Email a link to this page to: Type the code into the box:

Resources Basic Information Introduction to Bipolar Disorder Introduction to Bipolar Disorder and Mood DisordersEnergy States: Mania and Manic EpisodesHypomania and Hypomanic Episodes DefinedBipolar Disorder - Major Depressive Episodes and Mixed FeaturesRecognized Types of Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder Versus Other Conditions Current Understandings of the Causes of Bipolar Disorder Prevalence and Course of Bipolar DisorderContemporary Understanding of Bipolar Disorder: Causes and OutcomesBipolar Causes: Diathesis-Stress HypothesisBipolar Causes: GeneticsNeurochemistry and Endocrinology in Bipolar DisorderImmunology and Bipolar DisorderBody Rhythms and Bipolar DisorderBrain Imaging and Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar I DisorderSpecifiers for Bipolar and Related DisordersBipolar II Disorder and CyclothymiaOther Forms of Bipolar Disorder Medication Treatments for Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Medication TreatmentBipolar Disorder Treatment - LithiumBipolar Disorder Treatment - Valproate and CarbamazepineBipolar Disorder Treatment - Lamotrigine and Calcium Channel BlockersBipolar Disorder Treatment - Antipsychotic Medications and Omega-3 fatty acidsBipolar Disorder Treatment - Antidepressant Medications Psychotherapy and Other Treatments Bipolar Disorder Treatment - Hospitalization and Electroconvulsive TherapyBipolar Disorder Treatment - PsychotherapyBipolar Disorder Treatment - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Bipolar Disorder Treatment - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) ContinuedBipolar Disorder Treatment - Family Focused Therapy and Interpersonal/Social Rhythm Therapy Self-Help and Helping Others Self-Help for Bipolar DisorderHow Family And Friends Can Help Those with Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder SuicideHow Family and Friends of Those with Bipolar Disorder Can Help Themselves References and Reading List Bipolar Disorder Reading ListBipolar Disorder References More Information An Interview with Meg Hutchinson on Music and living with Bipolar DisorderWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Lorna Hyde Graev on Living With Bipolar DisorderWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Yulonda Brown on Surviving Abuse and Bipolar Tests Goldberg Mania Questionnaire Latest News What's Best for Treating Bipolar Disorder?More Are Turning to Pot When Depressed – But Does It Help or Harm?Vitamin D Won't Reduce Risk of DepressionCould Botox Injections Relieve Depression?Family Therapy Best for Youth at Risk for Bipolar DisorderChyler Leigh of 'Supergirl' Battles Bipolar DisorderSchizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Share Genetic Roots Questions and Answers Does This Sound Like Bipolar?Do I Have Adult ADD?Why do I Have These Mood Swings?BipolarSoon to be 15 Year Old Step Daughter Who is Physically Abusive to Family MembersI Can't control my Mind Anymore, do I Need to Leave?Bipolar Medications That do not Cause Sexual Dysfunction Bipolar or Depressed or Neither?How Can I Help my Fiancé?DepressionIllness or Exhaustion?Am I Really That Messed Up?Intrusive Thoughts?What's the Best Option?Bipolar TeenMorbid Jealousy?Trying to Save 37 Years of Marriage With My Bipolar HusbandBipolar Obsessive Thoughts and False Memories Mentally ill DaughterIs There Something Wrong With Me?Bipolar Girlfriend 55 Years OldAm I Always Going to Feel Like This?Bipolar Teen Son, ........Bipolar Disorder and False and Displaced Memories?I Just Feel So Depressed Helping and Watching a Friend's Recurrent Depression?Boyfriends DaughterIntrusive Thoughts!?Serious Manic Episode Plus AlcoholDiagnosis Second OpinionParanoid ThoughtsBipolar Disorder and