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Mental Health

Wintering in the pandemic

Dr. Paul | October 26, 2020 |
 

We are looking ahead to our Northwest rainy season. But this year, we look ahead through the lens of the coronavirus. It will be different than years past. As we head indoors, we are expecting a surge in the infection rate, which may result in a return to greater public health restrictions. In 2020, uncertainty reigns. We are becoming more familiar with the lack of predictability, but certainly not more comfortable. 

As the rain and cooler weather returns, many adults are worried about how they will manage. It’s going to be more difficult to connect with family and friends in... Read More

Cultivating the seeds of hope

Dr. Paul | October 05, 2020 |
 

Dr. Sarah Sallon had a dream, to bring the Judean Date Tree, the Tamar, back to life after 800 years of extinction. An Israeli pediatric gastroenterologist, she knew the age-old reputed claims of this particular date’s strong medicinal properties, including the ability to help with digestive disorders. Could the claims be true?

The ancient forests of Judean Date Trees harbored eight-foot-tall trees and stretched for seven miles long. Known for their succulent sweetness, they provided the fabled honey (along with figs) of the land of milk and honey, not bees. Engraved on coins and... Read More

Recipe for a good day

Dr. Paul | August 28, 2020 |
 

Today, I walked around Green Lake in the early morning. The sky was filling with light as the sun reared up in the Eastern sky. It was quiet and mostly empty. The leaves on tall trees waved in the breeze. I saw ducks swim in circles, chewing on lake grasses. It was cool and pleasant. I came home and meditated. My mind busily followed the ducks, swimming in circles, going nowhere. But at the end of the hour, I felt a deep sense of peace.

Afterwards, I baked sourdough bread that rose overnight, enjoying the yeasty smell of fresh bread.  I ate warm bread with melted butter, savoring... Read More

The art of doing nothing

Dr. Paul | August 10, 2020 |
 

Joan feels like she’s running all day, every day—taking care of her 6-year-old, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning the kitchen, supervising schoolwork during school-at-home, with a never ending to-do list that stretches out as far as the eye can see. “I’m always doing something,” she sighs.

Sound familiar?

With many parents working from home and fewer opportunities to go out, our homes are needing and getting more attention. It’s amazing to me how many dishes can pile up during a work day! Our living spaces are way more lived-in than ever.

Of course it feels good to... Read More

Addressing anxiety as restrictions ease

Dr. Paul | June 17, 2020 |
 

As we start to slowly and methodically ease restrictions, many of us find ourselves experiencing greater anxiety. During this time, it’s important to keep ourselves well informed and practice methods to help reduce the stress and worry that can come with more freedom during COVID-19.

Q: I’m confused. Now that our state is starting to ease restrictions, I feel more anxious. Yet I see many others who act like there’s no threat at all. What gives?

Coronavirus has given us a global rollercoaster ride. While scientists are working day and night to develop an effective vaccine,... Read More

Cultivating grace, gratitude and grit

Dr. Paul | May 26, 2020 |
 

There isn’t a formula for the pandemic blues. It’s a work in progress for each of us—trying different strategies for keeping our heads above water. An effective way to keep your mind and body healthy as we adjust to a new way of living is to work hard to cultivate the three G’s—grace, gratitude, and grit.

Q: I’m struggling. Between social distancing, sheltering at home, and worry about money, I feel overwhelmed and pessimistic. What can I do?

These are trying times for kids, adults, and elders. Between fear of getting sick and a global economic downturn, it’s hard to keep... Read More

Focusing on prolonged self-care

Dr. Paul | May 19, 2020 |
 

When it comes to this pandemic, we need to prepare our minds and bodies to stay healthy for the long haul. It’s normal to experience intense emotions when we face challenges or hardships. But we must work to manage those emotions and find outlets to cope with stress during this prolonged period of upheaval.

Q: Some days I just feel overwhelmed. Yesterday, I cried for an hour and I’m not sure why. I’m working full time, my husband is furloughed, and taking care of our 11, 9, and 5-year-olds. I worry that the kids are falling behind in their on-line schooling. I’m afraid I’m drinking... Read More

Coping with the stress of the COVID-19 outbreak

Dr. Paul | March 12, 2020 |
 

I was at the supermarket this weekend and noticed that the store was filled with more shoppers and that many of the shelves were empty. I could feel the tension in the air, as people were preparing for the worst. Anxiety and fear can spread even more quickly than an infectious disease.

It’s completely normal to experience increased stress during an infectious disease outbreak. Listening to the news, reading the newspaper, and noticing how the world around you is reacting will likely intensify normal apprehension. Our brains have a strong bias towards perceiving potential threat. We... Read More

Emotional regulation: Keeping your cool

Dr. Paul | January 21, 2020 |
 

Keeping your cool can be hard—especially when you’re hot under the collar, feel threatened, or are triggered by something you see, hear, or imagine. Now, we know why.

It’s the way your brain is wired.

Your brain’s number one priority is keeping you alive—not making you happy. Unfortunately, from a survival perspective, it's much more important to notice threats than opportunities. If you miss a pleasant prospect, that might be disappointing, but it probably won’t kill you. But miss a potential threat and that could be the end. We’re primed to recognize the negative, rather... Read More

Overcoming frustration through patience

Dr. Paul | December 09, 2019 |
 

Several weeks ago, my wife and I were visiting our daughter and her family in Southern California. Wrestling with a latch on my 2-year-old granddaughter’s car seat, I couldn’t figure out how to open it. Our perky granddaughter, Layla, looked me in the eye, with her million-dollar smile and declared, “Don’t worry, grandpa, you can do it.”

After trying different strategies to open it, she repeated her refrain. By then I was frustrated, but I didn’t give up until I figured it out. After all, I wanted her to be right. Free at last, she said, still smiling— “I knew you could do it... Read More

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