Brain

A key function of the brain is to serve the needs of the body. The body signals its needs through urges, emotions, and desires that provoke the brain into producing actions designed to satisfy them. However, desires can be confusing and contradictory. When our bodies want something, they let us know about it. An empty […]

Stress is a short-term physiological response that aids us in the face of danger – which is hardly a suitable state in which to live or even regularly spend time. Indeed, too much stress is known to make us vulnerable to ill health. To eliminate harmful stress from our lives, we must learn how to

Most of us take sleep for granted unless it starts to become elusive. During sleep, your brain and body enter a state quite different from being awake – it is not simply a case of switching off. And when sleep is limited, the impact on li health can be significant. As a society, we probably

Addiction is a formidable adversary that often latches onto more than just the stereotypical hard drugs. While heroin and cocaine capture headlines, addictions to everyday substances and activities can be equally crippling. It’s time to rewrite the narrative on overcoming addiction and explore the multifaceted journey to recovery. Breaking Free from the Chains of Addiction

Few would deny that there are benefits for health and well-being to be found in developing constructive ways of dealing with anxieties or – learning to appreciate the pleasurable experiences that life offers. This may seem like simple common sense, yet it is not always clear how to go about enriching our lives in this

There is more to life than just having your basic survival needs met and more to health than just the absence of illness. A sense of well-being, whatever your circumstances, comes from a positive attitude and an appreciation of everyday pleasures. Quality of life is a relatively new idea, but it is a concept that

Many of us will have to cope with chronic illness at some stage in our lives, ranging from high blood pressure or arthritis to hearing loss or physical stability. Whatever the diagnosis, there are ways of adapting mentally. At any one time, around half of the population is suffering from a chronic illness of some

Fear is a part of everyday life. Although it may be unpleasant, it is a perfectly normal and natural response to threats or danger. However, sometimes fear can become uncontrollable and develop into a disabling phobia. Fortunately, many fears and phobias can be effectively treated by psychotherapy and other techniques. If you believe someone is

We are not normally aware of our bodies at work, although physiological factors such as blood pressure, blood flow, and heart rate affect our health. The therapeutic technique of biofeedback provides conscious awareness of unconscious body states and is a powerful tool for learning to control stress-related conditions. Biofeedback gives people the power to influence

Imagine if all memories had to pass a selection process that considered whether they were relevant, useful, or important. Most of our early reminiscences would be consigned to oblivion. This is because early memories tend to be an eclectic mix – major and minor events, scraps of conversation, items of clothing, amalgams of school days,