Body Language Might Be Useless for Communicating Emotion by Taylor Bennett | Oct 12, 2017 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Research Our primary form of communication is verbal communication. However, we speak just as often through nonverbal communication or body language. The way we sink into our chairs, cross our arms, and look down at the ground all communicate negative feelings—those of deflation, unease, and discomfort. Now, we can also communicate…
People Are More Likely to Change Their Behavior If They See That Norms Are Changing by Taylor Bennett | Oct 10, 2017 | Community, Mental Health Topics, Research In order to achieve some personal goals of mine, I decided to embark on a new health and fitness journey this past summer. It was nothing crazy, I just pledged to eat better and work out 5 days a week. Simple. Well, a few days into it, my good friend—who…
Stress Hinders Our Abilities to Process Potential New Threats by Taylor Bennett | Oct 6, 2017 | Mental Health Topics, Research, Stress Imagine: You’re on your way home from work after a long, stressful day. Your hand is on the wheel and your foot on the petal, but your mind’s still back at the office. Stacks of paperwork, loads of emails, frustrated coworkers, angry boss. The next thing you know, you’re just…
School Start Times Can Significantly Affect Adolescent Mental Health by Taylor Bennett | Oct 5, 2017 | Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics, Research Cursed were the days that I had to wake up at the crack of dawn to get ready for school, which persisted for 13 years. Ok, it wasn’t so bad when I was a kid because I was tired by 9 or 10 p.m. and went to bed without any…
Link Between Confidence and Action Broken in People with OCD by Taylor Bennett | Oct 5, 2017 | Mental Health Topics, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Research “When you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, you don’t really get quiet moments,” says poet Neil Hilborn in his renowned poem “OCD”. What he means is you don’t really get a break from your obsessions and your compulsions, characteristic of the disorder. You experience repetitive thoughts and urges and feel compelled…
New Study Shows the Potential Pitfalls of Emotional Empathy by Taylor Bennett | Sep 29, 2017 | Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics, Research I’ve always been called ‘too nice’ by those who know me best. I give everybody the benefit of the doubt, I feel inclined to help whoever I can, and I exhaust my emotions worrying about others. And while this may be considered a weakness to some, I look at it…
Sports Camaraderie May Be Responsible for Fan Violence, Mimics Extreme “Brotherhoods” by Taylor Bennett | Sep 28, 2017 | Community, Mental Health Topics, Research Sports fans escape from their everyday lives through their beloved game, whether it be football, basketball, or soccer. They narrow in on what’s going down on the field or the court and they forget about their own positions or roles in life for the time being. More importantly, these individuals…
An Increase in Physical Activity Can Boost Breast Cancer Survivors’ Cognitive Functioning by Taylor Bennett | Sep 22, 2017 | Health Conditions, Mental Health Topics, Research When I was just 10 years old my very best friend’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Being as young as I was, I didn’t quite understand what this meant. I watched people get sick on TV and recover in no-time, but this perception conflicted with my best friend crying…
Study reveals the desire to drink alcohol at night is due to our brain’s immune system by Taylor Bennett | Sep 19, 2017 | Alcohol & Drugs, Mental Health Topics, Research Caroline has had a long, trying week at work. Her desk was overloaded with paperwork to complete, her boss threw an extra project onto her plate, and—on top of all that—she had to find time to study for her last college final. Needless to say, she was ready for Friday…
Expressive Writing Doesn’t Just Help Us Heal from Past Stressors, but Prepare for Future Ones by Taylor Bennett | Sep 19, 2017 | Mental Health Topics, Research, Self-Care Life’s stresses can weigh heavy and have a much greater impact than we realize. Especially for those of us who are constantly worrying—about what we’re going to wear tomorrow, what we’ll do if we hit traffic on the way to work, how that blind coffee date will go later this…
11 New Studies Discredit the Convincing Research That Says Power Poses Can Improve Your Life by Taylor Bennett | Sep 15, 2017 | Mental Health Topics, Research I was taught in college that crossing my legs and slouching in my seat before a job interview would guarantee failure. I wouldn’t be relaxed enough, nor would I demonstrate professionalism or any other qualities that lock in a job. So, I practiced my power poses in the car on…
Holy Guacamole! New Study Reveals That Eating More Avocados May Lead to Greater Intelligence by Taylor Bennett | Sep 12, 2017 | Health & Exercise, Mental Health Topics, Research Lately, everyone is investing into the hype of dieting. Menus now feature “superfoods” and a greater number of healthy alternatives, people are arguing with their buddies on Facebook about whether meat or bread is actually good for you, and many are experimenting with the different programs claimed into existence. Much…