Maria Elena Lara, Ph.D.

03/17/2024

And this result surprises... absolutely no one. (granted, it's an unscientific "survey," but still ... )

Why Does Gen Z Have So Much Anxiety? In our Gen Z State of Mental Health Report, we discovered the top diagnosed mental health condition among Gen Z is anxiety. But why is that? In a follow-up to our initial research, we surveyed nearly 1,000 Gen Zers who struggle with anxiety to ask them about […...

02/08/2024

Excellent and educational summary of several psychotherapeutic techniques that many therapists use:

The theory behind C.B.T. rests on an unlikely idea—that we can be rational after all.

01/20/2024

Seasonal Affective Disorder is absolutely a real thing, but just feeling blue in January doesn't mean you have it, my friends:

If you notice drastic shifts in your mood during certain times of the year, you could have seasonal affective disorder. Here are answers to your top questions about the condition.

01/16/2024

The love languages don't hold up to science, but they ARE a springboard for conversation with your partner :-)

Love language, a theory about expressing and receiving love, was introduced by Baptist pastor Gary Chapman 30 years ago. Scientists say it’s not backed by research.

10/31/2023

In person is, and always will be, better than Zoom:

At least, that's according to a paper published in Imaging Neuroscience.

10/30/2023

A deep dive/geek-out article on the neurobiology of pleasure and punishment in the brain:

An overview of pleasure and punishment pathways in the brain for cognitive function and mental well-being with real-life examples

10/24/2023

a peek behind the curtain at how some clinicians are helping their clients with climate change anxiety:

How anxiety about the planet’s future is transforming the practice of psychotherapy.

10/21/2023

If you feel like nerd-ing out on biology/chemistry/neurology, check out this cool article on how SSRI's "probably" work:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the exact mechanism of action and why effects can take several weeks to manifest is not clear. The hypothesis of neuroplasticity is supported by preclinical studies, but the evidence in....

07/07/2023

There’s no question that much of what we talk about in this philosophy is hard. Specifically, it’s hard on the person practicing it. Stoicism asks you to challenge yourself. It doesn’t tolerate sloppy thinking or half measures. It wants you to undergo deprivation, it asks you to look in the mirror and examine your flaws.

But it’s important that we don’t mistake all this with self-flagellation and a lack of self-esteem. The early Stoic Cleanthes once overheard a philosopher speaking unkindly to himself when he thought no one was listening. Cleanthes stopped him and reminded him: “You aren’t talking to a bad man.” One of the most beautiful passages in Seneca’s letters is the one where he talks to Lucilius about how he was learning to be his own friend. He wrote that as a very old man. He was still working, even then, on being kinder to himself. The same man who was so hard on himself—practicing poverty and diving into freezing rivers—wanted to make sure that he was also loving himself like a good friend.

Are you doing the same? Do you know that you’re a good person? Are you your own friend?

The point of this philosophy we are writing and talking about is not self-punishment, it’s self-improvement. Nobody improves for a teacher that loathes them. No one trusts someone that is out to hurt them.

Forget cutting yourself a break today. Instead, just be kind. Be your own friend. Catalog some of your strengths. Smile at all the progress you’ve made. Tell yourself, “good job.” And then promise that you’re going to keep going and keep working because you know you’re worth it.

06/30/2023

Victor Frankl. Man's search for meaning.

06/17/2023

Science, baby! And psychotherapy for the win!

How our brains process psychological trauma has primarily been targeted through psychotherapy, but there may be more to it and imaging may…