I think I’ve lost track of time. What day of the week is it? Does it matter? What difference does it make anyway? All the days are the same in this time of isolation, or single confinement, if you prefer (actually, double in my case as my husband is with me). [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Over a month in pandemic confinement Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles
Melissa Rubenstein Levin, who worked for Drasnin Communications in San Diego from 2000 to 2002, is now based in Houston, where she is handling publicity for IndieFlix. That production company recently issued three films. Angst, which includes an interview with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, deals with understanding anxiety disorders; Like “explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain,” and The Upstanders, which I recently watched, “explores cyber-bullying,” as can be seen in the trailer above. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Some advice about school bullying Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Joe Gandelman, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Perhaps you’re exasperated with many of the behavior and habit change schemes aimed at helping you overcome these types of demoralizing thoughts. Diets, exercise programs, meditation practices, gratitude journals, medication, the latest “therapy” procedures, vacations and even drugs and/or alcohol. Nothing helps, right? Perhaps you’ve got a bit too much “nah” going on. “Never accepting hope.” OK, OK, had to get at least one acronym in this article. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Succeed or Recede. You CAN’T? Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellCan you think of anything that you disturb and harm yourself with more than your persistent negativity? Negativity eradicates whatever energy you’ve got left while sheltering-at-home. It diverts indispensable attention that you need to even hope to achieve goals that you have (you DO have goals, right?). And, of course, it weakens your overall morale. Oh, and your gray sky, cloudy outlook that kills any rainbow? Well, that similarly pollutes those close to you as well. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
CRAFT SEEDS for well-being Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellIn this installment of my emotional education series aimed at helping readers live healthier through COVID19, I’m going to focus on younger children, a group that is often left out of our focus. This one finding alone from Roberto Olivardia, a lecturer in psychology at Harvard Medical School, is why paying attention to youngsters now is especially important. He reported that as many as 1% of children may suffer from “maskaphobia,” a fear that continues for longer than six months. While usually thought of in relation to costumes and superheroes, in today’s mask-filled streets it is linked to COVID19. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Helping children’s emotions through COVID19 Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & EducationHow has the coronavirus shelter-at-home mandate impacted a cornerstone of your healthy lifestyle, physical activity? In a very recent study of nearly 13,000 people from 139 countries looking at how the coronavirus outbreak impacted exercise, the researchers found that folks are exercising at a greater frequency than before this pandemic. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
To be fit without A gym get WIT GRIT Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Estimates of the number of lost lives directly resulting from the coronavirus outbreak range from the horrifying to the truly unimaginable. That doesn’t consider those indirectly impacted by the outbreak. As businesses of all kinds close or severely curtail service, the number of San Diegans who are without a paycheck or with a severely diminished one is growing, leaving them unable to meet basic needs. Prescriptions need to be refilled. Families need groceries to eat. First responders need safe childcare, so they can work in the hospitals and clinics that are facing a flood of patients. These are unprecedented times. [Beth Sirull]
Philanthropy needed during this pandemic Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego CountyQuite some time ago I wrote about my WAM program for personal success, What About Me? I wrote about three steps to “me,” to self-compassion, including: Welcoming yourself as a friend. Acknowledging your strengths and successes, and recognizing that, Mindfulness promotes it all. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
The WAY to live optimally Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Over my brief stay at Kaiser Hospital on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I learned there is a very real distinction between “physical distancing” and “social distancing.” [Donald H. Harrison]
I’m back from the hospital, thanks! Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationWe are witnessing an escalating, strengthening, swelling mental illness pandemic, one that may well exceed the scale of COVID19, according to The Lancet. We can prevent this by applying what we’ve learned from how to successfully mitigate the spread of COVID19. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Buttressing mental health during the pandemic Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
A while back, a young woman asked if she could come over and talk to me. She reads my columns and finds them useful. I was happy to help.
She came over, and we both sat down on my sofa. I asked her why she had come. She burst into tears. When she finally was able to speak, she told me that her long-term partner had left her. I was holding her hand as she spoke. [By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D, ACSW]
Tales of the comforter, consultant and facilitator Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha JosefowitzI have a millennial client who said in a recent tele-emotional education session, “This at-home bullshit is driving me effing crazy and it completely sucks! I can’t go play video games with my friends and that sucks. My parents are driving me insane and they suck. Everything in my life sucks. Life sucks.!!!” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
The benefits of Corona-pause Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellSmall spaces with little way out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, present a real test to any marital relationship. Will sheltering-at-home result in increased marital strain and divorce in America as it has in China, where divorce rates have already increased sharply during the COVID19 pandemic? Iran has witnessed significantly increasing marital detachment since the quarantine went into effect in that country. The UK is also vigilant with the British Parliament warning to expect a spike in divorce. The chatter among matrimonial-family law and relationship experts in the United States is to anticipate similar tribulations in marriage during this country’s extended confinement. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Living ‘happily ever after’ COVID19 Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
SAN DIEGO — Members of our community have been sharing their thoughts about this unusual Passover via emails and social media. We are pleased to pass along some of them: Rabbi Joshua Dorsch of Tifereth Israel Synagogue says, “One of the many things that Passover teaches us is that amidst the darkness, and challenging moments in our lives, together, we will persevere. We will emerge from the struggle and the challenges before us, stronger and more connected together.” Along with Tifereth Israel staff members Michelle Barbour, Amy Stanley, Beth Klareich, and Alissa Messian, he performed in a video parodying Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham: “I do not want you in my house/ I do not want you or your spouse/ I do not wish to eat with you/ At Seder one or Seder Two/ Don’t get me wrong: I think you’re nice/ but the CDC gave out this advice:/ You must avoid one plague more/ And shoo Elijah from your door./ At next year’s seder, we will tell/ How we were all saved by Purell.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Passing on Passover thoughts Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA