As a motivational speaker, I often use magic to illustrate the key points in my speeches. Why? Well, firstly, magic is a lot more fun than PowerPoint. Secondly, magic has gained some serious credibility as scientists have begun studying magicians to learn more about how the brain works. (This research is based on the notion that, if the ladies don’t dig your “science nerd vibe,” try card tricks!) Continue reading
We all know someone who is an avid collector. Maybe your brother collects comic books or your uncle collects antique statues. Some collectors collect in hopes that their collection will someday be worth millions, while others are driven by a love of collecting and the pursuit of a complete set. But what happens when collecting goes from being a pleasurable experience to something that takes over the life of the collector, making them a pariah and forcing them to live an unhealthy lifestyle? Continue reading
In the United States, the divorce rate is higher than ever. In fact, over the past 50 years it has nearly doubled and there seems to be no end in sight. Some argue that a lack of religion is the cause, while others say that the internet age is to blame. According to Dr. Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist from The University of Virginia, couples that live together before getting married are much more likely to get a divorce than couples that wait until their wedding day to become housemates. Continue reading
Though often left out of textbooks and lectures, history is filled with innumerable events and activities ranging from the improbable to the downright weird. From Catherine the Great’s alleged affair with one of her horses to the dung beetle charms worn by the ancient Egyptians, human behavior hasn’t always been what we have come to expect. And when individuals broke from normalcy, perhaps due to being afflicted with mental illnesses, they were often subjected to various “treatments” with the aim of alleviating their afflictions. In many cases however, these remedies were often weird enough to make bedding a horse seem like a perfectly natural thing to do. Continue reading
Stress is an inevitable part of day to day life and the workplace is just one of its many sources. But even so, you can learn to keep stress levels in check. There have been numerous studies which confirm that stress on the job can wreak havoc on your general health. In fact, frequent headaches and heart palpitations are signs that your job could be slowly killing you.
People who are chronically stressed are more likely to develop heart disease, insomnia, digestive problems, obesity and a decline in mental health. Chronic stress has been linked to depression, anxiety and memory problems. Do not be afraid to take a few days off from your job if you feel that you have been working too hard and are too stressed out. Coming back to work when fresh in body and mind can make all the difference. Continue reading
In spite of over a hundred years of research and many billions of dollars spent, we still have no clear evidence that schizophrenia and other related psychotic disorders are the result of a diseased brain. Continue reading
