Relaxation and Mindfulness Training Have Differing Psychological and Neural Effects By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “this practice of nonjudgmental self-awareness is one of the most effective ways to improve mood and anxiety.” – Neda Gould Mindfulness training has been shown to improve health and well-being. It has also been found to be effective for a […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness meditation has been found to elicit a positive impact on cognitive performance and abilities such as attention, memory, cognitive flexibility, and quality of task performance.” – Lauren Martin Mindfulness is the ability to focus on what is transpiring in the present moment. It involves a […]
Improve the Physical and Psychological State of HIV-Infected Youth with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Even in the midst of this stressful experience of testing positive for HIV, coaching people to feel happy, calm and satisfied — what we call positive affect — appears to influence important health outcomes,” – Judith […]
Improve Acceptance with Mindfulness Training or a Psychedelic Drug By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “If someone gives you 100 micrograms of acid something is going to happen. Two hours later the significance of your existence will have just been borne down on you like an avalanche. And again this can be terrifying […]
Improve Caregivers Emotion Regulation with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Caregivers have a habit of neglecting their own wellbeing for their patients’ sakes. Some caregivers even believe taking a few minutes out of the day to practice mindfulness is “selfish.” Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, taking a […]
Improve Psychological Health in the Elderly with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “In nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, loneliness, depression, and anxiety are considerable risk factors for residents. Mindfulness may help elders to find peace within themselves with daily practice.” – GoldenCares Human life is one of constant […]
Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Coronary Disease Rehabilitation with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “practicing tai chi may help to modestly lower blood pressure. It’s also proved helpful for people with heart failure, who tend to be tired and weak as a result of the heart’s diminished pumping ability. The slow […]
Improve the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning of Autistic Children and Their Parents with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A weekly mindfulness session for children with autism and a separate program for their parents showed promising results. After nine weekly sessions of mindfulness training, 21 adolescents with autism reported better quality […]
Rumination and Worry Interfere with the Development of Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Worry and rumination are forms of persistent negative thinking. They involve a predominance of verbal thoughts, and can be likened to a negative inner-speech. Worry is concerned with the possibility of threats in the future and ways to […]
Improve Pain Tolerance After Athletic Injuries with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Meditation is not something that only benefits yogis. Meditation gives athletes the ability to stay calm in the eye of the storm, it improves your ability to ignore distractions, and it has a powerful impact on the state of your nervous […]