Improve Self-Compassion with Loving Kindness Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “practicing 7 weeks of loving-kindness meditation increased love, joy, contentment, gratitude, pride, hope, interest, amusement, and awe. These positive emotions then produced increases in a wide range of personal resources (e.g., increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, decreased illness symptoms), which, in […]
Improve Social Anxiety Disorder with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Using mindfulness, we can begin to notice what happens in the body when anxiety is present and develop strategies to empower clients to “signal safety” to their nervous system. Over time, clients feel empowered to slow down their response to triggers, […]
Improve Responses to Negative Emotions with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Stress and anxiety can cause any number of mental health issues, which can in turn lead to physical health issues (substance abuse springs immediately to mind). We’ve known for some time that meditation can help with many of these problems.” […]
Meditation Practice Alters Brain Networks in the Elderly By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A growing body of research supports the immediate benefits of meditation, such as reduced stress and anxiety levels, lower blood pressure, and enhanced happiness. Studies on mindfulness interventions show these effects are common in as few as eight weeks. […]
Improve Social Anxiety Disorder with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “regular and consistent mindfulness meditation will help to strengthen your ability to overcome the initial problems that you experience. If you are suffering with the symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD), regular practice will eventually improve your self-concept and ability to handle […]
Relieve Trauma Symptoms in Female Prisoners with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Through providing a profound state of rest and relaxation, the TM technique allows inmates to relieve symptoms of deeply rooted trauma that form the basis of criminal behavior. As the grip of past traumas is loosened, inmates naturally calm […]
Improve Anxiety and Work Better with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Being mindful means paying attention to the present moment, exactly as it is. It is really hard to be anxious if you are completely focused on the present moment” – AnxietyBC Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United […]
Improve Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Decentering and Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness allows us to interrupt automatic, reflexive fight, flight, or freeze reactions—reactions that can lead to anxiety, fear, foreboding, and worry.” – Bob Stahl Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults, […]
Relieve Social Anxiety with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness is shown in research to use neural pathways in the brain that cause the nervous system to calm. Using mindfulness, we can begin to notice what happens in the body when anxiety is present and develop strategies to empower clients to “signal […]
Live Longer with Yoga and Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A growing body of research supports the immediate benefits of meditation, such as reduced stress and anxiety levels, lower blood pressure, and enhanced happiness. While these initial perks may be reason enough for us to practice, meditation’s positive impact appears […]