ADHDWill He Hit Me Eventually? I Really Need Some Advice...Bipolar BoyfriendRelationship With My Bipolar and ADHD GirlfriendDelusions and False MemoriesAnger Driven Down Wrong RoadI Don't Know What To DoNew Diagnosis...My Doc Says I Am Not Bipolar. Should I Go Back to My Medication?Bipolar Woman with Secret LivesDealing with Bipolar DsorderIs This Bi Polar?A Mom In Need of HelpIm so confused...is is BPD or Bipolar? Not NormalAnger and Irritability in my husband's behaviourI am bulimic for more than 10 years, and it is killing me...Can I survive without all these horrible meds?Where can I get the energyBipolar sister, Narcissist boyfriendShould I Give Up On This Marriage?Is she mentally ill and is there anything i can do?Bipolar and childrenWill I be ok without professional help?Pregnant with bipolarIs it ok to feel this way?abuse toward bi-polarsLoyalty or Love?Possible borderline?Dealing with a family member's complete personality changeWhat type of exams can proven that a person has bipolar disorder?Am I bipolar?Bi-polar with PTSDYoga help BipolarIs Bipolar Inheritable?Physically Abusive Mentally Ill SonAn Empty ShellSarcastic And Wanting To ChangeOut Of Control FriendBipolar ParentingOdd Eating DisorderCan ADHD Turn Into Bipolar?Is Bipolar Inheritable?Single, Stressed And GuiltyBipolar and Drinking...Marital CrisisDo I Still Need Therapy If I'm Medicated?Hope For An Alcoholic Manic-DepressiveAre Bipolars Abusive?Parttime Bipolar GirlfriendHow Can I Help My Bipolar Wife?Marijuana?Possible Klonopin AddictionBipolar WifeA Test For Bipolar Disorder?Did I Cause My Daughter's Depression?How Can I Help My Alcoholic Unmedicated Bipolar Girlfriend?Treatment is Too Much TroubleBipolar IllnessHMO BluesProblem ChildHelping Someone with Bipolar DisorderCyclical MoodsDepression and FriendshipHow Can I Help My Friend?What To Treat First?Bipolar Chat Rooms?Bipolar or Just Moody?Alone and BipolarMerlin writes:Suzanne writes: Blog Entries The Continuing Problem of Stigmatizing Mental IllnessBe Proactive: National Depression Screening Day is October 11The Big Picture of Depression SymptomsMaking Decisions When DepressedMindfully Bipolar: An Interview with Judy Sturm of DBSA-GCBipolar Disorder, Receiving the DiagnosisMental Illness, A Failure to UnderstandCreativity and Bipolar Disorder, Is There A Relationship?An Interview with Alistair McHarg on his Memoir of Bipolar Mania "Invisible Driving"Bipolar - A Narration of Manic DepressionThe Appearance of a Depressed PersonAre People with Bipolar Disorder Violent?A Forgotten Valentine - Why Our Partners Have Grown LazyI Can Stop Holding my Breath Now...Christmas is OverMay Your Holidays be NORMALBipolar Depression - It's Time to Change the StigmaDo I Have Bipolar II Disorder?Bipolar TriggersIs Bipolar Hereditary or Genetic?Living a POSITIVE LIFE with Bipolar (Manic) Depression Pain Pills, A Real PainAn Interview with Meg Hutchinson on Music and living with Bipolar DisorderThe Great Illusion of Good and Bad FeelingsBipolar Disorder FundamentalsIs it Depression or Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar Disorder, Daylight Savings, and YouHow We Keep Bipolar DisorderedAn Interview with Mary Forsberg Weiland on Addiction and Bipolar DisorderThe Stigma of "Disorder": Wisdom from Therese BorchardLiving Bipolar: Do you Know Your Triggers?Research Suggests Mindfulness Reduces Bipolar RelapseMarijuana Makes it Worse, RevisitedGetting Unstuck from the Cycle of Bipolar DisorderWhy it May be Good If Your Kid has ADHD or Bipolar GenesMisdiagnosing Bipolar Disorder: What's at StakeStar Wars, Stigma, and Carrie FisherBipolar Disorder: What's in a Label?Spotlight on a Live JournalCelebrities Also Have Bipolar Disorder Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Personality Disorder or Bipolar Disorder?One Strategy You Need to Know for Bipolar DisorderPersonality Disorders and Bipolar DisorderDo You Have a Bipolar Crisis Kit?Are You at Risk for Depression? Here's One Way to Find OutBipolar Mood Swings? 