Science of the Spirit

Move over Freud: Literary fiction is the best therapy

Salley Vickers
The Guardian
Sat, 26 Nov 2016 11:00 UTC

© Allstar/Propoganda Films
Books and bonds … Nicole Kidman as Isabel Archer in the 1996 film adaptation of The Portrait of a Lady.

One of my maxims as a university teacher of literature was: "A great novel not only enhances our understanding - more crucially it understands us." When I later trained as a psychoanalyst I annoyed my tutors with my refrain that one could learn more about the subtleties of human psychology from literature than from the works of Freud, Adler or Jung. This was not to decry the pioneering wisdoms of those great psychologists, but years of teaching literature convinced me that fiction trumps theory in its illumination of the hidden recesses of our consciousness.

There is now good evidence for the therapeutic effects of reading. The Shared Reading project, organised by the Reader Organisation, suggests that reading in groups - in their case they bring together groups of people with mental health issues for example, but the findings apply as well to the local book club's monthly gathering with added wine - significantly "improves self-confidence and self-esteem, builds social networks, widens horizons and gives people a sense of belonging, preserving the mental and physical health of those who are well and building mental resilience".

Comment: See also:

This is your brain on God: Spiritual experiences activate brain reward circuits

University of Utah Health Sciences
Science Daily
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 23:57 UTC

© Jeffrey Anderson
An fMRI scan shows regions of the brain that become active when devoutly religious study participants have a spiritual experience, including a reward center in the brain, the nucleus accumbens.

Religious and spiritual experiences activate the brain reward circuits in much the same way as love, sex, gambling, drugs and music, report researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine. The findings will be published Nov. 29 in the journal Social Neuroscience.

"We're just beginning to understand how the brain participates in experiences that believers interpret as spiritual, divine or transcendent," says senior author and neuroradiologist Jeff Anderson. "In the last few years, brain imaging technologies have matured in ways that are letting us approach questions that have been around for millennia."

Specifically, the investigators set out to determine which brain networks are involved in representing spiritual feelings in one group, devout Mormons, by creating an environment that triggered participants to "feel the Spirit." Identifying this feeling of peace and closeness with God in oneself and others is a critically important part of Mormons' lives -- they make decisions based on these feelings; treat them as confirmation of doctrinal principles; and view them as a primary means of communication with the divine.

Comment: Related articles:

Community groups keep us mentally sharp as we age

Tim Newman
Medical News Today
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 23:48 UTC

According to a large, longitudinal study, being part of a community group could help prevent the cognitive decline associated with age. The current findings add further evidence that social engagement is good for the mind.

Earlier research has hinted that having a strong social network, integrating socially, and engaging with others is associated with better cognitive outcomes.

Similarly, community opportunities - such as recreational, social, and leisure activities and voluntary and group work - are all linked with higher levels of well-being and lower mental stress.

These types of so-called social capital opportunities also reduce overall stress, isolation, and loneliness.

Being involved in civic groups - such as neighborhood watch, environmental groups, voluntary service groups, and other community-based groups - seems to be a healthful option.

Comment: Related articles:

From 'fascists' to 'feminazis': How both sides of politics are biased in their political thinking

Sam Moreton
The Conversation
Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:09 UTC

Any frequent user of social media is probably aware of the tendency for both sides of politics to view the other as fundamentally immoral and ignorant.

Interestingly, longitudinal data suggests that political polarisation is intensifying, at least in the United States, with the recent US election seeing partisanship reach an all-time high.

One important contributor to this phenomenon is confirmation bias: the tendency to seek or interpret evidence as supporting our pre-existing beliefs, regardless of whether it really does.

There is also research showing that confirmation bias is particularly active when the evidence at hand threatens the validity of our political worldview.

Comment: See also:

Avoiding spiritual struggles and existential questions is linked with poorer mental health

Case Western Reserve University
Science Daily
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:40 UTC

Fear of confronting the tensions and conflicts brought on by existential concerns -- the "big questions" of life -- is linked with poorer mental health, including higher levels of depression, anxiety and difficulty regulating emotions, according to a new Case Western Reserve University study.

