Thursday's Psychology Tip: Stressed? Try Coloring

Thought for the Day: The last couple of months have been extremely stressful for many people. Thanks to Mother Nature, snow storms have battered the northeastern states of the United States in rapid succession. Record inches of snow have left it's residents house bound, stir crazy, and exhausted from shoveling snow from driveways and roofs. The beginning of more spring-like weather, may help, although the forecast for this weekend is for yet one more slushy snow storm followed by a cold snap. Today's Psychology Tip may help those of you suffering from yet another snowbound Friday! It may surprise you, but pull out the crayons and start drawing!
     Researchers have found that coloring can help reduce stress. When drawing, we activate both sides of the brain, stimulating both logic, creativity and pleasure, reminding us of positive aspects of childhood. Different colors help us express different emotions, which is another reason that drawing can be therapeutic and help eliminate stress. The repetitive motion and focusing on coloring also appear to produce a form of active meditation. Currently, there are many books coloring books created for adults. For an array of  "Anti-stress gallery" of coloring books for adults take a look here.
     If want a free sample mandala to try to color for relaxation, you can click here (http://www.colormandala.com/) and download an art project from a number of wonderful designs and see for yourself how it helps this weekend. Use crayons, not markers which will seep through the paper. Let your creativity flow. If worries enter your mind, simply tell yourself to let them go and keep on coloring. You can add some relaxing music to enhance the relaxation as well. I'd love to hear how it works for you.

Thursday's Psychology Trivia: Could Your Parents' Marital Status Predict Your Weight or Lead to Eating Disorders?

Thought for the Day: It's time for Thursday's Psychology Trivia. This week an article about a recent study caught my eye. It has to do with how marital status of parents can impact on their children's eating habits. Since the eating habits we form in childhood tend to stick with us for life, this study is clearly not trivial. Here's the question:

A recent study of third graders found:

a) Children of divorced parents had a 54% higher prevalence of general overweight (including obesity)

b) Children whose parents never married were 20% more likely to be underweight 

c) There was an 89% higher prevalence of abdominal obesity compared to children of married parents

d) Boys with divorced parents were especially at much higher risk of being overweight than boys with married parents.

e) Girls with married parents had a higher risk of having eating disorders than girls whose parents never married

f) a), c) & d)

g) b) & e)

h) all of the above

Do you think you know the answer? read on to see what they found... 

Tuesday's Psychology Tip: How 2 Reduce Stress While Trying to Conceive

Thought for Today: It can be stressful when things don't happen quickly when trying to conceive. Here's a tip from my HealthTap TipTaps that may help.
TipTap: Trying to conceive

    

 

LIVING WITH

If trying to conceive, focus on having fun with your partner. Avoid worrying about getting pregnant  

Dr. Barbara Lavi, HealthTap Scholar

Click here: If you'd like to see more Tip Taps from Dr. Lavi on HealthTap

Tuesday's Psychology Tips: Seven Ways to Avoid the Holiday Blues

May all your dreams come true!

Thought for the Day: Holiday music is playing in every store and on every radio station around the world. Television and movies are filled with stories of loving families and people enjoying the holidays. If the whole world is so joyous, many people wonder why they feel blue? If you are feeling stressed or depressed despite this holiday season, know you are not alone. Here are some tips to help you avoid the holiday blues:

1. Television and movies are scripted with actors portraying perfect holidays. Remember real life is not so perfect;
2. Don't expect perfect gifts, meals or encounters or you may find yourself disappointed;
3. Family get-togethers can be stressful. If you are an alcoholic trying not to drink or if you lost a loved one recently, it may be hard to stay upbeat. If you are feeling stressed at a family gathering give yourself permission to go for a walk or take a ride to clear your head or reach out to a family member to talk about your feelings;
4. Know that if you are not happy with a gift you can return it and exchange it for something more to your liking;
5. Try to keep your sense of humor when things don't go as planned. My grandmother's apple pie was the best I've ever tasted, but in our family we still laugh when we remember the time when she put salt instead of sugar in the pie! Take the minor imperfections with a "grain of salt;"
6. If you are not getting along with your family, try to make amends, shorten your visit or spend time with people whose company you enjoy; and
7. Remember you don't need to wait for others to make your dreams come true. Start moving towards your dreams on your own. Help Santa and give yourself a gift that will help you do it on your own.   Have a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate this season! 

Tuesday's Psychological Trivia: The Psychology of Stress

Thought for the Day: In addition to giving out the question for Tuesday's Psychological Trivia, I will be posting a second blog entry to report on my impressions & experiences last week in Washington DC.

Here's the trivia question which will be answered on Thursday in this blog:

True or False: The natural instinctive response to stress is either fight or flight.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this question. When under extreme stress is the natural instinctive response either fight or flight? What do you do when you are stressed? Check back later today & tomorrow for my special editions (continued from Motivational Monday's post, Why Shrinks Must Help Shrink Gun Violence) & on Thursday for the answer to today's trivia question. Have a great day!