Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the reward and pleasure centers in the brain. It helps regulate movement and emotional responses, enabling the brain to see rewards and move toward them. Dopamine provides enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person to do or continue doing certain activities that provide pleasure. It’s a key factor…
Lots of jobs are hard. But parenting might just be the hardest. Despite all of the books, pamphlets and research that parents can delve into before their child is born, parenting often ends up being a “learn as you go” process. Most parents have a subtle but constant fear that something might go wrong. The…
While the health risks of soda should be well-known by now, Americans are continuing to drink the dangerous, sugar-filled beverage in excess. There has been a slight decrease in sales thanks to those who say they are actively avoiding it, but more than $75 billion worth of soda is still being purchased every year, leading…
It’s true what they say — you are the company you keep. The people you surround yourself with can either lift you up or bring you down. Keeping negative people out of your life is vital for your own health, well-being and happiness. Choosing to surround yourself with uplifting, kind and wonderful people can keep…
Stress often creeps into our lives, even when we’re trying our hardest to keep it out. Balancing work, bills, family members, friends, romantic relationships and other obligations can be difficult, and at times it can become overwhelming. Constant stress can affect your mood, thoughts, work performance, emotions and relationships, and you may not even realize…
You probably already know that spending time in nature is great for your health and well-being. Getting some fresh air while relaxing to the sounds of birds chirping, sticks rustling under the feet of furry little creatures and trees swaying in the wind can soothe the mind and feed the soul. Nature is so diverse…
When your stress level has been elevated and you feel weighed down, you could be experiencing mental fatigue. Spending long periods of time in a hectic environment or feeling constant anxiety can affect more than just your physical being. The brain controls the body, so mental fatigue can become serious. Here are five signs of…
Chronic anxiety is a common anxiety disorder that involves constant worry, nervousness and tension. It goes far beyond worrying about a work project or being nervous before a date. Chronic anxiety is an intense, persistent and excessive problem that can become extremely disruptive to a person’s everyday life, including his or her health. Anxiety causes…
“Forgive and forget” is a saying that’s often much easier said than done. When someone hurts or betrays you, especially when it’s someone you care about, the feelings that follow can run deep down into your core. Forgiving someone can feel like a weight is being lifted off of your shoulders, but it can also…
“You’re crazy, that never happened.” “You’re too sensitive.” “You’re making things up” Are these phrases that you constantly hear from your partner that cause you to question yourself? If so, your partner might be using something called “gaslighting” — a form of emotional abuse that causes a victim to question their own feelings, instincts and sanity,…
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting 40 million adults, or 18% of the U.S. population. Anxiety disorders are treatable, but many seek help in the form of prescription medication. What if there was a more natural way to treat…
Bitterness is a trait that can develop more easily than you might think. When people feel hurt or betrayed, or they have a bad experience, they might start to see the world more negatively, even if they don’t realize it. Holding grudges, being jealous and focusing on negativity can only bring you down. Here are…
Few things reveal the power of the human mind more than the placebo effect. Put simply, a dud pill or treatment can have a powerful effect on everything from depression and pain to sleeping disorders. It largely depends on the patient’s perception. And it works even when you know you’re taking a placebo. So what’s really…
Did you know that if Einstein were alive today, he’d probably have been diagnosed with not only Asperger’s Syndrome (something many brilliant people have) but opposition defiant disorder as well? At least that’s what many people, including biographer Ronald Clark seem to propose. In his book Einstein: The Life and Times, Clark argues that Einstein’s infamous early difficulty…