4 Steps to Nip Them in the BudBipolar Disorder: 5 Steps to Sleep Handling Difficult Emotions: The Path Less Traveled To Do: 3 Steps to Healing When You're Feeling Blue Depression: How We Get Stuck and What Can HelpBreak Free from the Mental Recession or Depression by Doing LessFeeling Depressed? Here's 1 practice that could begin to turn it aroundHow you can be triggered into depression…without even knowing itMarijuana Makes It Worse: Severe Mental IllnessesTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation device for treatment-resistant Major Depression just approved by the FDANational Depression Screening Day is just around the corner (October 10th!)Press "D" for Depression TherapyFew People Who Are Depressed Receive Mental Health ServicesPleasure...Depression’s Kryptonite?We've all heard of dental floss, but mental floss to prevent stress, anxiety, and depression? Three things you can do immediately when you find yourself getting depressedAn Interview with Yulonda Brown on Surviving Abuse and Bipolar DisorderDepression: A New Frontier in It's TreatmentOur Bipolar Topic Center has been UpdatedFeeling Depressed: Influenced by the Attitudes and Opinions of Others?Bipolar kids see aggression when it isn't thereBipolar Disorder and the Need for Psychoeducation Videos Bipolar Disorder VideoOvercoming DepressionHow to Talk About Bipolar Disorder with AnyoneHow to get stuff done when you are depressedTell Me About DepressionDepression: More Than Just the Blues Can people with depression harm themselves?Treatment of Bipolar DisorderChildhood Bipolar DisorderUnderstanding Bipolar Disorder in ChildrenSigns, Symptoms, and Treatment of DepressionGetting Help for Family Members of Bipolar Patients VideoTell Me About Bipolar Disorder Individualized Depression Treatment Bipolar Disorder Optimizing Lithium Treatment Treating Youth with Bipolar Disorder Laura Bain - Living with Bipolar Type IIFeeling, thinking, and creativity in bipolar disorderThe Mindful Way Through DepressionDepressive and Bipolar Disorders#StrongerThanStigma - Michael Angelakos: My Bipolar Disorder DiagnosisIt’s Bipolar Disorder Not Depression 5 Types of Bipolar DisorderWhat is bipolar disorder? Bipolar Mom Struggles With The Daily RoutineLiving BipolarWhat is Depression? Links [2] Associations[3] Community[19] Information[1] Assessment[28] Videos[1] Blogs[5] Apps Book Reviews A Tragic Kind of WonderfulActive Treatment of DepressionAdult Bipolar DisordersAgents in My BrainAmerican ManiaAn Unquiet MindBipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder DemystifiedBipolar Disorder in Childhood and Early AdolescenceBipolar DisordersBipolar KidsBipolar, Not So MuchCrazyDaughter of the Queen of ShebaDepression Is a ChoiceDetourElectroboyEssential Psychopharmacology of Depression and Bipolar DisorderFast GirlHurry Down SunshineI am Not Sick I Don't Need Help!Lab GirlLithium for MedeaLiving with Bipolar DisorderLong ShotLoving Someone With Bipolar DisorderMadnessManicManic DepressionManic MindsMommy I'm Still in HereMood GenesNew Hope for Children and Teens with Bipolar DisorderNew Hope For People With Bipolar DisorderNight Falls FastOvercoming DepressionPerfect ChaosRXScattershotSurviving Manic DepressionSwing LowThe Best AwfulThe Bipolar ChildThe Bipolar Disorder Survival GuideThe Devil and Daniel JohnstonThe Hypomanic EdgeThe Mother of Black HollywoodThe Naked Bird WatcherThe Noonday DemonThe Pits and the PendulumThe Years of Silence are PastTo Walk on EggshellsToxic PsychiatryUndoing DepressionWhat Goes UpWhat Works for Bipolar KidsWhen Someone You Love Is BipolarZelda

