Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, working in Richard Davidson’s lab, have found that Sudarshan Kriya Yoga can help reduce the symptoms of PTSD and allow them to better manage the condition. The original article is paywalled at the Journal of Traumatic Stress, so here is a summary from the British Psychological Society, followed the … Read more
From PLoS ONE, this is an interesting article on how emotional numbing in those experiencing PTSD reduces neural activity in exposure to happy faces. This study provides initial evidence that individuals with PTSD have lower reactivity to happy facial expressions, and that lower activation in ventral striatal-limbic reward networks may be associated with symptoms of … Read more
Here are two articles that look at the use of psychedelics in psychotherapy. The first was posted last week at Salon, a reprint from the original post at Scientific American. The second one comes from Utne Reader back in 2013, and it was reprinted from Spirituality and Health. Before these drugs became were banned as … Read more
Two new studies hit the news this on Wednesday, both of which involve changing the emotional impact of memories. The first was a joint project between MIT and Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers. We’ll start with the press release from MIT, a study that uses optogenetics (light stimulation) to alter emotional connections with memories: Neuroscientists … Read more
Via Scientific American Mind. Dr. Pace studies biological mechanisms linking psychological stress to illness, and novel ways to combat stress to promote optimal health. He is Assistant Professor in the Colleges of Nursing and Medicine (Department of Psychiatry) at the University of Arizona, and also the director of the Arizona Stress and Health Collaboratory (based … Read more
Below is another of the articles from the Epigenetic pathways in PTSD: how traumatic experiences leave their signature on the genome, a research topic collection from Frontiers in Molecular Psychiatry. One of things therapists see often, and survivors of trauma are no doubt aware, is that memories of stressful events seem to be more powerful … Read more
I’m good with all of that except the pregnant part – that’s not funny. This short article comes from The Atlantic and basically serves as a primer on the health benefits of humor and laughter – including a list of the studies Julie Beck used to write this article. I am a firm believer in … Read more
This is interesting, and it confirms a growing trend I have seen in aboriginal peoples seeking to return to the spiritual traditions that once nourished their people. One of the best books I have seen on the subject is Healing the Soul Wound: Counseling with American Indians and Other Native Peoples (2006) by Eduardo … Read more
Here is another article for the “does a bear shit in the woods” file. OF COURSE social anxiety and PTSD are connected to developmental trauma – almost EVERYTHING we call mental illness is the result of developmental trauma or shock trauma. On the bright side, at least someone is doing the research and writing the … Read more
Via Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, this press release looks at new research on how the vagus nerve is part of our innate fear and anxiety systems. Nice to this being studied and published in a major journal, but Stephen Porges‘ polyvagal theory outlined this years ago. Below the press release from ETH Zurich, there is … Read more