An overlooked idea from the 1980s yields a promising new treatment approach that anyone can use — I’m a psychiatrist who struggles with anxiety. I had my first full-blown panic attack when I was in residency training. It woke me from a sound sleep like a freight train suddenly blowing its whistle in my ear. …

How choice justification distorts our view of reality — It’s 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. You’ve had a hard day and still have a long list of “to-dos” to tackle before it ends and need something to help you relax and get through. A glass of wine or a beer should do the trick. You’re working from home, so…

Psychiatrist and habit change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer explains how anxiety masquerades as helpful — I was recently on the phone with my friend Kate, who had just returned from a summer road trip with her kids. She’s one of those ultra-responsible types who is up on evolving coronavirus precautions and social distancing guidelines (full disclosure: She’s also an editor at Elemental). As a way…

The neuroscience of treating people well — We’ve heard how deadly Covid-19 is. We all now know science terms we’d never imagined learning, like “R naught” (the term for how quickly a virus replicates) and “flatten the curve.” …

Daily insights on life in the face of uncertainty, by psychiatrist and habit change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer — Did you know that your mindset has a big impact on how you deal with uncertainty, and may impact your reaction not just to the current crisis, but to any life challenge you face? I suspect that you, like me, have observed a few clear patterns regarding yourself lately. In…

Daily insights on life in the face of uncertainty, by psychiatrist and habit change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer — Did you know that your eyes really are the window into your soul? Or at least a window into your current emotional state? By understanding how your eyes connect to your emotions, you can learn to tap into curiosity to help you let go of anxiety and fear. Have you…

Daily insights on life in the face of uncertainty, by psychiatrist and habit change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer — This story is part of How to Eat in the New Normal, a weeklong series about how the Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way we eat, with expert advice for making food choices that help you stay healthy and happy. Emotions are running high these days, and that can lead…

Daily insights on life in the face of uncertainty, by psychiatrist and habit change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer — Ever wonder why tightness in your jaw and shoulders are linked to anxiety? And did you know that you can use curiosity to change your relationship to anxiety and fear? The Irish novelist and poet James Stephens wrote, “curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.” …

Daily insights on life in the face of uncertainty by psychiatrist and habit-change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer — Do you ever wonder why it’s so hard to stop scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? Notice that restless, ever-present itch to see what’s next, to get all of the information you need? That itch is curiosity. …