Increase Spirituality and Positive Emotions in Meditation with Oxytocin By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A meditation practice gives you the benefit of turning inward to your spirituality for answers, instead of looking to others. Meditation can drastically improve the loneliness, or longing you have in your life. Reach a state of interconnectedness […]
Reduce Suspiciousness and Excessive Social Anxiety with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Our nervous system is like the soundtrack for every scene in life that we encounter. It is all but impossible to experience a scene as safe and happy when the music tells us otherwise. With a mindful, body-based approach, clients can […]
Improve Workaholism with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “mindfulness is most impactful when it is a way of being that is seamlessly interwoven into daily life, rather than simply a standalone practice. Although it may seem difficult to abandon our attachment to electronic devices and ditch the urge to work nonstop, […]
Reduce Psychotic Symptoms with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “While meditating the last day I finally could see love as an underlying force in the universe, and I had a waking dream of some fractal patterns realigning, it is hard to describe with words. It is still embarrassing to remember all […]
Improve Psychology and Physiology with a Meditation and Yoga Retreat By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is fantastic for decreasing stress levels, and research has also shown that those who practice yoga regularly have higher levels of leptin and adiponectin in their bodies. Both of these natural chemicals work to alleviate inflammation […]
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 […]