8723d84a

Earthing: The New Relaxation Trend

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:13:43 GMT

As eastern philosophy travels into the western Zeitgeist, many individuals have heard of the term “earthing” as a means of centering and calming one’s self. Now this term, coined by new age practitioners, has had some popular traction with the “woo woo community” but does it stand up to scientific rigor? Let’s explore.

Earthing, or as the NIH refers to as: “environmental medicine” is the means of taking one's bare feet and placing it on the earth. Those that participate in the practice note a sense of calm, well-being, and a decrease of anxiety and depression. Additionally, practitioners are encouraged to earth in a variety of environments (sand, dirt, grass, etc).

Although this concept is relatively new in our current vernacular, the Japanese practice of Shin-Rin yoko, or “forest bathing” has been prevalent since the 1980’s. Studies have shown “forest bathing improves sleep quality, mood, ability to focus, and stress levels. Chronic stress can contribute to the development of ailments like anxiety, depression, and insomnia, to name a few. It can also contribute to physiological problems, like high blood pressure, muscle tension, and lowered immune response. Spending time in nature, away from modern technology and big cities can improve your physical and mental health by reducing the effects of stress on your body. Prescribed forest bathing in Japan has led to a healthier lifestyle for people of all ages (Japan National Tourist Agency, 2019).

As psychological science has progressed, we have begun to see a distinct link between the body and mind. As we continue to understand how both are interconnected, taking advantage of alternative coping skills, like earthing, can be a positive and cost effective way to relax. So the next time you find yourself getting stressed, rather than reaching for that glass of wine, it might be helpful to take off those shoes and go outside first!

Lifting the Weight of Depression

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:14:32 GMT

As we are all still struggling with the far reaching effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, I wanted to re-share this past blog, with some current updates. An article in Psychology Today describes a new study that shows that people who engage in resistance training on a regular basis are less likely to be depressed.

The meta-analysis study included over 2000 men and women of varying ages, who participated in one of 33 different randomized, controlled studies on depression and strength training. The combined results showed that regardless of whether or not an individual started out with symptoms of depression, at the conclusion of the study they were significantly less likely to be depressed when they were assigned to a strength training routine.

Symptoms of depression include:

Trouble concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Fatigue
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
Pessimism and hopelessness
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or sleeping too much
Irritability
Restlessness
Loss of interest in things once pleasurable, including sex
Overeating, or appetite loss
Aches, pains, headaches or cramps that won't go away
Digestive problems that don't get better, even with treatment
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Suicidal thoughts or attempts

Now more than ever, we need to engage is as many self- care activities as possible. Physical activity is one way to help improve your mental health.

If you want to incorporate some strength training into your weekly routine, this link offers 50 excellent body weight exercises, complete with video examples, that you can do at home! They offer simple, easy to follow plans that use your own body weight (no gym or equipment necessary) to build muscle and reduce your chances of experiencing depression. You may also want to think about joining a local gym or training center.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and would like to talk to someone about additional ways to manage them, please call Boca Behavioral Health at 561-961-9077 . If you are having thoughts about suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

References:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2680311

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/brainstorm/201806/lifting-weights-may-help-depression

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

#Covid #selfcare #pandemic #depression #strengthtraining #weightlifting #exerciseanddepression #mentalhealthandstrengthtraining #PsychologyToday #SymptomsofDepression

Blog on College Student’s Mental Health Checklist

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 17:15:05 GMT

I came across this blog that I wrote as my daughter was heading off to college; since then, she’s completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology and Mental Health Counseling. Go figure!

I decided to repost because the information is helpful for parents who are sending their kids to college now, as well as a reminder to me how quickly this time passes.

My daughter leaves for college in a few short months. She is counting down the days to independence, autonomy, fewer rules, more freedoms and exciting new experiences. I, on the other hand, feel a sense of urgency to spend as much time together as possible.

As a mental health professional, I’ve tried to prepare my children to be aware of their own emotional and mental health needs, and to reassure myself that they’ll be safe, confident, happy, responsible and ultimately prepared to be healthy, resourceful adults.

Recently, I found a helpful article that I’d like to share with parents who also want to prepare their kids as they head off to college. *“College Mental Health: A Checklist for Parents” was written by Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, Ph.D. She shares 8 essential action items that you can use as a guide with your college-aged child.

Prepare your Child : Communicate openly about the fact that they, or a roommate or a friend will likely experience some type of mental health issue while away at school. Let them know that you are comfortable with talking about mental health issues and that you encourage them to come to you without worrying about judgment.
Anticipate Increased Exposure to Alcohol and Drugs: Discuss and review various situations that will invariably occur as a new college student. Help your child plan in advance how they’ll make wise choices regarding: responsible drinking, arranging sober transportation, pledging to stay together at parties, hazing and defining what “consent” is.
Have a Plan: All students should have a plan in place in case they experience a mental health crisis or just start to feel overwhelmed with college life. If your child has already had mental health counseling in the past, their therapist can help create that plan. If not, let your child know that there are resources available on campus, off campus, online and of course to contact you.
Stay in Touch: Make time for regular phone conversations; not just texting. Listen to what they are saying, but also how they sound when they say it. Pay attention to signs of sadness, fears, anxiety, irritability, sleep difficulties, loss of appetite, tearfulness, unexplained physical complaints, or a sudden drop in academic performance.
Forget Stigma: If your child experiences mental health issues, getting them the help they need takes priority over the concerns about their reputation or their academics. Colleges have policies in place to help support students experiencing mental health problems. Speak to your child’s school and determine what the policy is regarding a temporary medical leave of absence to address their mental health needs.
Encourage Healthy Habits: Remind your child that good eating, sleep and exercise habits are crucial to maintaining overall general wellbeing. Rather than nagging or lecturing about eating their veggies, ask them to reflect on how they feel when they routinely eat healthy foods vs. unhealthy foods.
Learn about College Mental Health Services: Call the school’s campus Mental Health Center and ask what type of services they provide, how a student can access services, if there is a limit to how many sessions are offered, if there is a cost and what is it, and if they are able to make referrals to other local counseling providers.
Allow for Mistakes: Perfection is not a realistic goal. It is important that your child knows that you’ll support them through whatever challenges they face. Mistakes are unavoidable and oftentimes are an opportunity to learn important life lessons.

If you or your college student is concerned about mental health related issues as you prepare them for college life, or are struggling with ongoing mental health concerns, please contact Boca Behavioral Health at 561-961-9077 . We can help develop your own individualized mental health plan as you or your child heads to college.

*Summarized from an article written by Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, Ph.D., Director of College Mental Health Programs and instructor at Harvard Medical School, as published in “The Sober World” magazine, October 2018, vol.7, issue 10.

#MentalHealth #college #drugsandalcohol #oncampuscounseling #mentalhealthcrisis #mentalhealthchecklist #nomorestigma #collegementalhealthservices #BocaBehavioralHealth