“We consistently teach a practice to provide prisoners with a skill to become more sensitive to how they feel in their bodies. When you develop a close relationship with your own sensitivity, you are less apt to violate another. This is empathy. And empathy, when encouraged, leads to compassion. Gradually, the cycle of violence is […]
Aging brings a myriad of physical and mental changes including altered amounts and patterns of sleep. Older people have the same sleep needs as when they were younger but they have more difficulty falling and staying asleep and do not sleep as deeply. In addition, aging individuals wake more often during sleep, tend to go […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. In today’s Research News article “Virtual reality enhanced mindfulness and yoga intervention for postpartum depression and anxiety in the post COVID era” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11973155/ ) Liu and colleagues examined the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) enhanced mindfulness […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. In today’s Research News article “Effectiveness of an age-modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving mental health in older people with depressive symptoms: a non-randomised controlled trial” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11863447/ ) Wang and colleagues investigated the effectiveness of […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “People do not realize that Alzheimer’s is not old age. It is a progressive and fatal disease and staggering amounts of people develop Alzheimer’s every day.” – Melina Kanakaredes The normal aging process involves a systematic progressive decline in every system in the body, the brain […]
Improve the Cognitive, Social, and Psychological States of Mild Alzheimer’s Patients with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “You have to be patient with Alzheimer’s. Once you understand that it’s a medical condition, you become a little more compassionate. You get less frustrated.” – Kim Campbell The normal aging process involves […]
Prevent Depression and Dementia-Related Behavioral Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Alzheimer’s is not about the past—the successes, the accolades, the accomplishments… Alzheimer’s is about the present and the struggle, the scrappy brawl, the fight to live with a disease. It’s being in the present, the relationships, […]
Improve Asthma Symptoms with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Asthma is treatable and well can be controlled.” —Cathy Freeman Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that involves a persistent inflammation of the airways. When the inflammation worsens, it makes it more difficult for air to move in and out […]
Improve Long-Covid Symptoms with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” ~Robin S. Sharma Mindfulness training has been shown to improve health and well-being in healthy individuals. They have also been found to be effective for a large array of medical and psychiatric conditions, either stand-alone or […]
Reduce Rumination in Bipolar Disorder with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “If you are someone who tends to ruminate, or who suffers from anxiety and depression, it’s important that you don’t judge yourself for this way of being.” ― Kristin Neff Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, is a […]