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One of the instinctual reactions to a negative mood or a bad feeling is to try to get rid of it. But we now know that trying to get rid of feelings or moods may not only make us feel worse, there also is research that suggest negative moods can actually be useful.
Psychology research has shown that negative moods can actually be quite useful
Regret, for example, which can make us suffer by reflecting on the past, is an indispensable mental mechanism for learning from one’s own mistakes to avoid repeating them. Worries about the future are likewise essential to motivate us to do something that is somewhat unpleasant today but can create gain or spare us a greater loss in the future.
I remember encountering a psychologist while hiking in Iceland and we talked about some of the differences in our conceptions of what leads to people’s suffering. And she said that one of her primary approaches is to send people with mental health challenges into nature. This hot-off-the-press research supports that she was right, especially in terms of decreasing low mood by taking nature walks.
Walking in nature decreases negative feelings among those diagnosed with major depressive disorder
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders investigated the relationship between walking in nature and emotional affect in those with major depressive disorder (MDD). Compared to urban settings, walking in nature successfully lowered levels of negative affect in those diagnosed with MDD.
The holidays can been notoriously stressful for people. Here’s a video of a clinical psychologist giving tips for the holidays.
Ask an Expert: Dealing with holiday stress | Watch News Videos Online
The holidays are a joyous time of the year, but it can also bring anxiety in people’s lives. Dr. Jaleh Shahin, a clinical psychologist, joined Jennifer Palma on Global News Morning with some ways on how you can best deal with the stress of this time of the year.
Most of us have uncomfortable or unwanted thoughts sometimes. We know from research that trying to control or suppress them typically makes them worse. Think of the “don’t think of the pink elephant” phenomenon. Here’s an interesting article of a recent study that sheds more light on this and what to do.
Can we control unwanted thoughts? New research says, yes
Most people experience unwanted thoughts from time to time. Some, known as intrusive thoughts, can be linked to psychiatric disorders. A new study has found that most people use reactive thought control to deal with unwanted thoughts once they have occurred.
The issue about who reaches out to who among one’s friends and relatives is of course a bit of a “thing.” Here is an interesting article about the importance of reaching out to others and how we tend to underestimate the positive impact this can have on others.
Friends enjoy being reached out to more than we think
Washington – People consistently underestimate how much others in their social circle might appreciate an unexpected phone call, text or email just to say hello, and the more surprising the connection, the greater the appreciation, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
We know that making gratitude and appreciation explicit in long-term relationships has significant positive effects on the partners, but here is an article about research that suggests that same is true in work relationships.
Here’s an easy way to improve workplace stress – and anyone can do it.
A study from the University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management finds teammates who thanked each other before performing a high-stress task had a better cardiovascular response compared to teams who did not express gratitude. The enhanced cardiovascular response leads to increased concentration, more confidence, allowing individuals to give their peak performance.
Reopening anxiety ‘quite common’ as COVID-19 restrictions lift, B.C. psychologist says
Feelings of anxiety are perfectly normal as British Columbians adjust to life without some of the province’s longstanding COVID-19 restrictions, according to one expert.
Mental health experts debunk 10 stress myths
Mental-health experts Stephanie Cook and Teresa Leyro debunk 10 myths about stress. They explain why everyone needs stress, including children, and why vacations can’t cure burnout. They also talk about different coping methods, such as alcohol use, nail biting, and stress eating – as well as healthier alternatives to avoid their long-term effects.
Feeling pandemic fatigue? Here’s how to cope according to psychologists | News
Last summer, it felt like we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. People were getting vaccinated, we could hang out with our double-dosed friends (even indoors!), and COVID-19 cases were below a thousand in most provinces. Then a new variant decided to rear its ugly head.
Nonverbal Overload: A Theoretical Argument for the Causes of Zoom Fatigue · Volume 2, Issue 1
For decades, scholars have predicted that videoconference technology will disrupt the practice of commuting daily to and from work and will change the way people socialize. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic forced a drastic increase in the number of videoconference meetings, and Zoom became the leading software package because it was free, robust, and easy to use.