Redefining Stress

How to train your brain to conquer anxiety and depression

G. Frank Lawlis, PhD, is principal content and oversight adviser of the Dr. Phil Show. See full bio

October 1, 2008

It is out – Finding natural paths through the Stress Storms

On September 22, a major breakthrough into mental health was published under the name of The Stress Answer. I think it is great, but I am biased - I wrote it. But before you write me off as a narcissistic bore, let me explain that I wanted to make a statement about a new science breakthrough that people have discussing for years and never had applications of it. The term is "brain plasticity," and it refers to the brain abilities to reconstruct itself and create new pathways. Paralyzed people have walked again by teaching another area of the brain to function for their motor coordination, when according to current thought it would be impossible. People have learned to talk again, using another part of their brains. There are examples over the map of people who have recovered motor function. Why not emotional function? Read More

September 15, 2008

A New / Old Mental Health Tool: Flowers

Flower aromas can change brain chemistry Read More

August 29, 2008

Redefining Bipolar and New Hope

Every student learns the definition of what is termed, “Bipolar Disorder,” as the next disorder after depression and manic moods in a typical curriculum course. It seems logical that one mood disorder would simply relate to another mutant disorder with similar behaviors, similar to the way we classify animals. If you go through a traditional clinical psychology program, it is usually conventional wisdom that there has been no consistent research showing that psychotherapy is particularly beneficial for bipolar due to the extreme irrational emotions and there is a significant risk of suicide. Read More

August 14, 2008

The "Mental Breakdown" and the "Sleep" cure

Many readers probably remember someone or heard of someone having a "nervous breakdown" not that many years ago, and the fantasies we built were based on total secrecy ranging from seeing someone screaming in frenzied behavior to someone in a mummified state being hauled away in a straight jacket. Read More

July 30, 2008

Brain Plasticity in Action: Getting smarter and happier

Up until ten years ago, the prevailing thought was that our brains were basically the same potential the day we were born until the day we died. However, with the advance of brain scans and increased capability to measure neuron function down to a single cell, I have had to concede that not only can the brain get “smarter and better balanced,” but this process lasts a lifetime. And to put the new findings into greater relevance, the smarter you get, the happier you get. Read More

July 14, 2008

ADHD v. Depression and Anxiety

Since I was a child with a severe case of what is known as attention-deficit disorder, I have been extremely interested in the new explosion in new cases and the sudden interest in new trends in diagnoses. The number of children categorized under this label are above 17 million cases, appearing to be one of the greatest mental health epidemic of our times. The question was whether there were any bases for this unique disorder and if so, what factors have predicted such a huge outbreak of cases. Read More

July 1, 2008

Redefining Depression and Anxiety for "Real" Help

Do you sometimes wonder if your brain is slipping away? You
may be suffering from the downward spiral of Stress Storms. Read More

Depression Basics

Some 15 million Americans struggle with depression—an illness that comes in many forms—from major depression and seasonal affective disorder, to dysthymia and bipolar disorder.

Go to the Depression Basics page for more on Depression including:

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