Category: Health

by Dawson Church, PhD

Depression creates barriers to communication and commitment in couples, according to a study in the journal Communication Monographs.¹ It is linked to social withdrawal, which can be problematic in a relationship as it limits communication and commitment.

Avoidance may in fact be due to a wish to preserve a relationship, despite feelings of futility, fear of conflict and a lack of effective coping strategies.

Uncertainty about commitment within relationships has been shown to cause an avoidance in discussing sensitive topics. The study looked at the uncertainty this causes and the barriers to communication it sets up in this study, which analyzed 126 couples.

The results showed that for a majority of subjects, uncertainty about the relationship was linked to the avoidance of sensitive topics.

The authors of the study say that, “Our results also have pragmatic value for suggesting that relational uncertainty may be a site of intervention for helping people with depressive symptoms be more comfortable discussing challenging issues…(and)… as a step toward unravelling the complexities of people’s avoidance behavior in the context of depression.” 

The findings of the study show that it’s important to treat depression before it erodes your relationship.

There are many studies showing that EFT effectively treats depression; you can both use it alone, and work with a certified Clinical EFT practitioner.

Source

Knobloch, L. K., Sharabi, L. L., Delaney, A. L., & Suranne, S. M. (2015). The role of relational uncertainty in topic avoidance among couples with depression. Communication Monographs, 1-24.

Dawson Church, PhD, is an award-winning science writer with three best-selling books to his credit. The Genie in Your Genes was the first book to demonstrate that emotions drive gene expression. Mind to Matter showed that the brain creates much of what we think of as “objective reality.” Bliss Brain demonstrates that peak mental states rapidly remodel the brain for happiness. Dawson has conducted dozens of clinical trials, and founded the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare (NIIH) to promote groundbreaking new treatments. Dawson shares how to apply these health and performance breakthroughs through EFT Universe.

Concerns over marital problems can increase stress during the work day, leading to an increased risk of heart disease and strokes, according to research published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Researchers from University College and Brandeis University in London found that domestic problems can carry over into the workplace, potentially resulting in serious health problems.

In their study of 105 middle-aged workers, they found higher stress levels and higher blood pressures in those who reported greater marital concerns, both in men and women equally.

Study co-author Rosalind Barnett said: “It’s generally assumed that primary relationships are more critical to a women’s psychological well-being than men’s, but this is not the case … when there is marital concern, men and women are equally affected.”

For this reason, it’s important to work on creating a harmonious primary relationship. There are dozens of stories written by people whose relationships have been transformed by tapping. In our Tapping Deep Intimacy course, you’re systematically trained in the 12 skills that we’ve found are the prerequisites to relationship success. Research on the Tapping Deep Intimacy program shows that it lowers anxiety and depression symptoms significantly, and increases relationship satisfaction by an average of 28%.

Source

Barnett, R. C., Steptoe, A., & Gareis, K. C. (2005). Marital-role quality and stress-related psychobiological indicators. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 30(1), 36-43.

Rachel Abrams, MD, in conversation with host Dawson Church, PhD, on High Energy Health Radio, Recorded on April 13, 2017

The author of Body Wise: Discovering Your Body’s Intelligence for Lifelong Health and Healing, Rachel Abrams, MD, shares her insights on integrative medicine. Combining the best of alternative and conventional medicine, integrative medicine can treat many conditions using a range of natural tools. Among the topics covered in this interview are:

• – How most Westerners are out of touch with their bodies
• – The large role emotional well-being plays in health
• – Most doctors get only 10 minutes per patient and it isn’t enough
• – The 5 signs of chronic body depletion
• – How a sense of purpose can trigger healing
• – Why strong communities promote resilience and how relationships heal
• – Self-talk that gets in the way of healing
• – How small lifestyle changes can spark major turnarounds
• – Why self-love is critical to wellness
• – The 28-day plan to feel good
• – Tuning into your own unique body intelligence

Click here for a free download of this show from the High Energy Health Radio archives.

Stress relief is as urgent for teens as it is for adults. Untreated stress can lead to depression and anxiety as well as unhealthy eating and emotional behaviors. Over 100 clinical trials have show that EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), also known as “tapping,” is an effective method for improving mental health. Now a clinical psychologist, Peta Stapleton, PhD, has written a book adapting the method for use by teens.

Dr. Stapleton manages the masters program in the psychology department at Bond University in Australia. She has conducted many studies of EFT and, as a therapist, has worked with teens for over 20 years. In EFT for Teens, she shows how to use tapping for common problems such as peer pressure, body image, puberty, family conflicts, taking exams, social phobias, eating disorders, sports performance, and weight management.

Dr. Stapleton focuses especially on feelings, and how EFT can reduce sadness, anger, doubt, jealousy, and fear. She applies the proven techniques of EFT to typical problems teens face. These include bullying, academic performance, public speaking, divorce and parental conflict, sleep, and procrastination.

With a warm and understanding tone, Dr. Stapleton draws upon her experiences with her teenage daughter and other teens, as well as studies showing that EFT is effective when used with teenagers. She’s especially aware of the conflicts and contradictory drives that can bewilder teens, as hormones, academic priorities, disappointments, and the need for social acceptance all pull them in different directions. She realizes that people can’t just “get over” these problems and that a stress reduction method can help teens navigate the transition to adulthood.

The book begins with a “quick start guide” that shows how to apply EFT immediately and how to test whether or not it’s working for you. EFT combines elements of conventional therapy with acupressure to provide fast and measurable relief from stress; a story in Examiner.com calls EFT: “one of the most successful psychology self-help techniques ever developed.”

Short, catchy, and relevant, each chapter of EFT for Teens includes stories written by or about teens who have used EFT for the typical problems that show up in therapy sessions. Dr. Stapleton emphasizes the power of “taking charge of how you feel” by learning EFT, and her passion for seeing teens lead healthy and happy lives is evident throughout the book.

References
Book: EFT for Teens on Amazon
Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of EFT Research: Research.EFTuniverse.com