Tag

Anxiety

All articles tagged with #anxiety

health12 days ago•2 min saved

UK Study Links Early Sugar Exposure to Higher Adult Anxiety Risk

A new study from the University of Surrey suggests that high sugar exposure in the first 1,000 days of life is associated with a higher risk of anxiety in adulthood. Analyzing data from over 45,000 UK participants born between 1951 and 1956, researchers found that those who experienced longer periods of sugar rationing had a 33% lower risk of developing anxiety. The study also noted that early sugar exposure impacted brain development in 11 out of 80 brain regions, though experts caution that the findings show correlation, not causation.

via New York Post|

#anxiety #brain-development #health

health20 days ago•11 min saved

AI extinction fears spur island-escape fantasies

BBC reports how fears that AI could wipe out humanity heighten anxiety in people, including Cardiff campaigner James Downs, who even contemplates living on an island with no technology. The piece covers how such headlines amplify worries about climate, finances, and safety, with therapists noting AI news can intensify stress. Experts advise limiting alarmist content, curating feeds, talking with trusted friends or clinicians, and seeking help if anxiety disrupts daily life, while noting calls for stronger regulation and safety assurances from AI leaders.

via BBC|

#ai #anxiety #health

science1 month ago•57 min saved

Nose-to-Brain Pathways Tie Nasal Breathing to Anxiety

A mouse study identifies a nose-to-brain circuit in which nasal airflow frequency modulates anxiety-like behavior via olfactory sensory neurons, the olfactory bulb, perirhinal cortex, and the posterior basolateral amygdala; slow nasal breathing reduced anxiety in mice, suggesting a potential noninvasive approach to treating anxiety, though human relevance remains to be confirmed.

via Yahoo|

#amygdala #anxiety #breathing

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Regular Exercise Frequency Linked to Lower Depression Risk Among Students

A Norwegian prospective study of 10,460 students found that how often you exercise matters more for future mental health than how hard or long you work out; higher weekly frequency was consistently linked to lower risks of depression and anxiety over a year, with patterns that differed by gender. Benefits rose with total activity up to about 10 hours per week and aligned with the WHO guideline of at least 150 minutes per week. The findings suggest regular, attainable activity should be encouraged as part of student life, though causality cannot be proven from observational data.

via SciTechDaily|

#anxiety #depression #exercise-frequency

health1 month ago•18 min saved

When Looks Turn Into a Mental Health Signal

The piece explains how trends focused on appearance can heighten insecurity, but not every concern signals a disorder. Experts say body dysmorphia may be present when fixation on flaws disrupts functioning, thoughts, or mood; anxiety can also manifest as an all-consuming getting-ready routine. Practical guidance includes practicing body neutrality, limiting mirror-checking, unfollowing toxic accounts, and seeking help from a therapist or dietitian if worries interfere with daily life or well-being.

via HuffPost|

#anxiety #body-dysmorphia #body-image

health1 month ago•14 min saved

Sugar-rationed childhood linked to lower anxiety and depression decades later, UK study finds

A UK Biobank study of 46,448 people born between 1951 and 1956 found that longer exposure to sugar rationing during the first 1,000 days of life was associated with lower hazards of anxiety and depression in adulthood, with brain gray-matter differences observed on MRI. The association persisted for anxiety after accounting for later-life sugar intake, while the depression link weakened, and the study remains observational and not causal; effects were stronger in women.

via News-Medical|

#anxiety #brain-imaging #depression

mental-health1 month ago•26 min saved

Caffeine May Quiet Brain Inflammation to Ease Mood Symptoms in Rodent Studies

A systematic review of 17 rodent studies finds caffeine consistently reduces brain inflammation and anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, likely via blocking A2A adenosine receptors on microglia and astrocytes; while promising, the results come from animal models and human relevance, dosing, and safety remain uncertain.

via PsyPost|

#anxiety #caffeine #depression

mental-health1 month ago•25 min saved

Narcissistic self-centeredness can turn social anxiety into aggression

A study of 872 Chinese university students found that most socially anxious people withdraw, but a subgroup with vulnerable narcissism and high self-centeredness shows elevated aggression. Through clustering and regression analyses, researchers identified a vulnerable-defensive profile with high social anxiety and narcissistic self-centeredness reporting the most proactive and reactive aggression, and they found that self-centeredness amplifies proactive aggression across the population, while reactive aggression follows a threshold effect. The findings suggest screening for narcissistic self-centeredness in risk assessments, though limitations include cross-sectional, self-reported data from a single cultural group and no causation established.

