Have you ever heard someone say that they love running not just because of how it makes their body feel, but also their mind? Over 55 million people in the U.S. run or jog recreationally, and for good reason. Most of us know that running offers a host of physical benefits, including improved cardiovascular health… read more
Nature As Self-Care
Nature’s Health Benefits It is widely accepted that time spent outdoors has both physical and psychological benefits. Yet, the average person spends nearly 87% of their time indoors and 7% of their time in vehicles. Put another way, most of us spend less than 5 hours per week in natural environments. This is a shame;… read more
Do I Need to Turn Off the News to be Happy?
In today’s digital age, news comes at us from every direction. Many of us want to stay informed so we know about changes that might affect our lives. Others feel it’s our responsibility as global citizens. Yet, often we turn on the news or open the paper only to be overwhelmed by deeply upsetting events.… read more
Take A Hike: How Outdoor Activity Builds Mental Health
In a day and age when technology reigns and face-to-face interactions have fallen by the wayside, spending time in the great outdoors has lost some of its popular appeal. Despite this, outdoor activities can play a major role in gaining and maintaining positive psychological health! By building communities with your fellow outdoorspeople, increasing your psychological… read more
Self-Guided Approaches to Bring Relief from Chronic Pain, with Regina Tosca, LICSW
Each year, millions of people are forced to cope with the physical and psychological effects of chronic pain. Viva therapist Regina Tosca, LICSW, knows this well—with her background in palliative care and hospital social work, she’s worked with many clients who deal with chronic pain in their daily life. In the following post, Regina breaks… read more
The Physical Symptoms of Mental Illness, and How to Combat Them, ft. Sarah Levy, LICSW
Our physical and psychological health are inextricably connected—so much so that issues with our mental health can manifest as bodily pain or disruptions. Below are a few common physical symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions, as well as suggestions from therapist Sarah Levy, LICSW on how you can treat them. Everyday Symptoms Fatigue,… read more
5 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress and Improve Health As You Age
Our bodies go through myriad changes as we age; in terms of stress, as we grow older, we are both exposed to new physical stressors and begin to handle those stressors in a different way. This post seeks to break down those stress-related changes and provide methods for coping with them. A New Response to… read more
5 Proven Ways Nature Improves Your Health & Wellbeing
When we think about changing our behaviors to “get healthy,” we often imagine taking drastic actions like waking up at 5am to run 6 miles before work, cutting starchy breads and pastas from our diet, and trying out various juice cleanses. However, while all these activities could be helpful in moderation (if not entirely realistic),… read more
