The term "mindfulness" refers to a specific form of intentional practice of focusing clearly and attentively on sensory experience in the present moment. This form of awareness is different from the more common approach of finding meaning in the narrative story of past history, present experience and future hopes into a meaningful understanding of self.

This meditative practice, which can be learned and developed, has been found to play a therapeutic role in the treatment of pain, stress, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and substance abuse. This trained form of selfawareness develops well-being in mind, body and relationships, improves immunity, increases empathy. Now it appears that it changes the physical structure of the brain. A study detailed in the Journal Social Cognifive and Affective Neuroscience (Vol 2 #4) has demonstrated - through measured observations using fMRI (functional Magnetic Resource Imaging) - that mindfulness training actually changes the pattern of activity in the brain and leads to structural changes in the brain itself.

You can learn to mentally and physically "change your mind"!

http://scan.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/4/259
The article is by Norman A. S. Farb, Zindel V. Segal, Helen Mayberg, Jim Bean, Deborah McKeon, Zainab Fatima, & Adam K. Anderson.

The American College of Cardiology (Journal of the American College of Cardiology) issued the following news release: "Feeling down and out could break your heart, literally; Research links depression to cardiac death in women without known heart disease." New data published in the March 17, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggest that relatively healthy women with severe depression are at increased risk of cardiac events including sudden cardiac death (SCD) and fatal coronary heart disease (CHD).

"It’s important for women with depression to be aware of the possible association between depression and heart disease, and work with their health care providers to manage their risk for coronary heart disease," says William Whang, M.D., M.S., Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, and lead investigator of the study. "A significant part of the heightened risk for cardiac events seems to be explained by the fact that coronary heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and smoking were more common among women with more severe depressive symptoms."

Still, these study findings reinforce the need for patients with depression to be monitored closely for risk factors for coronary heart disease, since management of these risk factors can reduce the risk for mortality from coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death.

August 7 at 9:00 AM:
Dr. David McKenzie on Fanny Kiefer's Studio 4 TV Show,
Shaw Cable 4.

Visit www.davidmckenzie.ca
Phone: (604) 813-6047
Email: drdavid@davidmckenzie.ca

Invest in your relationship! Plan with your partner to attend our three night, all-inclusive couples retreat at a 5 star luxury hotel in Whistler. You and your partner will learn skills in effective communication, experience emotional and sexual intimacy in the privacy of your own space and nourish and build your relationship. It will be an uplifting, renewing, highly informative and relaxing time away. The retreat will be led by Dr. David McKenzie, Ph.D., Dr. Marelize Swart, Ph.D., Dr. Rob Lees, Ed.D. and Mr. Ki Bouris, massage therapist. Stay tuned for more information in our next e-newsletter.

Some people experience an emotional crash after sex - even intense disruptive depression, the New York Times reports. “The research literature is virtually silent on sex-induced depression, but a Google search revealed several websites and chat rooms for something called ‘postcoital blues’. Who knew?” It turns out that sexrelated problems are sometimes the result of biological acitivity rather than psychological issues about sex or relationships. Scientists can measure the actual physical responses with brain scan machinery. Read more here

The Pope's personal theologian said in the Vatican newspaper that the most difficult sin for men to face was lust, followed by gluttony, sloth, anger, pride, envy and greed.
For women, the most dangerous sins were pride, envy, anger, lust, and sloth, he added.
BBC reports on the net.
Read more here

Men are happier with money, while women find greater joy in friendships and relationships with their children, co-workers and bosses, a new global survey reveals. Reuters reports on the net. Read more here