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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Tips to fight depression and winter blues
By
Nancy Churnin
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT)
You've made it through the thrills and chills of the holiday season. Now you have the bills.
And we're not just talking about the money. We're talking about the deflation and sadness that can be the emotional price of putting off time to reflect as you ricochet from one festive obligation to another.
"February has always been the biggest month for new therapy patients," says Dr. Don Hafer, a neuropsychologist and director of Behavioral Health at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. "There's a letdown phenomenon in January. You push, you push, you push all through the holidays. There's a little bit of a high, and then in February you crash."
We can head off the crash by taking stock of our mental health now and making a resolution to stay mentally fit all year long, he says.
Hafer and others agree that you need to take at least as much time for mental health as you do for physical fitness. And while physical fitness requires activity, what they want to see in mental fitness is stillness.
He recommends that everyone take 15 minutes to quiet the body and focus the mind. He does it himself and says it is every bit as healthful as biofeedback, yoga and meditation.
In fact, for his dissertation, he put one set of people in a room with a relaxation tape and another in a room with a tape that was blank after a brief introduction. Both groups ended up with similarly lowered blood pressure.
"I'm known for being this low-key, focused guy," he says. "But I'm completely Type-A, hard-driving, competitive. If I didn't do this, I would not be nearly as productive because I would be spinning my wheels."
Acknowledging that many may struggle to find those 15 minutes, he suggests that quiet time can be combined with another exercise he recommends: journaling. "Don't sit down and write only about the negative stuff – that makes you more anxious. Most of the journaling needs to be on what's going well in your life and what you have to be thankful for."
Dr. Gary Malone, a psychoanalyst at the Dallas Psychoanalytic Institute and medical director of psychiatry at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, goes so far as to write prescriptions for his patients to block off a half hour a day simply to be "calm and introspective," he says.
"I often have to do this for women with small kids who get no peace ever," he says. "They take the prescription, show it to their spouse and say, 'I'm going in the backyard. I'll see you in 30 minutes.'"
He admits that when his children were younger, it was hard for him to carve out that time as consistently as he would have liked. But now that they are grown, he is diligent about taking his own prescription daily. He believes it takes that investment of time to learn how to face inner and outer conflicts and find inner peace.
"You have to sit, take a deep breath, relax and think about what your day was like, what's wrong, what's bothering you and what you can change. You don't have to be watching TV or checking your e-mail 24 hours a day. But you do need to resolve the conflicts and resentments that are blocking you from achieving your best life."
Chronic conflict and resentment can also make you more prone to infections and illness, he says.
Even if you seek help from a friend, a spiritual adviser or a trained mental professional to kick-start or help guide the process, he stresses that ultimately the only person who can heal your mind is you.
"You have to remember you're not the passenger. You are at the steering wheel of your life. And the psychological work is ongoing."Finding a balance
Experts we talked to for this story agreed that a mental-fitness routine would begin with spending 15 to 30 minutes a day being calm and introspective. Some tips for staying mentally healthy:
Find a support group: Look for one that focuses on seeking positive solutions or accepts that there are things that can't be fixed. A group that complains together can add to your anger and sense of hopelessness.
Don't abuse drugs and alcohol: Often people try to self-medicate this way, but that makes problems worse.
Be true to yourself: Find people with whom you can be honest and like you for who you are right now and not because of weight you're going to lose or money you're going to make. Don't pretend to be someone you're not.
Exercise, watch your diet and get your sleep: If you exercise 45 minutes a day in your 50s, you drop your chances of dementia by 15 percent in your 70s, Dr. Gary Malone says.
Focus on the positive: Make time for listening to music or reading a book; don't dwell too long on stressful or negative topics.
Socialize and have fun: Inexpensive social activities, such as watching a movie or playing a game with family and friends, taking a walk or organizing a family cookout can keep you and your family healthy.
SOURCES: Dr. Don Hafer, Dr. Gary Malone, American Psychiatric Association
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