Feel like your motivation and focus has diminished during the pandemic? Maybe you are languishing.

This article provides an interesting take on why now, as we are seeming to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, many people still feeling “m’eh” instead of excited.

"There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing" by Manshen Lo
The New York Times, April 19, 2021

"At first, I didn’t recognize the symptoms that we all had in common. Friends mentioned that they were having trouble concentrating. Colleagues reported that even with vaccines on the horizon, they weren’t excited about 2021. A family member was staying up late to watch “National Treasure” again even though she knows the movie by heart. And instead of bouncing out of bed at 6 a.m., I was lying there until 7, playing Words with Friends.

It wasn’t burnout — we still had energy. It wasn’t depression — we didn’t feel hopeless. We just felt somewhat joyless and aimless. It turns out there’s a name for that: languishing.

Languishing is a sense of stagnation and emptiness. It feels as if you’re muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield. And it might be the dominant emotion of 2021."

Read the full article here.

CNN - Post-Covid PTSD: the storm after the storm

“Millions have survived Covid-19 hospitalization, and, for most, the acute physical symptoms have gone away. But many continue to endure the emotional and psychological trauma that comes with having Covid-19. A study published February 2021 found that 30% of Covid-19 survivors experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a psychological illness that usually occurs after someone has a life-threatening experience.”

Read the full article here, https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/01/health/post-covid-ptsd/index.html

U.S. Army’s tactic to fall asleep in two minutes

What happened when I tried the U.S. Army’s tactic to fall asleep in two minutes
Posted on FastCompany.com, article by Michael Grothaus

Insomnia can be a coexisting condition for many, if not all, of the conditions I treat. ADHD, depression, and anxiety can all lead to sleepless nights. While there is a lot of research behind consistently using good "sleep hygiene," the approach in this article is reportedly effective as well. As long as you give yourself 6 weeks of time to practice every night.

Think a few sleepless nights isn't a big deal?
This article cites studies saying that "the average worker loses the equivalent of 11 days of productivity every year due to sleep issues" and "poor sleep cost US businesses a staggering $411 billion in lost productivity every year."

Is Screen Time Causing ADHD?

Is Screen Time Causing ADHD?
To Your Health, by Editorial Staff
July, 2018 (Vol. 12, Issue 07)

This is a brief article about a study looking at ADHD and screen time. Spoiler alert: it does not prove screen time is causing ADHD. At least that's not what this article says. There is a correlation between their sample and symptoms of ADHD. However, 1) as they mention, showing symptoms of ADHD is not the same as being diagnosed. And 2) correlation is not the same as causation. For example, it could be that children with ADHD-like symptoms sought out more screen time as opposed to the screen time causing their symptoms.

Regular exercise can reduce risk for depression

Regular exercise can reduce risk for depression
By HealthDay News, April 26, 2018

Here's one more reason to go biking, hiking, or whatever form of exercise you engage in. This article is about "the first global meta-analysis to establish that engaging in physical activities beneficial for protecting the general population from developing depression." It doesn't matter how old you are. It doesn't matter where you live. Just get out there.

Procrastination, meditation, and your amygdala

"The science behind procrastination and how to overcome it"

By Study International Staff | September 27, 2018 | www.studyinternational.com

This article talks about research that suggests scientists may have identified a neurological component to procrastination. According to the article, a larger than average amygdala may contribute to higher anxiety and therefore hesitation. Another region (the dorsal interior cingulate cortex) usually helps us block out competing emotions, but the connections between this region and the amygdala were found to be poorer than with non-procrastinators. I.e., our brains get "overwhelmed with conflicting emotions and struggling to prioritize the task at hand."Tim Pychyl, a researcher and expert on procrastination, says in the article that mindfulness meditation may be part of the answer because "research has already shown that mindfulness meditation is related to amygdala shrinkage, expansion of the prefrontal cortex, and a weakening of the connection between these 2 areas."

Read the full article here.

Not Talking About Mental Health Is Literally Killing Men

"Not Talking About Mental Health Is Literally Killing Men"

by Sean Evans, MensHealth.com, 5/2/18.An interesting article about mental health stigma among men. The articles states, “Male suicide is rising at such an alarming rate that it’s been classified as a “silent epidemic.” It’s the seventh leading cause of death for males. That’s a staggering statistic...This macho attitude of stuffing your feelings down, or ignoring them, is antiquated and downright dangerous.” Read the full article here.

New 16 hour ADHD med approved

"Shire wins U.S. approval for long-acting ADHD drug" by Natalie Grover, Ben Hirschler of ReutersShire received approval for a new long-acting medication named Mydayis. It is the same as Adderall XR (i.e., amphetamine & dextroamphetamine mixed salts) but should last 16 hours, compared to Adderall XR's 12 hours. Read more here.

Depression Now World’s Most Widespread Illness

"Depression Is Now the World’s Most Widespread Illness"By Laura Entis as published online in Fortune.com, Mar 30, 2017This article came out earlier this spring and gave some hard numbers on just how pervasive and destructive depression can be. Here are some of the key statistics.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 322 million people were living with depression in 2015. That makes it the number one cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
• The majority of people suffering from depression are not receiving adequate care.
• Even in high income countries it is estimated that half of people suffering from depression did not receive treatment.
• The cost related to depression add up to $1 trillion annually by WHO estimates.

Poor Sleep May Make You Prone to Colds

Poor Sleep May Make You Prone to ColdsBBC Health onlineContinuing on the last post's theme of sleep and things-that-were-obvious-but-now-verified-by-science, I'm posting this article about the effect of inadequate sleep on the immune system. Inadequate sleep can be caused by many things, including poor impulse control, poor time management, depression, anxiety, and physical conditions such as sleep apnea.The lead researcher, Dr Aric Prather, is quoted saying "Short sleep was more important than any other factor in predicting subjects' likelihood of catching cold. It didn't matter how old people were, their stress levels, their race, education or income. It didn't matter if they were a smoker. With all those things taken into account, statistically sleep still carried the day."Inadequate sleep also makes us more vulnerable to emotions such as anger, anxiety, and sadness and impairs our concentration. Click here to read more.