Tag: anxiety
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Is a Negativity Bias Justified in News Reports?
Many prior studies have documented the predominant tone of news content across news agencies (newspapers, television, news magazines, and citizen journalists). News stories lean heavily toward negative rather than positive content, and can even lead viewers to experience visceral physiological reactions.[1] “If it bleeds, it leads” aptly describes how news media skews toward negative content.…
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Is Your Smartphone Making You Sick?
Stress, Anxiety and Smartphone Use In previous posts, I reviewed research on the use of devices and apps developed for smartphones that can enhance and improve mental health. We tend to see smartphones as a positive technological advancement, and many users cannot imagine life without one. But, is it possible for a device to have…
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Lavender: An Over-the-Counter Treatment for Depression
Its effects on anxiety are already well-established—does it also help with depression? Lavender was the topic of a previous post about alternative treatments for anxiety and depression. That post summarized randomized controlled trials testing the use of lavender in various forms (tea, massage oil, pill, and inhalation) to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. In another…
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Does Religion Improve Mental and Physical Health?
So far, many studies have been published on the impact of religion, spirituality, and prayer in helping people recover from illness or injury. These studies have been ongoing since the 1980s and have become more advanced, using scientific methods to understand how religion affects health. However, because of variations in study quality and small sample…
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Can Lavender Treat Anxiety and Depression? The Shocking Results!
With a large segment of the population suffering from depression, anxiety, or both, treatment options continue to grow. Alternative treatments, especially non-invasive ones, are of particular interest to researchers and patients. The effectiveness of alternative treatments, as well as side effects and length of treatment, continue to be explored in clinical settings. Kim and colleagues…
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tDCS in Clinical Settings: Can It Reduce Depression?
Although tDCS continues to be investigated for treating a variety of physical and mental disorders, it holds great promise in the treatment of depression, especially for those who do not respond to antidepressants and psychotherapy or who need additional help beyond traditional treatments. There have been a number of published clinical trials to date testing…