Ellis Counseling

11/04/2025

Humanity over everything ❤️🙏

10/23/2025

🚨Scientists have confirmed that Schizophrenia’s “voices” are the brain mishearing its own thoughts.

In a breakthrough study, neuroscientists have confirmed a long-suspected theory about schizophrenia: the "voices" many patients hear aren't imaginary external threats, but the brain misinterpreting its own internal thoughts.

Using EEG to track brainwave activity, researchers at the University of New South Wales found that in people with schizophrenia who experience hallucinations, the brain's ability to distinguish self-generated speech from external sound breaks down. Normally, when we speak silently in our heads, the brain dampens activity in the auditory cortex to filter out the expected sound. But in these individuals, that dampening doesn’t occur. Instead, their auditory cortex activates—as if someone else is speaking.

The study involved 142 participants and revealed that when people with auditory hallucinations imagined saying a word while hearing it through headphones, their brains overreacted. This suggests a failure in the brain's prediction system, leading it to misclassify internal dialogue as external speech. This finding not only deepens our understanding of schizophrenia’s root causes but could also pave the way for early diagnostic tools that detect these neural misfires before full psychosis develops. Such early intervention could transform how clinicians approach and treat schizophrenia.

Source: "Corollary Discharge Dysfunction to Inner Speech and its Relationship to Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders." Schizophrenia Bulletin, 21 October 2025.

10/04/2025

A recent study found that physical affection may play a bigger role in men’s well-being than almost anything else. According to the research, 82% of men said simple gestures from their partners — like hugging, holding hands, or just being close — were the most important factor in managing stress and feeling truly happy. Scientists linked these small acts of intimacy to boosts in oxytocin, reductions in stress hormones, and noticeable improvements in overall mood.

Even though men reported heavy pressure from jobs, money, and daily responsibilities, intimacy consistently ranked as the number one way they recharged emotionally. The findings underscore just how central connection is to mental health, suggesting that the quiet power of affection may be one of the strongest buffers against stress.

10/02/2025

A groundbreaking new study reveals that self-talk, whether positive or negative, actually reshapes the brain. Encouraging words strengthen pathways tied to motivation, focus, and emotional balance, while negative self-talk reinforces fear, stress, and self-doubt. This research explains why affirmations, mindfulness, and therapy work they literally rewire neural circuits. By choosing positive self-talk, we can boost mental health, resilience, and even long-term brain growth.

Source: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

10/02/2025

For years, many believed motivation came first, that you needed to feel inspired before taking action. Neuroscience is now turning that idea upside down. New research shows that effort doesn’t come from motivation; instead, motivation comes from effort. When you push yourself to act, even in small steps, your brain rewards you with dopamine, the chemical linked to pleasure, focus, and drive. That dopamine surge makes you feel accomplished, which in turn fuels more action.

It’s a cycle that starts not with inspiration but with movement. For example, dragging yourself to the gym may feel impossible at first, but once you begin, the brain releases dopamine, making you want to continue. The same applies to studying, working on projects, or even daily chores. Action activates the brain’s reward system, and each completed effort makes the next step easier.

This discovery flips the way we think about productivity. Waiting for motivation before acting often leaves us stuck, but starting with action, even tiny, simple actions, kickstarts the brain’s chemical engine. Neuroscience proves that discipline and effort create the spark, while motivation grows as a natural byproduct.

In a world full of distractions, this insight is powerful. It means you don’t need to wait for the perfect moment or the right mood. Start moving, and your brain will follow. Every action you take plants the seed for more energy, more focus, and greater success. The secret isn’t waiting to feel ready,it’s acting first and letting the brain reward you for it.

09/30/2025

🧠 Breathwork induces psychedelic brain states—without drugs

A groundbreaking new study has shown that music-driven, high-intensity breathwork can trigger psychedelic-like states naturally, offering a safe alternative for emotional healing and mental well-being.

Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School used advanced neuroimaging to study participants practicing high ventilation breathwork (HVB). The scans revealed decreased blood flow in brain regions tied to bodily awareness, while activity surged in the amygdala and hippocampus—areas linked to emotional processing and memory.

The result? Participants reported feelings of bliss, unity, and fear reduction—experiences remarkably similar to those induced by psychedelic substances like psilocybin. Scientists described this effect as “oceanic boundlessness”—a state of deep connection, euphoria, and spiritual insight.

Unlike psychedelics, however, breathwork carries no legal restrictions or chemical risks, making it a highly accessible tool for managing depression, anxiety, and trauma. While more research is needed—especially to understand the role of music—the findings highlight how simple shifts in breath can unlock profound states of consciousness hidden within the human brain.

Source: PLOS ONE (Aug 27, 2025) – “Neurobiological substrates of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilation breathwork accompanied by music” by Amy Amla Kartar et al.

09/22/2025

Brain is not fixed, it constantly changes through a process called neuroplasticity. Every thought, every emotion, and every experience can reshape its pathways. But research reveals something powerful: neuroplasticity thrives in the presence of love, kindness, and positive emotions, while hate and negativity can limit growth and even cause lasting harm.

Love, whether expressed through connection, empathy, or compassion, floods the brain with chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine. These chemicals strengthen neural pathways linked to learning, memory, and creativity. Over time, this builds resilience, sharper focus, and greater emotional balance. Acts of love don’t just feel good, they literally help the brain grow stronger and healthier.

On the other hand, hate, anger, and resentment activate stress pathways. Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, overwhelms the brain, shrinking regions like the hippocampus that are vital for memory and learning. Instead of building new connections, chronic negativity locks the brain into rigid, destructive patterns, making growth harder.

This is why environments filled with love and support produce more adaptable, creative, and emotionally intelligent minds. Whether it’s nurturing relationships, practicing gratitude, or simply showing kindness, love creates the conditions for the brain to thrive.

The lesson is clear: if you want a flexible, youthful, and powerful brain, choose love over hate. What you feed your brain, through emotions and thoughts directly shapes who you become. Love builds, hate breaks.

09/06/2025