Dopamine is one of the brain’s most essential neurotransmitters, often nicknamed the “motivation molecule.” While it’s popularly associated with pleasure and reward, dopamine plays a far more complex and foundational role in the human body. It regulates mood, attention, sleep, movement, and even decision-making. An imbalance in dopamine can be linked to a variety of medical and mental health conditions,…
The time has come for the holiday season festivities to start. While this season should be filled with heartfelt and joyous family time, for others, it can be one of the most stressful periods of the year. Whether the pressure of being around family at gatherings spikes your anxiety or you arejust struggling with a lack of time and money,…
By Jean Hanks, MS, RDN, CDN During this unprecedented time, many of us are feeling stressed, anxious and fearful of what the future holds. It can be easy to pick up unhealthy habits, particularly when it comes to eating. Studies have shown that stress (and with it fear, depression and anger) can lead us to seek comfort from foods that…
The most important step is to understand that children are entitled to feel “big” emotions just like adults, and should never be made to feel otherwise. Keep this in mind as you try the following techniques to assist a child in feeling more motivated: 1. Validate, Validate and Validate: The importance of validating a child’s emotional experience, especially when they are experiencing…
New York is now in full testing mode – The shortage is over, and insurance is fully covering testing for everyone. Hearing this, it now makes sense that New York state has tested more people per capita than any other country in the World! As you look at your testing options, know that each testing site operates differently. Here are…
By Danielle Wolman, LCSW, CASAC By this point, we’ve all asked the type of questions that revolve around deadlines: When is it the pandemic going to be over? When will a vaccine become available? When will my life go back to normal? We are wired to strive for a sense of control. It helps us build a foundation of security:…