Description: You have likely run across recent concerning discussions regarding the levels of anxiety and depression being reported among teens and emerging adults and particularly among young teen aged girls. The reported (in population surveys) jumps in anxiety, self-harm and suicidal thoughts in young teen girls since around 2010 are worrying and research and debate… Read more »
Posts Tagged: adaptation
This is Your Brain on Uncertainty!
Description: Are you feeling stressed and/or anxious these days? I would be surprised if you were not. Without dwelling on it and making yourself feel worse, what are the top three things that are making you feel stressed or anxious? We typically think of things or situations or circumstances when asked about what is causing… Read more »
Psychology of Covid: Re-emerging and Adaptation
Description: No matter how you spent the past year I suspect that it was different than the previous 5, 10, or many many more years and that the biggest difference was the nature and extent of your social contacts. Perhaps you got really good at zoom (despite the force personal appearance fixations it can produce);… Read more »
What is Your Brain For? Maybe NOT for Thinking!
Description: When you experience a flair of stress or anxiety what is your first thought? I suspect it is some version of “What is going on in my world that is stressful or challenging”. Especially these days with a raging pandemic, that is not a bad first thought as it can lead to problem focused… Read more »
Creativity in the Brain: That’s Not Obvious
Description: Ok here is a neurological question. Creativity involves coming up with something new right? But not just new … something new that works or fits or otherwise impress, like a novel solution to an old problem or a new story or mystery plot line. So how does out brain come up with new things… Read more »
Dear Diary: Maybe You Should Journal Regularly
Description: Did you every keep a diary? How about now? Do you write regularly in a diary or, perhaps so as not to suggest a dramatic teenager, do you journal regularly? Just think for a minute, not about the stereotypes associated with keeping a diary but, from a psychological (adjustment, reflection, self-care, and/or a developmental)… Read more »
Transitioning from High School to College or University: Will You Be a Thriver or a Diver? It is up to you!
Description: The transition from high school to college or university can be easy or challenging. Those of you contemplating your own upcoming transitions to post-secondary settings may be wondering how it will go for you. The best predictor of post-secondary educational success in secondary educational success, or on other words, if you got good marks… Read more »
Baby Wails: Adults do not only respond because they are cute
Description: Years ago while sitting in a park watching a couple of my children play I saw a fascinating exchange. A small boy, about 3 years old, tripped getting off of a swing and did what looked like a quite painful face-plant onto the ground (no there was no pea gravel or shredded tires to… Read more »
Good Worry: What Might That Be?
Description: OK here is an exercise in hypothesis generation. Worry and the anxiety and stress potentially associated with it are all bad right? Well, think about possible ways in which worry might be of psychological benefit to us. How would you design a study (ethically) to test your hypotheses? Once you have your thoughts in… Read more »
Books for Success!
