Empathy — or understanding the thoughts and feelings of the people around us — is one of the most important and most trying parts of being social creatures. But what exactly is empathy? And crucially, can we have more? Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki PhD,...

Whatever our natural disposition, we can all take steps to boost our own happiness BY KATE LANGRISH APR 5, 2021 Are you a glass-half-full Pollyanna or glass-half-empty Grinch? It’s easy to fall into the latter camp after the year we’ve had. But the good news is that...

Our bodies are made up of a complex web of interconnected, interdependent systems. And until recently, this was thought to be a top-down system. That is, the brain sends its signals and the rest of the body follows. But recent research shows that this isn’t really the...

More than just a temporary feeling of sadness or moodiness, the causes of depression can vary greatly. Depression can come without warning or any notable life event. For others, it could be triggered by trauma. And while some could be genetically predisposed to this...

10 common mistakes in fighting 'coronasomnia' -- the inability to fall and stay asleep By Sandee LaMotte Updated 3:00 AM ET, Sun March 14, 2021 Create new calming habits – Good sleep hygiene, say the experts, also looks at your basic lifestyle habits. So, for example,...

When anxiety threatens our peace of mind, it can be difficult to stay in the moment. But one mindfulness tool used by multiple psychologists has the potential to pull our brains free from the anxiety by grounding us in the present. The “5-4-3-2-1” tool is a simple yet...

“Covid’s not just killing people by the disease. It’s killing people by depression and suicide,” Dylan Buckner’s father said, adding that no one should feel ashamed if they need help. Dylan Buckner, 18, died by suicide in January. It is unclear whether the pandemic...

Words of wisdom can help put our lives into perspective. There’s no question that in the present moment, we’re facing huge challenges—personally, nationally, and globally. Sometimes it can all be overwhelming, especially if we listen to or watch the news obsessively....

What is stress? Stress is designed to protect you and to help you survive. When faced with a life-threatening situation you could either stay and fight or take flight and escape. This ‘fight or flight’ response triggers a cascade of chemical and hormone release in the...

A few years ago I left the gym after a morning workout and my car would not start.  I was in a hurry and I had lots of work to do at the office.  Yet, all I could do at that moment was to walk to work.  It was about a mile and it was the fastest way to get to work at...