Mindfulness Improves Physical and Mental Well-Being

Mindfulness Improves Physical and Mental Well-Being   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “scientists have found that practicing mindfulness is associated with changes in the structure and function of the brain as well as changes in our body’s response to stress, suggesting that this practice has important impacts on our physical and emotional health.” –  University […]

The Power of Retreat 7 – The Middle Way

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “Monks, these two extremes ought not to be practiced by one who has gone forth from the household life. (What are the two?) There is addiction to indulgence of sense-pleasures, which is low, coarse, the way of ordinary people, unworthy, and unprofitable; and there is addiction to self-mortification, […]

Kick Opioid Dependence with Mindfulness

Kick Opioid Dependence with Mindfulness   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “Ultimately, mindfulness drives at the root of compulsive behaviors by undermining the assumption that inner experience is intolerable and therefore requires immediate relief through substance use.” – Jennifer Talley   Substance abuse and addiction is a terrible problem. It isn’t just illicit […]

Religiosity Protects against Alcohol and Drug Abuse

“Research investigating the relationship between religious commitment and drug use consistently indicates that those young people who are seriously involved in religion are more likely to abstain from drug use than those who are not; moreover, among users, religious youth are less likely than non-religious youth to use drugs heavily” – Gerald Bachman   Alcohol […]