Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Teenage Depression
Because of rising rates of anxiety, depression and other Mental health concerns among adolescents, TMS has been used off-label for many years to treat depression among teenagers. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013-20231 highlights the scope of the problem, with 40 percent […]
How Blood Sugar Impacts Your Brain Health
Source: Austin Perlmutter/DALL-E To think, act, and feel in any way, your brain requires access to large amounts of consistent energy. For most of us, that energy comes in the form of blood sugar (glucose), which is transported into the brain and used by our brain cells. While it’s been well known that very high […]
In Memory of Three Great Psychologists We Lost This Year
This year, we lost three giants in the psychological science community, all relevant to our work here at Greater Good. Frans de Waal, Daniel Kahneman, and Philip Zimbardo each passed away in 2024, leaving behind important contributions to understanding human nature and how to live our lives with more Self-awareness, empathy, and altruism. Frans de […]
Cannabis Use Disorders in Teens and Adults
Cannabis use disorder (CUD), also known as marijuana use disorder, is defined by compulsive use of cannabis despite adverse consequences, difficulty controlling use, and withdrawal symptoms. The increase in cannabis use, particularly of high-potency products and cannabis use disorder (CUD), is a growing health care concern. In 2021, 14.2 million people in the United States […]
What We Can Learn From Accidental Pharmaceutical Discoveries
While I’m not a psychiatrist and I do not prescribe medication, I am intrigued by psychiatry and pharmacology. Perhaps I would work as a psychiatrist or pharmacologist if I weren’t so in love with serving traumatized individuals and families using EMDR therapy and emotionally focused therapy. One particular fascination of mine is pharmaceutical breakthroughs. As […]
The Benefits of Accepting Your Unwanted Emotions
Since it is difficult to accept unwanted emotions, it helps to understand the benefits of doing so. We need a helpful carrot, a reason for the pain. Being open to feeling emotional pain without purpose can feel reckless, masochistic, and devoid of Self-compassion. The first step in accepting our emotions is understanding that they serve […]
The Top 10 Insights from the “Science of a…
After a year that feels like it has pushed many of us apart, our selection of the top scientific insights of 2024 are nearly all about how we come together and how we’re interconnected—across time, distance, and difference. Some insights speak to the ways we can connect with people with disagree with, and how this […]
Our Favorite Parenting Books of 2024
Parents and practitioners caring for parents are always looking for ways to foster deeper connections between parents and their children and teens, and to help parents and kids navigate societal stress and strain. Our favorite parenting books of 2024 provide parents and people who support parents with scientific insights and guidance on how to cultivate […]
How to Navigate Your Family’s Political Divides
Although the 2024 U.S. election has ended, many are still carrying the weight of months of political stress, regardless of the candidate they supported. Nearly 70 percent of American adults report feeling this strain (American Psychological Association, 2024). Tensions remain high, divides persist, and, perhaps most painfully, those divides are affecting relationships with friends and […]
Our Favorite Books for Educators in 2024
How we educate our youth is changing. The OECD is now prioritizing student and teacher well-being. UNESCO has called for a “new social contract for education that will help us build peaceful, just, and sustainable futures for all.” And CASEL reports that 80% of schools have implemented social-emotional learning (SEL), in spite of the pushback—all […]