What is Meditation ? Meditation is the practice of training the mind to focus and reflect on thoughts. Common forms of meditation include mindfulness meditation, breathing meditation and guided meditation. These help individuals become aware of their thoughts, emotions and beliefs without fear of judgement. Meditation can be done anywhere and by anyone without the use of additional equipment making it accessible to all people. How does Meditation affect Mental Health ? Medita

Social isolation and loneliness in adults are significant public health concerns in our society. Although these issues can occur in any age, they are especially common in older adults. Individuals experiencing social isolation or loneliness may suffer a wide range of mental and physical health problems (Salari et al., 2025). In 2023, the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) issued an advisory highlighting the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation and emphasizing the

Effects of Meditation Meditation has been used as a tool for centuries as a way to connect the mind and body, to connect to the sacred, to improve health, reduce stress and anxiety as well as to center oneself.  Regular meditation has been found to (1): Reduce stress Improve sleep quality Reduce anxiety and depression Improve mood and improve positive outlook Increase self-awareness Increase compassion towards self and others Improve focus and attention span Boost the body’s

Introduction For over half a century, the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia has relied almost exclusively on a single mechanism of action: the modulation of dopamine receptors, specifically the blockade of D2 receptors. While effective for positive symptoms like hallucinations, these "dopaminergic" agents often fail to adequately address negative symptoms (such as apathy) and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, they are burdened by significant side effects, including weight gai

By Kristine Burneko, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC Introduction Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines the tridirectional interaction of psychological processes, neurological activity, and immune function. Within clinical practice, PNI provides the mechanistic foundation for mind–body medicine, an evidence-based approach that complements conventional biomedical care by enhancing psychophysiological regulation and response to concurrent treatmen

🌟 Joy’s Impact on Health Joy—the word alone sparks that sparkle, that glimmer of something fun and happy. It isn’t just a fleeting feeling—it’s a biological boost. Research from the National Institutes of Health and the Mayo Clinic shows that laughter and play trigger the release of endorphins (our body’s natural “feel good” chemicals), lower cortisol (the stress hormone linked to higher blood pressure), and improve immune function. People who regularly experience joy tend t

Stress causes the “flight-or-fight” response. This evolved over time as a survival instinct, leading to the rapid-fire hormonal changes and physiological responses to help an animal react to danger. In moments of danger, the amygdala transmits a signal to the hypothalamus, which then prompts the adrenal glands to start producing adrenaline. This causes more rapid heart rate and faster breathing, all to maximize oxygen flow. The result of this is that senses sharpen and a pers

Introduction Nurses encourage patients to rest, hydrate, and prioritize wellbeing, yet many struggle to uphold these same practices themselves. This paradox highlights a deeper cultural and systemic issue: self-care among nurses is not merely a personal choice. It is influenced by professional demands and organizational environments. Nurses as Teachers of Health Nurses serve as frontline educators who model and reinforce healthy behaviors. Because nursing consistently ranks a

Painkillers were never meant to destroy lives. They were created to help us breathe through broken bones, surgical recovery, migraines, or sudden injuries. But for millions of people, what begins as relief slowly becomes dependence; quietly, stealthily, and often unnoticed until it is too late. The most commonly abused pain medications (opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and morphine) work by binding to the brain’s opioid receptors. They dampen pain signals and fl

Walking Toward Wellness: An Evidence-Based Examination of the Physical, Psychological, and Social Value of Daily Walking by Catherina Pascale Introduction Walking has long been considered one of the most accessible and universally adaptable forms of physical activity. It requires no specialized equipment, advanced skill, or membership in a formal fitness facility. Both public health organizations and academic researchers increasingly emphasize walking as a foundational practi

Graphic generated in canva Growing up in India, my grandma always used to say chew your food, sit down and eat, don’t drink cold water with your meals. When I was sick or under the weather, she would make a thin stew of split mung beans and rice (khichadi) that’s nourishing and easy on the digestion. 6 years ago, I stumbled upon Ayurveda, the ancient medicine system of India/ the sister science of yoga, and I realized how much of my upbringing was naturally influenced by its

Procrastination - defined as the voluntary delay of an intended action despite anticipating the negative consequences - is a common self-regulatory failure which affects ones academic, occupational, and personal functioning. Although often dismissed as laziness, psychological research reveals that procrastination is driven by emotional avoidance, cognitive biases, and neural mechanisms that prioritize instant mood repair. Understanding the psychology behind procrastination n

Parental burnout is a state of chronic emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by the ongoing demands and stresses of parenting . It’s not just being tired — it’s constantly feeling overwhelmed, detached, and ineffective  as a parent. It is often characterized by:  ~Emotional Exhaustion:  Feeling overwhelmed, drained, and emotionally depleted. Feeling unable to cope with the demands of parenting. ~Depersonalization:  Feeling detached from children, experiencing a lo

When we think of hospice care, we often imagine gentle nurses and comforting hands helping patients through their final stages of life. Hospice is meant to be a place of peace and comfort, but for many patients, it becomes something else: a place of quiet loneliness . As the body slows down, the world around it seems to move faster. Family visits become less frequent, friends drift away, and even though the hallways are filled with the sounds of footsteps and machines, many h

Most people think of heartbreak as an emotional ache — something that hurts but eventually fades away. Yet for some, intense stress or grief can literally break the heart. Known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or "broken heart syndrome," this rare condition causes the heart muscle to suddenly weaken after a shock, like losing a loved one or experiencing extreme fear. Though it often looks like a heart attack, the cause isn't a blocked artery but the body's own stress respo

Time Makes the Difference How often do you find yourself overwhelmed by a school or work assignment that requires high levels of concentration and a fair amount of effort? Perhaps this only happens to you once in awhile, but some individuals experience this on a regular if not daily basis. Frequently experiencing overwhelm related to work or school can lead to many negative outcomes, including a lack of motivation, fatigue, decreased productivity, poor performance, impaired w

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect many of the everyday tasks we don't generally give much thought to, including using the restroom, comfortably holding urine, or completely emptying the bladder. As the name suggests, LUTS include a broad variety of urination-related issues, such as difficulties initiating the stream, frequent urination, leaking urine, waking up during the night to urinate, or feeling unable to completely empty the bladder. It is estimated that more t

What Does it Mean to Evaluate the Everyday Pros and Cons of Smartphone Use? Approximately 50.4% of teenagers ages 12-17 have four hours or more of screen time. Of that 50.4%, 27.1% were more likely to have symptoms of anxiety, and 25.9% were more likely to have symptoms of depression. For teenagers with less than four hours of screen time, the results show 12.3% and 9.5%, respectively. So, what does this data mean? Are all teenagers doomed for the future because of "doom scro

If you peered into the brain of someone living with depression, what would you see?    In a depressive state, someone may feel hopeless or worthless. Daily tasks become burdensome, and thoughts of death may cloud their headspace. Depression is a serious mood disorder, and impacts 280 million people globally.   To unearth the mental cogs that keep depression turning, scientists have studied how the condition drives physical changes in the brain that disturb its normal function

Photo courtesy of Unsplash Is it time to give yourself a break from technology? Our lives are inundated with social media and screen time. From doom scrolling to binge-watching, it seems we are constantly glued to a screen. Have you been wondering if it’s time to put your screens down? Could you imagine what your life would be like if you weren’t buried in your phone, tablet or laptop? Is it time for a digital detox? Studies have shown that endless screen time is detrimental