Improve Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Overall, there is a lot of evidence supporting mindfulness as a treatment approach for adults with PTSD, and a recent burgeoning literature corroborating positive neurological changes is following suit.” – Jennifer Wolkin Experiencing trauma is quite common. It has […]
Improve the Ability to Control the Brain’s Activity with Prayer and Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “You can sculpt your brain just as you’d sculpt your muscles if you went to the gym. Our brains are continuously being sculpted, whether you like it or not, wittingly or unwittingly.” – Ritchie Davidson […]
Improve Calmness with Alternate Nostril Yoga Breathing By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “alternate nostril breathing . . . it’s thought to harmonize the two hemispheres of the brain, resulting in a balanced in physical, mental and emotional well-being. While science has yet to really explore what might be going on in terms […]
Reduce Depression by Improving Brain Responses with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “If we accept that you can’t control your thoughts or feelings, but rather focus on cultivating your awareness of them, and regulate their impact, without getting caught up with them, then life can be far less stressful. The important […]
Protect the Aging Brain with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “We’ve all known yogis who seemed to defy the hands of time. The current study is just one of a long list of studies indicating that yoga may promote healthy aging. Whether it be more growth hormone or less stress, a well-balanced […]
Improve Brain Systems Underlying Mental Well-Being with Gratitude Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “benefit of meditation. Or, rather, some ancient benefit that is just now being confirmed with fMRI or EEG. The practice appears to have an amazing variety of neurological benefits – from changes in grey matter volume to reduced activity in […]
Improve Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Combat Veterans with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness-based approaches have been shown to be useful for problems commonly seen in trauma survivors such as anxiety and hyperarousal. Mindfulness practice has potential to be of benefit to individuals with PTSD, either as a tertiary or a […]
Meditation Can Reduce the Age-Associated Degeneration of the Brain By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The brain begins to decline in the 20s, and continues to decrease in volume and weight through old age. Meditation, in addition to boosting emotional and physical well-being at any time in life, may be an effective way to […]
Improve Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms with Mindfulness Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Regular mindfulness practice can lead to a greater present-centered awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance of potentially distressing cognitive and emotional states as well as trauma-related internal and external triggers. Awareness and acceptance of trauma-related thoughts and feelings may . […]
Mindfulness Impairs the Formation of Automatic Habits By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The very fact of paying too much attention or being too aware of stimuli coming up in these tests might actually inhibit implicit learning. That suggests that mindfulness may help prevent formation of automatic habits — which is done through implicit learning […]