Dr. Chris Phillips, Health Psychologist

02/05/2024

Adolescent stress altrrs brain genes, affecting adult behavior

https://www.facebook.com/100064447373715/posts/778896364268602/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Adolescent Stress Alters Brain Genes, Affecting Adult Behavior

Researchers discovered that excessive stress during adolescence can significantly alter gene expression in the brain, affecting bioenergy-related genes.

Their findings, published in Translational Psychiatry, highlight how these genetic alterations in adolescent rats lead to behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders in adulthood.

The study focused on the prefrontal cortex, a region highly susceptible to stress, where stressed rats showed diminished expression of genes critical for mitochondrial respiration.

This disruption in cell respiration is linked to anxiety, reduced sociability, and impaired cognitive function, illustrating the profound and lasting impact of adolescent stress on brain function and adult behavior.

(article link in comments)

01/30/2024

Adolescent Stress Alters Brain Genes, Affecting Adult Behavior

A new study reveals that excessive stress during adolescence can lead to long-lasting changes in gene expression in the brain, particularly those related to bioenergy functions.

01/26/2024

Chronic stress reduces certain gut bacteria that protect against pathogens, new study finds; results reveal details of one link between stress and inflammatory bowel disease.

A bacterium in the intestines of stressed mice interferes with cells that protect against pathogens.

01/20/2024

Interesting perspective about procrastination that I read today:

Procrastination is a common behavior, and it's not the problem.

Procrastination means needlessly postponing tasks until later, and it is really just a strategy that people use to protect themselves from certain fears. Procrastination is a symptom of underlying tendencies such as perfectionism, a lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed or overconfident, or fear of failure.

12/22/2023

Darwin Was Wrong: Your Facial Expressions Do Not Reveal Your Emotions

"The emotion AI industry, courts and child educators are unknowingly relying on a misunderstanding of Darwin’s ideas"

The emotion AI industry, courts and child educators are unknowingly relying on a misunderstanding of Darwin’s ideas

12/20/2023

Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding the genetic basis of anxiety disorders (ADs), which affect over 280 million people globally.

Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding the genetic basis of anxiety disorders (ADs), which affect over 280 million people globally.

11/16/2023

Mental health is an important aspect of your well-being, especially if you have a busy and demanding schedule. Here are some tips that can help you take care of your mental health and cope with stress in a short amount of time:
• Practice gratitude. Gratitude is the act of appreciating what you have and expressing it to yourself or others. Gratitude can help you focus on the positive aspects of your life, reduce negative emotions, and increase happiness. You can practice gratitude by writing down one thing you are grateful for each day, sending a thank-you note to someone who helped you, or simply saying thank you more often.
• Get enough sleep. Sleep is essential for your mental and physical health, as it helps your body and brain recover from the day’s activities. Lack of sleep can impair your mood, memory, concentration, and immune system. You can improve your sleep quality by following a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, creating a comfortable and dark sleeping environment, and avoiding screens at least an hour before bed.
• Connect with others. Social connection is vital for your mental health, as it provides you with support, comfort, and belonging. Connecting with others can help you cope with stress, share your feelings and experiences, and have fun. You can connect with others by reaching out to your friends and family regularly, joining online or offline communities that share your interests or values, or volunteering for a cause you care about.

These are some of the ways you can take care of your mental health in a short amount of time. Remember that mental health is not a one-time thing; it is an ongoing process that requires attention and care. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can improve your mental health and wellness even when you are busy!

12/30/2022

A recent study of mice conducted by researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas found that short-term consumption of a high-fat diet may be linked to pain sensations, even without a preexisting injury or condition such as obesity or diabetes. The study, published in Scientific Reports, compa

12/17/2022

Study finds that insomnia could cause lower back pain and vice versa

Throughout the course of their life, most humans are likely to experience some form of lower back pain. This pain is sometimes associated with injuries, chronic back issues, medical conditions, the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, and other underlying physiological causes. In many cases, however, pinpo...

12/03/2022

09/23/2022

Using ultrasound, researchers captured the facial expressions of developing fetuses in response to the taste of foods their mothers were eating. When exposed to carrots, the fetuses displayed "laughter-face" expressions, and "crying-face" expressions when exposed to kale. The findings shed new light...