The One Psychological Trait That Will Ruin Your Life
An interesting article from the Amen Clinic that could be useful in counseling and all of life. The trait in the article that could ruin your life is called “cognitive inflexibility. Click here to read full article.
Some research I am doing for another project sheds further light on this topic. What researchers have found is that the elderly as a group, despite the medical problems and limitations they face, rate their happiness as higher than younger adults or even middle agers. There are exceptions, and these are often people who continue to compare their energy levels and performance with that when they were younger and refuse to make adjustments. Those who are willing to accept those changes and enjoy the experiences that come each day are happier than any other age group (this is from the book Eighty-Some-things, 2019, p 178).
It Takes a Village to Escape a Toxic Leader
There have been several prominent church situations where multiple leaders, all intelligent and committed Christians, continued to support a leader even though there was growing evidence that a situation or person needed to be confronted. We sometimes ask: Why did it take so long for them to act? One possible explanation is “betrayal blindness,” defined by psychologist Jennifer Freyd as “the need for a person to trust a spouse, a parent, a caregiver, or a leader and, when betrayed by them, to fluctuate between the need to end the abuse and the need to preserve the relationship.” I think this article is worthwhile for all of us to read and consider, since this is something some of our clients may be experiencing. Click here to read full article.
Christians who Changed their World: Benjamin Rush
Most of us don’t know much about Benjamin Rush, but among other things, he was one of the early American physicians who tried to have humane treatment for the mentally ill. Click here to read full article.
Can Older Adults Walk Their Way Out of Dementia?
This research is a strong encouragement for older Americans to engage in even moderate amounts of exercise. It found that people in their eighties who engaged in even moderate exercise, such as walking, were less likely to experience dementia than people in their 50s and 60s who didn’t engage in any exercise. Click here to read full article.
60% of adults under 40 say Jesus isn’t only way to salvation; equal to Buddha, Muhammad
A survey of over 3,000 people who claimed to be born again Christians found that 60% believed that Jesus isn’t the only way to salvation. The need for churches and pastors to teach biblical Christianity was stressed. Click here to read full article.
Chuck Colson on “Radical Gratitude”
This is a reprint of a Breakpoint message from 2005 by Chuck Colson. A worthwhile reminder that you could use in your own lives and in your work with clients. Click here to read full article.
Is It Mania or Just Joy?
When people have bipolar disorder, it sometimes is difficult for them to distinguish between euphoric mania and just being happy. This article talks about this issue, written by someone who has bipolar disorder. Click here to read full article.
8 Books By & For Caregivers of Loved Ones with Bipolar Disorder
I’ve read several of these books. The ones I’ve read have been good. Click here to read full article.
We Need to Understand the Difference Between Isolation and Loneliness
This article does a good job of differentiating isolation versus loneliness. One of these two conditions (or both) may affect some of your clients, and if it does, it can have multiple adverse consequences. Either condition can increase the likelihood of premature death even more than lack of exercise or smoking. Social isolation increases the likelihood of dementia by 50%, and loneliness correlated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Treatment of social isolation and loneliness is something that can be treated with counseling. The first step is to identify the causes of that person’s social isolation or loneliness, and then develop a personalized program to help change that. Since the pandemic has increased both social isolation and loneliness, this is an ideal time to include these issues in your counseling practices. Click here to read full article.
Moms with young kids increased drinking by 323% after start of pandemic: study
This alarming study was conducted for the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol consumption increased for both men and women last year, but for women with young children it increased significantly more. If you work with this population you may wish to check about this with your clients to see if this has become a problem for them. Click here to read full article.
Brain Imaging: Functional MRI vs. SPECT Scans—What’s the Difference?
From the Amen Clinic, a very clear explanation of some of the different types of brain imaging, and the kinds of information they yield. If you have a client who needs a brain imaging study, this could relieve their anxiety and help them understand the information the scan will provide. Click here to read full article.
Using CBT Group Therapy Helps Clients with Bipolar 1 and 2
This web address contains summaries of several research studies related to bipolar disorder. Worthwhile reading if you work with clients with bipolar disorder. Click here to read full article.
How a Physician Treats ADHD with Combination Therapy
This is an interesting article by a physician who has been treating clients with ADHD for many years. He has found that treating clients with a combination of a stimulant and a non-stimulant often allows dosages to be reduced so there are less side effects and greater symptom control. Click here to read full article.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Henry Virkler