Understanding Insomnia and the Brain
Ideally, at the end of a long and tiresome day, we come to bed like it is a devoted friend, and we sleep blissfully, straight through the night. When we wake up, we feel refreshed and energized, ready to take on whatever the new day brings. But for some of us, this is a much-desired fantasy. Insomnia disrupts our regular sleep patterns and can manifest itself in three forms: Inability to fall asleep. We feel ready to sleep, but despite our best efforts, our mind remains active, and we cannot fall asleep. Interrupted sleep. We fall asleep, but we wake […]
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Understanding the Power of the News
These days, watching the news can feel like being in a disaster film. A global pandemic and political turmoil have inundated our feeds with headlines so dramatic that even a scriptwriter would dismiss them as over-the-top. Most of us feel that it’s important to stay informed. This gives way to the unique power of the news. But considering the overwhelmingly negative slant of news today, being knowledgeable about the world can come with a significant emotional toll. How do we balance the need to stay informed with our mental well-being? And how can we recognize the point at which negative […]
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Getting Back to “Normal”
A multifaceted challenge As we get ready to go back to “Normal” life, we wonder what the future will bring. We conduct business differently, celebrate occasions differently, and manage our relationships differently. Which changes will we keep and which will we reject? COVID has primarily affected us in three broad categories. Professional COVID-19 has overturned our work routines and education modalities. Many continue to be out of school or work and find it difficult to find employment in a difficult economic time. Those who continued working find a totally different landscape: Many are working from home and adapting to a […]
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Life ‘On Hold’ or ‘In Full Swing’?
When the pandemic first started, we may have been in the middle of any number of projects, like studying a language we’ve always wanted to learn, gearing up to apply to schools, maneuvering towards a promotion at work, or planning a long-awaited trip. And then the world Stopped. COVID has changed almost every aspect of our lives. Video chats have become our classrooms, and living rooms have become our workspaces. And, if we think about our progress since then, chances are, we aren’t quite where we wanted to be. Our uncertainty has kicked in, and we have told ourselves that […]
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Is an Isolating COVID Winter Friend or Foe?
Staying in a state of prolonged aloneness can be a paradoxical beast. On the one hand, it causes us to avoid stressful social situations, and on the other, we still want and need friendships and deep connections with others This is all made more complicated by the looming reality of a COVID winter with almost no social interaction opportunities. COVID quarantine has been hard, but the spring and summer gave us safe options to interact and socialize outdoors. The warm weather invited us to meet others for walks, hikes, picnics, and even concerts, as open spaces lowered the risk of […]
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Lonely in a Crowd: Overcoming Social Anxiety
We are social creatures and are hardwired with the need to relate to others. Yet some of us feel isolated despite being surrounded by people. We may struggle to belong even when we are in the company of friendly and familiar faces. This is the world of social anxiety – where a deep sense of discomfort and detachment characterizes almost every social interaction The heart of it: At the heart of social anxiety is an unwillingness to express our emotions. Fears of vulnerability or rejection discourage us from entrusting our feelings to other people. This can be especially true if […]
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