Tag: how to beat stress and depression

    This Supplement May Stop Sadness Becoming Depression

    stop sadness becoming depressionProbiotics may stop sadness becoming depression by helping people let go of the past, a new study has discovered.

    Researchers at the Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition found that probiotics stopped people ruminating so much.

    Rumination is when people focus on bad experiences and feelings from the past. Dr Laura Steenbergen, the study’s first author, said:

    “Rumination is one of the most predictive vulnerability markers of depression. Persistent ruminative thoughts often precede and predict episodes of depression.”

    In the study 40 people were given a sachet to take with water or milk every day for four weeks. Half of the people received sachets that contained a multispecies probiotic. The other half received a placebo for the four weeks. Before and afterwards people’s so-called ‘cognitive reactivity’ was measured.

    ‘Cognitive reactivity’ is the extent to which a sad mood can turn into something more serious.

    The authors explained the results:

    “…in the probiotics supplementation condition participants perceived themselves to be less distracted by aggressive and ruminative thoughts when in a sad mood.”

    In other words, when people felt sad, those taking the probiotics ruminated less. The authors write:

    “…studies have shown that the tendency to engage in ruminative thoughts is sufficient to turn mood fluctuations into depressive episodes, and that individuals who typically respond to low mood by ruminating about possible causes and consequences of their state have more difficulties in recovering from depression.”

    Probiotics have been increasingly linked to good mental health. But this is the first study to identify this specific link. Dr Lorenza Colzato, another of the study’s authors, said:

    “Even if preliminary, these results provide the first evidence that the intake of probiotics may help reduce negative thoughts associated with sad mood.

    As such, our findings shed an interesting new light on the potential of probiotics to serve as adjuvant or preventive therapy for depression.”

    The research is published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (Steenbergen et al., 2015).

    PsyBlog

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    Are Negative Emotions are Bad for Your Health?

    Negative Emotions are Bad for Your Health

    Negative emotions are a natural part of the human experience. We all experience feelings like sadness, anger, and frustration from time to time. However, some people may wonder if these negative emotions are bad for their health. After all, it’s no secret that stress can have a negative impact on our physical and mental well-being. So, are negative emotions bad for your health? The answer is not a simple yes or no, but rather a nuanced one.

    Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that negative emotions can be challenging to deal with. They can cause us to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, which can impact our quality of life. Moreover, these emotions can also trigger the release of stress hormones like cortisol, which can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and digestive problems. So in this sense, negative emotions can certainly have a negative impact on our health.

    However, it’s important to note that negative emotions are a natural part of the human experience, and they serve a purpose. For example, feeling sad after the loss of a loved one is a natural response to grief, and it allows us to process our emotions and move forward. Similarly, feeling angry can be a healthy response to a situation where we feel wronged, and it can motivate us to take action and advocate for ourselves.

    Moreover, research suggests that denying or suppressing our negative emotions can actually have a more significant impact on our health than allowing ourselves to feel them. When we bottle up our emotions, they can manifest in physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and even immune system dysfunction. In contrast, when we allow ourselves to feel and process our emotions, we are better equipped to manage stress and maintain our overall well-being.

    So, are negative emotions bad for your health? The answer is that it depends. While experiencing negative emotions can certainly have a negative impact on our health, it’s essential to acknowledge that these emotions are a natural part of the human experience. By allowing ourselves to feel and process our emotions, we can better manage stress and maintain our overall well-being. Remember, it’s okay to not be okay, and seeking support from loved ones or a mental health professional can be helpful in managing negative emotions.

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