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Choirs and choral singing are being recognized as potent medicine for anxiety, depression, and loneliness, as research is beginning to show that group singing creates bonds between and among participants more quickly and dependably than other methods of community building. Writing in the Guardian, Kate Corbett-Winder describes her struggle with anxiety and panic attacks that seemed to have no cause …
The World Health Organization celebrates World Mental Health Awareness Day on Oct. 10 each year. MoodSurfing salutes this effort and we hope to be a small, but meaningful part of building the world’s awareness of mental health. Over the past few years, we have lifted up the names of people from many walks of life who are dedicating themselves to …
What’s my life all about? Why am I even here? Why is this [whatever it is] happening to me? If you’re like me, and, I think, most Americans, you were brought up to be practical and action-oriented, and not waste a lot of time thinking about “philosophical” questions like these. We pride ourselves on common sense, and “getting it done” …
Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, has called for a massive, nationwide campaign to reduce the harm related to firearm violence that is spreading throughout our society. “The collective trauma and fear that Americans are experiencing is contributing to the mental health challenges that we are facing today. Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults say they worry about a loved …
MoodSurfing celebrated the passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008, when it was first passed. We again celebrated in 2013 when the Obama administration issued guidelines for the implementation of the legislation, including parity in payments made to mental and physical health practitioners; parity in limitations in coverage (for example the number of days …
We’re coming up on a time of year that for many (maybe even most) people offers significant challenges. Now is the time to plan ahead for the difficulties you typically face during the holiday season, and call to mind coping strategies that have worked for you in the past, or new ones that you want to try. Depression is a …
September 10 has been designated as Suicide Prevention Day in the United States, and each year that day provides everyone a chance to stop and reflect. Suicide causes more deaths annually than violent crime, accidents, and smoking. In every age group, beginning from age 10, suicide is one of the major causes of death. We don’t seem to be doing …
Dependence: Problem or not? Consider the many ways you are dependent on others, on the Earth, and on the invisible structures of society to get by in life. Consider whether our culture’s constant harping on independence is realistic or healthy. Today, let’s explore the positive sides of being dependent. It may turn out to be the more realistic way of …
Why are we too shy to own our wisdom? I’ve seen teenagers and young adults come out with deep, powerful words from the heart, but at some stage, we learn to say anything like that with a self-deprecating giggle: “don’t take this too seriously-I’m just me”. Anybody who’s been through a few decades of life has gained experience, insight, and …
Researchers looking at people’s perceptions of moral decline have found some curious patterns in a recently published study. Looking back at data collected over the past 70 years, they have found a consistent belief reported by thousands of informants that moral values and moral behavior have declined or decayed over the course of the informant’s life span such that now …
The Adult Psychiatry Clinic at UCSF has released the schedules of their Group Psycho-Education for Bipolar Disorder for June 2023. This activity under the Bipolar Disorder Program of the Department of Psychiatry is aimed at providing a community resource for individuals with bipolar disorder, mental health professionals and psychiatrists. Headed by Dr. Descartes Li, the program director, it is designed …
Are you getting your seven hours? Although tradition recommends eight hours’ sleep each night, research is coming more and more to the conclusion that seven hours is best, and eight or more can be too much, causing as many problems as too little sleep. A recent study, using data from the U.K. Biobank, a national database of individuals in the …
A friend and fellow psychiatrist, Ravi Chandra, MD, has produced a documentary about the impact of the twin pandemics of COVID and the more visibly surfacing wounds of racial trauma, and now announces its world premiere at the Queens World Film Festival on Sunday, June 27th, 2021 at 4 pm EST. For tickets and trailer click here. Ravi writes: “How …
Return to the office? Well, maybe People who have been able (or forced) to work from home during the pandemic are estimated to be about one-third to one-half of the US workforce. For these workers, who may have been called “office workers” in the past, a big reckoning is coming up. Some are anxious to return to the office environment …
For now over 70 years, Americans have delegated the month of May as “Mental Health Awareness Month” (since 1949). And with medical experts and researchers across the planet sharing their observation that the Covid-19 pandemic is going to continue to have an array of mental health impacts into the foreseeable future, mental health awareness needs to remain in the forefront …
What do parents really want for their children? Most would say “a happy, healthy, well-balanced life”. But are the kids getting the message? When researchers asked teenagers what their parents wanted for them, they said “get good grades, go to college, get a well-paying job.” Even before the pandemic, surveys noted a rise in stress, anxiety and depression and substance …
March 30 is the day! There will be some great events, including an Ask Me Anything panel on Reddit resourced by CrestBD. The Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD) is a multidisciplinary collaborative network of researchers, people living with bipolar disorder, healthcare providers, and family members and supporters. They are offering a great lineup of …
About now, we all start admitting that, for another year, we aren’t really going to stick to our New Year’s Resolutions and become better people this year. Now is the time to change focus from resolutions for the future to celebration of the past and present. Celebrate your achievements of the past year. Things you never considered making a resolution …
How can I make myself do better? How can I get motivated to fulfill my resolutions and good intentions? Motivation is something we all hope to get more of, but motivation to get out there and do the work is often elusive. It’s easy to find people to give good advice, even MoodSurfing is full of good advice, but when …
Holiday stress is a big topic every year, but 2020 is the champion year of stressfulness! And now the holiday season on top of it all. Take a few minutes to reflect on what’s ahead for the next few weeks. First of all, like everyone else, we implore you to stay safe and stay home. Sure, nobody wants to stay …