"Religious and spiritual struggles -- conflicts with God or religious people, tough questions about faith, morality, and the meaning of life -- these are often taboo topics, and the temptation to push them away is strong," said Julie Exline, professor of psychological sciences at Case Western Reserve and co-author of the research.

"When people avoid these struggles, anxiety and depression tend to be more intense than if they faced these struggles head-on."

People who more fully embrace these struggles with fundamental beliefs and values report better mental health than those who don't, Exline added.

Comment: Related articles:

Picking up your mental garbage

Frank M. Wanderer
The Mind Unleashed
Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:07 UTC

Many people are concerned about the increasing pollution, violence and suffering. We want to help, but many times we feel that we are powerless against these trends. However, there is an universal law that you should take into account before trying to help: You should clean up your mental garbage. The largest manufacturer of junk in our lives is our own Minds, so first of all we need to know clean it up and to recognize its functioning.

In order to control something, we first need to know the thing concerned, so we must know our Mind so as to be in charge of it. The most important thing we need to about our Mind is that it is not something that exists separately, individually, like some inanimate object.

The Mind is not an object - it is a process. The process of constantly streaming thoughts. This stream of the thoughts is what we perceive as the Mind. When these thoughts disappear, the Mind disappears with them, as the two are only able to exist together. The very basic nature of thoughts is that they are in a constant move, and this motion, almost automatically, creates the Mind.

The downside of 'empathy': Blindly feeling others' feelings distorts reasoning, makes us biased, tribal, and even cruel

Paul Bloom
Wall Street Journal
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 21:42 UTC

Everywhere you turn in American politics, leaders talk about the need for empathy. The best-known instance, of course, comes from Bill Clinton, who told an AIDS activist in 1992, "I feel your pain." But it's also been a recurrent theme in the career of Barack Obama, who declared in 2007 (while still a senator) that "the biggest deficit that we have in our society and in the world right now is an empathy deficit."

And it isn't just a liberal reflex. A few months ago, George W. Bush spoke at a memorial service in Dallas for five slain police officers and said, "At our best, we practice empathy, imagining ourselves in the lives and circumstances of others." As a candidate, even Donald Trump asked Americans to identify with the suffering of others, from displaced Rust Belt factory workers to the victims of crime by undocumented immigrants.

Though there are obvious ideological differences over who deserves our empathy, it is one of the rare political sentiments that still command a wide consensus. And that's a shame, because when it comes to guiding our decisions, empathy is a moral train wreck. It makes the world worse. When we have the good sense to set it aside, we are better people and make better policy.

Comment: Polish psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski differentiates between automatic, reflexive "syntony" (feeling something in common with others), and conscious, reflective empathy. As Bloom demonstrates above, the first is fickle, unreliable, and can lead to contradictory results. It also leads to a kind of 'mob' mentality in groups. But the second has all the advantages of the first, without the drawbacks:

We observe more alterocentric ['other'-centered], unselfish attitudes expressed by readiness to help; we observe more consistent sensitivity towards the needs of others forsaking primitive selfishness. This attitude is characterized by more or less strong participation of thoughtfulness and reflection. This is empathy. ... Typical examples are: a tendency to defend others, a heart‑warming attitude, understanding, and the like, which are accompanied by reflection and critical evaluation. (Dabrowski, 1970, Mental Growth Through Positive Disintegration)

Mindfulness tips to reduce anxiety

Norine Vander Hooven
psychcentral.com
Fri, 25 Nov 2016 20:55 UTC

Have you ever had your heart race, palms become sweaty, or have difficulty focusing because you're so nervous? These are some of the signs of anxiety.

Anxiety can be debilitating for some people, and for others it might just amount to a few minutes of feeling nervous.

