Positive Psychology Archive

Happiness helps to lower blood pressure and stress, improve the immune system, and motivate people to be more active. Research suggests that, on average, genetics determines 50% of a person's general happiness level. However, a person's happiness is at least somewhat under their control, which suggests that even people who are not naturally happy have the power to increase their happiness. They can do this by practicing regular acts of happiness-activities linked with better mood and increasing optimism.

Toxic productivity is an obsessive preoccupation with being productive at all costs. It's not a diagnosable health condition, but can take a toll on people's mental well-being, leading to insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Toxic productivity is marked by a false sense of urgency, an inability to relax, and guilt or shame over not accomplishing "enough." People coping with toxic productivity can combat the impulse by doing deep breathing, journaling, and examining their relationship to downtime.

Lipedema is characterized by an abnormal and uneven buildup of fibrous, fatty tissue, typically in the buttocks and legs. The condition's prevalence is not precisely known, since lipedema is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. In addition to cosmetic concerns, lipedema can lead to myriad physical effects, including pain, loose joints, easy bruising, and trouble walking. Treatments include compression stockings, use of pneumatic devices, a special type of massage, medications, liposuction, and exercise.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps redirect negative thoughts and emotions. It's often prescribed to help people cope with tinnitus (a phantom ringing in the ears). A 2024 study found that CBT is most likely to be beneficial when tinnitus symptoms are severe.

A study of more than 121,000 people without dementia (ages 40 to 70) found that those who ate the most flavonoid-rich foods-six servings per day-had a 28% lower risk of developing dementia over the following nine years, compared to those who ate the least.

Migraine can carry a certain stigma that unfairly marks individuals with the condition. A 2024 study suggested that such stigma might be tied to increased disability and reduced quality of life for people struggling with this debilitating disease. To cope with migraine stigma, it helps to talk to a psychologist or join a migraine support group, educate loved ones, and talk to one's boss regarding accommodations needed to cope with migraine on the job.

Most hospitals have chaplains who can provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families during challenging medical situations, such as impending heart surgery, a worsening bout of heart failure, or cardiac arrest. Spiritual care, which has been linked to improved health outcomes, encompasses but does not necessarily include formal religious practices. It aims to help people explore sources of comfort and hope while coping with the challenge of a diagnosis.