Psychedelic Drug Experiences Produce Long-Term Improvements in Psychological Well-Being By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Awe may be a critically important emotional experience during psychedelic treatment in generating compassion, empathy, and overall well-being” – Eve Ekman Psychedelic substances such as peyote, mescaline, LSD, Bufotoxin, ayahuasca and psilocybin have been used almost since the […]
Spirituality is Related to Reduced Depression but Negative Religiosity is Associated with Suicidality By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The trouble is that just as it is hard to feel connected to other people while depressed, it is difficult to feel connected to God. A leap of trust and faith is frequently needed […]
Spirituality (Meaningfulness) is Related to Lower Work Burnout By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “the use of spiritual beliefs and practices can reduce the effects of burnout.” – Andrew Jacob Godoy Stress is epidemic in the western workplace with almost two thirds of workers reporting high levels of stress at work. Burnout […]
Spirituality Modifies Coping with Covid-19 Evoked Psychological Distress By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “COVID-19 . . . patients are suffering greatly from spiritual distress as well: existential distress, struggles with uncertainty, despair, hopelessness, isolation, feelings of abandonment by God or others, grief, and the need for reconciliation.” – GW School of Medicine […]
Yoga Practice is Positively Related to Spirituality By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “This ancient science goes far beyond the mere physical aspects, by way of deepening the connection between mind, body and most important of all, the spirit.“ – Himalayan Yoga Institute Yoga developed in India millennia ago as a deep […]
Spirituality is Associated with Fewer Suicide Attempts By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “spirituality can engender the perspective that things happen for some reason and serve a greater purpose. This, in turn, deploys our attention toward the potential for a brighter future, which can create a sense of optimism even when one’s situation […]
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 […]
Spirituality Improves Posttraumatic Growth with Mothers of Children with Cancer By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “spirituality can play a critical role in the way traumas are understood, how they are managed, and how they are ultimately resolved.” – Kenneth Pargamen Modern living is stressful under the best of conditions. But dealing […]
A Supportive Environment is Necessary for Mindfulness to Lower Stress and Increase Well-Being at Work By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness is not about living life in slow motion. It’s about enhancing focus and awareness both in work and in life. It’s about stripping away distractions and staying on track with individual, […]
Improve the Psychological Well-Being of Police with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “self-reported mindfulness to be associated with increased resilience and emotional intelligence and decreased negative health outcomes among police officers.” – John H. Kim Policing is a very stressful occupation. Stress in police can result from role conflicts between […]