Unfortunately, for some people when anxiety does hit, it can cause you to freeze and be unable to focus, respond, or engage in everyday tasks. For most people, anxiety is the result of thinking about something out of your control, or of something in the future.

Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD, is the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). According to Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness is "paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, to the unfolding of experience moment to moment."

Improve mental health by knitting, crocheting & jam making

Tom Ough
telegraph.co.uk
Fri, 25 Nov 2016 00:52 UTC

Knitting, crocheting and jam-making have never been associated with great thrills - but, it turns out, they work wonders for wellbeing.

A study has found that people who participate in arts and crafts feel happier, calmer and more energetic the next day.

The activities which the researchers listed also included cooking, baking, performing music, painting, drawing, sketching, digital design and creative writing.

All have in common that they are relaxed and creative.

Many of the more traditional activities cited by the researchers are popular with Women's Institute members.

Janice Langley, chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, told the Daily Mail: "WI members have enjoyed creative activities and crafts since the very first WI meeting in 1915, so it's great to hear this study has found some evidence that these interests could lead to increased wellbeing and creativity. We'd encourage everyone thinking of giving a new project a try just to get involved."

Comment: Why crafting helps your brain

Here are 10 ways crafting with friends may improve mind and brain wellness:

Mental challenge and problem solving

Social connection

Mindfulness

Development of hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness and fine motor dexterity

Learning and teaching

Focusing attention and thoughts on a task 

Encouraging active creativity

Gives a sense of pride and achievement

Teaches patience and perseverance

Facilitates memory formation and retrieval

According to her paper, "The skills and feelings experienced whilst knitting and stitching can also be used to facilitate the learning of techniques, such as meditation, relaxation and pacing which are commonly taught on pain management courses, or in the treatment of depression."

Distorted thinking increases stress & anxiety

Toni Bernhard J.D.
psychologytoday.com
Mon, 29 Sep 2014 01:05 UTC

I learned about cognitive distortions in the 1990s from a book by David Burns called Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. I'd just moved from the faculty wing at U.C. Davis' law school to serve as the dean of students. I knew how to teach law...but I didn't feel competent to help students who were struggling emotionally.

When I shared my concerns with a therapist friend, she recommended Feeling Good. She said it would help me recognize when students were engaged in distorted thinking patterns that were increasing their stress and anxiety. I don't know who benefitted more from the book: the students or me personally!

Many years later, after I became chronically ill, I found the notes I'd taken on ten cognitive distortions that Burns discusses in Feeling Good. I immediately realized that I had a new life challenge to apply them to. I'm indebted to him for this piece. I'll describe each cognitive distortion and then include a suggestion or two for how to counter it.

Of course, before you can counter distorted thinking, you have to become aware that you're engaging in it. To this end, it might be beneficial to make a list of the ten distortions and then look it over every few days. Or, you could write down some of your stressful and anxious thoughts and then look to see which of the ten distortions they fall under.

Grandad Adam and Grandma Eve's friendly nieghbours.

Awordinyourear

"One might think that Americans...would be better equipped with suspicion." Obviously some are, or they wouldn't be getting fired.

ReRan

It is high time for a large Solar mass ejection or flare that will cripple information systems world wide.

Baybars

The Biden Admin seems to be going out of their way to antagonize the military and something bout that don’t add up…

Buffalo_Ken

Pope Francis was vaccinated in January and has advocated ...." I doubt it very much. He's evil, not stupid.

ROEL

Science of the Spirit

Move over Freud: Literary fiction is the best therapy

This is your brain on God: Spiritual experiences activate brain reward circuits

Community groups keep us mentally sharp as we age

From 'fascists' to 'feminazis': How both sides of politics are biased in their political thinking

Avoiding spiritual struggles and existential questions is linked with poorer mental health

Picking up your mental garbage

The downside of 'empathy': Blindly feeling others' feelings distorts reasoning, makes us biased, tribal, and even cruel

Mindfulness tips to reduce anxiety

Improve mental health by knitting, crocheting & jam making

Distorted thinking increases stress & anxiety

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