via PsyPost|

#aggression #anxiety #mental-health

science1 month ago•28 min saved

Tiny breaths blunt the body's stress spike in real time

Ultra-short breathing routines, notably box breathing and prolonged exhalation, prevented typical spikes in heart rate, anxiety, and salivary alpha-amylase during a five-minute simulated public-speaking task, with no difference in immediate cognitive performance across groups; cortisol declined across all groups, likely due to task design. The study suggests simple, equipment-free techniques that could help high-stress professionals manage bodily stress in real time, though limitations (live vs. prerecorded stimuli, sample size) temper generalizability.

via PsyPost|

#anxiety #box-breathing #breathing

health1 month ago•2 min saved

LSD-based DT120 posts Phase 3 win in anxiety, signaling a new treatment era

Definium’s DT120, an LSD-based psychedelic therapy, delivered a pivotal Phase 3 win for generalized anxiety disorder, with a single dose reducing HAM-A scores by 11.6 points at 12 weeks versus 6.2 for placebo in a 214-patient trial. This follows a successful depression study, boosting optimism for psychedelic medicines and positioning the Panorama trial (with a second dose arm) as the next readout. If confirmed and supported by FDA discussions, the approach could offer a new, mechanism-different option beyond benzodiazepines and SSRIs for anxiety.

via Fierce Biotech|

#anxiety #dt120 #ham-a

mental-health2 months ago•26 min saved

Coping with Anxiety: Flexibility as a Predictor of Anxiety Disorders

New research in the Journal of Clinical Psychology shows that psychological inflexibility — the tendency to rigidly avoid distress — predicts lifetime anxiety disorders independently of how severe anxiety is. In two samples (265 adults and 853 undergraduates), each one-point rise on the inflexibility scale nearly triples the odds of reporting at least one anxiety diagnosis, suggesting how we react to anxiety may shape risk as much as the anxiety itself. The findings support flexible coping approaches (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) but are limited by cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported diagnoses, and they highlight demographic factors that may influence diagnosis rates.

via PsyPost|

#anxiety #anxiety-disorders #mental-health

health2 months ago•14 min saved

Tiny Parenting Moves That Amplify Anxiety (And How to Change Them)

The piece identifies eight subtle parenting habits that can unintentionally heighten a child’s anxiety—avoiding uncomfortable situations, modeling or exposing personal anxiety, shying away from discussing feelings, being overly cautious, praising outcomes instead of effort, asking leading questions, adopting an authoritarian approach, and sending mixed messages. It then offers expert guidance on healthier approaches: model calm coping, validate and discuss emotions, provide age-appropriate explanations, praise effort, focus on solutions rather than dictating every outcome, reduce fear-based warnings, and foster open dialogue to empower kids to manage anxiety more effectively.

via HuffPost|

#anxiety #children #communication

mental-health2 months ago•24 min saved

Herbal boost: Basil extract eases depression and anxiety when added to antidepressants

In a randomized, single-blind trial, 60 adults with major depressive disorder and concurrent anxiety received sertraline plus either 1100 mg of dried basil leaf extract nightly or a placebo for four weeks. The basil group showed greater symptom reductions on both the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, with depression dropping from about 39 to 21 and anxiety from about 33 to 13, compared with placebo reductions to roughly 30 and 25, respectively. Basil was well tolerated, but the study’s short duration and single-blind design mean longer-term effects and causality require further research; basil should be viewed as an add-on, not a replacement for standard care.

via PsyPost|

#anxiety #basil #clinical-trial

science2 months ago•54 min saved

Wearables whisper pregnancy clues before a test

A BBC feature chronicles women who used wearable tech (notably the Oura Ring) to detect pregnancy early through data like elevated body temperature and reduced HRV; while some pregnancies were confirmed, experts caution that these devices aren’t reliable diagnostics and can heighten anxiety, so wearables should supplement medical care rather than replace it.

via Yahoo|

#anxiety #body-temperature #fitness-tracker

health3 months ago•7 min saved

Magnesium: A Calming Ally in the Battle Against Anxiety

Magnesium supports the nervous system and the calming neurotransmitter GABA, helping the body shift from fight-or-flight to a calmer state. Deficiency is linked to higher anxiety, and about half of Americans may be magnesium-deficient. Aim for 400–420 mg daily from magnesium-rich foods (beans, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains, dark chocolate, and other plant-based sources). If you’re deficient, a magnesium supplement can help—with magnesium glycinate being the preferred form—taken in the morning or at night (or both) but not in excess. Hydration matters, and while adequate magnesium can ease anxiety, it’s not a magic cure. Discuss testing with a healthcare provider if you’re considering supplementation.

via gq.com|

#anxiety #diet #health