Psych News You Can Use

Research has shown that both moderate and strenuous exercise reduces symptoms of anxiety, even when it’s been chronic. Interestingly, the more intense people exercise, the greater their improvement.  Depression has also been shown to improve with activity.  The key is that you have to keep it going on a regular basis (a few times a week) for several months, though any exercise is better than less or none.  It’s also true that exercise alone can’t solve all issues.
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You no doubt already know that stress has a big effect on your health, both physically and emotionally, but did you realize that stress spreads like a cold or flu?  Especially in a partnership, where you’re in close contact with another, it’s very likely that you’re having a big effect on each other’s mental state, spreading it to your loved ones, whether you mean to or not. During holidays the pressures and stressors are compounded.
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Physical affection (hand holding, hugs, sitting close together, kissing, massages…) leads to better and more frequent sexual intimacy, with a higher level of orgasm and greater relationship satisfaction. Of course, if there’s ongoing tension and conflict in the relationship, then that leads to a cycle of less non-sexual contact and a lower quality and quantity of sex.
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Research has shown that about 50% of a person’s happiness is genetic, and about 10% is caused by our circumstances. And approximately 40% is under our control, due to our choices, frame of mind, expectations, lifestyle, attitudes, people with whom we associate, etc.
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Stanford University researchers have identified 5 categories of anxiety and depression that cut across the current diagnoses, and aim to provide more effective treatment for millions of people who suffer with these issues.  Sometimes people with these difficulties, as well as the professionals who diagnose and treat these problems, have a hard time identifying the difficulty with which they’re dealing. The identified categories are: (more…)

Parents usually want to have a better relationship with their children, but miss a great opportunity each school day.  They often ask the same open-ended question of their child/children/teen – “How was your day?” – getting the same bland non-answer, “Fine.”  End of discussion. (more…)

Many couples, both partners work and then argue over who’s responsible for shopping, cooking, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, and other household chores, leading to conflict and unhappiness. (more…)

Albert Einstein said that “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead.” (more…)

Sexual intimacy changes over time and in the heat of an early relationship, sex can occur daily or at least several times a week, but over time passions cool and sex happens a lot less often.  According to a study of more than 25,000 people published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, two-thirds of them either married or in a long-term romantic relationship, on average, benefits maxed out at sex about once a week.  (more…)

Relationships can be fragile and there are a lot of ways to harm the bond that brings a couple together. A study in the journal ‘Personality and Social Psychology’ has identified the top 20 short and long-term traits, habits and other factors that damage love relationships.

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