturing instincts. “What fools these mortals be” (Shakespeare, Midsummer Nights Dream) — the panda has no interest in us whatsoever. [More]

The science of happiness has been increasingly gaining public attention in recent years as researchers are trying to delineate the specific determinants of individual sense of well-being or life satisfaction. What constitutes human happiness has long been considered to be subjective but recent studies are showing that it might not be entirely so. [More]

Building on the concepts of health and integration, this video podcast explores how the brain can change and grow to increase health and well-being. [More]

Paid your dues in therapy, but still not sure if your ‘issues’ are getting any better? Sometimes we get so focused on what is going wrong, we don’t know what feeling better looks like. In this video, learn about the neural mechanisms that underscore wellbeing and the universal marker for health: integration. [More]

Although the brain is complex, it requires regular maintenance in order to operate at its full capacity. Mindfulness is likened to closing the apps running in the background on a smart phone in order to increase speed and performance. Slowing down and living in the moment can actually improve the function of the mind, body, and overall life experience (Albeinz & Holmes, 2000). [More]

Syracuse, NY native Ronnie Brower has managed to lose 425 pounds in just under two years. Not only is this feat amazing for the amount of weight loss, but it is a testament to Brower’s hard work as he lost the weight through old fashioned exercise and eating well. Two years ago, Brower was faced with news that his weight of almost 700 pounds could mean death before reaching the age of 30. Well Brower just celebrated his 30th birthday, and he did so over 400 pounds lighter, reaching his goal of 250 pounds. Along his journey, Brower often cited Taylor Swift’s songs as his inspiration as he continued to put in long hours at the gym. [More]

What is happening to Bruce Jenner is a microcosm of what happens to human beings when they have an identity crisis. What is an identity crisis? Theorist and social psychologist, Erik Erikson coined the term identity crisis and believed that it was one of the most important conflicts people face in development. [More]

A recent study out of Ohio State University found that Acetaminophen may be numbing emotions in addition to physical pain. Acetaminophen is a common compound found in multiple over the counter drugs, the most widely used being Tylenol. There have been numerous studies measuring the effectiveness of acetaminophen on different forms and intensities of pain, but this study is the first to examine the possible emotional impact of acetaminophen. [More]