Therapist Search Find a Therapist:  (USA/CAN only) Use our Advanced Search to locate a therapist outside of North America.

Related Topics Depression: Depression & Related Conditions Suicide Addictions: Alcohol and Substance Abuse Mental Disorders Autism ADHD Alcohol & Substance Abuse Anxiety Disorders Bipolar Disorder Conversion Disorders Depression (Unipolar) Depression Primer Disorders of Childhood Eating Disorders Dissociative Disorders Impulse Control Disorders Internet Addiction Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Personality Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Schizophrenia Sexual Disorders Suicide & Self-Harm Tourettes and other Tic Disorders Medical Disorders Alzheimers And Other Dementias Cancer Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Colds and Flu Crohns Disease / Irritable Bowel Diabetes Epilepsy Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Memory Problems Men's Health Multiple Sclerosis Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sleep Disorders Stroke Women's Health Wellness Anger Management Emotional Resilience Exercise Mindfulness Positive Psychology Smoking Stress Reduction Weight Loss Life Issues Abuse Adoption Child Care Dating Disabilities Disasters Divorce Domestic Violence and Rape Elder Care Family & Relationship Issues Grief & Bereavement Issues Pain Management Parenting Parenting Child & Adolescent Development Overview Child Development and Parenting: Infants Child Development and Parenting: Early Childhood Pregnancy Infertility Child Care Relationship Problems Self Esteem Sexuality & Sexual Problems Speech Problems Terrorism & War Healthcare Health Insurance Health Policy & Advocacy Health Sciences Mental Health Professions Treatments & Interventions Alternative Medicine Assessment Medications Psychotherapy Lifespan Development Pregnancy Child & Adolescent Development Overview Child Development and Parenting: Infants Child Development and Parenting: Early Childhood Sexuality & Sexual Problems Homosexuality & Bisexuality Aging & Geriatrics Death & Dying

	Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. A blog about mindfulness, stress-reduction, psychotherapy and mental health.
View Full Archive   Dr. Goldstein's Biography   Contact Dr. Goldstein

I was recently reading over a credible nutrition website and it says:

Research shows that good nutrition lowers people's risk for many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. There are simple steps we all can take to eat healthier at home, work, and elsewhere.

I couldn't agree more, but can these same rules be applied to our mental health? As this quote shows us above, when thinking of nutrition, most people think of nutrition in terms of food. Just as important is to think of the nutrition of our minds. In my experience with my own clients paying attention to the nutrition of our minds shows significant stress reduction and an increase in well-being. In this diet I include all our 5 senses. So, what kind of nutrition are you feeding your mind on a daily basis and how is it affecting you? I bring people through the following practice to create awareness around what their daily lives consist of. So let's run through it:

Sight - What are you feeding your eyes on a daily basis? Is it lots of horrific and catastrophic images from the news? Or is it oversaturated with celebrity bling? Take a moment and take stock. If your eyes had a say in it, what would they want to look at on a daily basis. In other words, what gifts could you give your eyes today?

Smell - What are you feeding your nose on a daily basis? Many of us don't even think about this sense. Do you take an extra minute and smell the food you're about to eat before you take it in? When walking by flowers, do you take a moment to take in their scent, maybe twice? What does your nose want?

Hearing - Ah, the ears. What are they exposed to? I live in a city, so I often hear planes overhead, sirens, cars honking at times. In other words, stressful nutrition. It's so important to be aware of this and ask your ears, what do you want to hear? Can you take a time out and listen to your favorite music? Do you have an ocean or park nearby to listen to the waves or the birds? Maybe quiet sounds best. Practice this inquiry and try and gift yourself this nutrition today.

Touch - We live in a culture where so many of us are afraid of touch. Most of the touch we get throughout the day is our fingers typing on a warm plastic keyboard. What does your skin yearn for? The tickling of a feather? The fluffy or coarse coat of your pet's fur? Your partner's bare skin? Giving yourself these pleasures can be enormously restorative.

Taste - Aha, this overlaps with the food nutrition we originally discussed. Yes, food has an effect on your mental health, but not just what you eat, but how you eat it, how you taste it, and if you enjoy it. Most of us are so busy multitasking during the day that we hardly take a moment to even taste our food. Just ask yourself, have you ever eaten a meal and then said to yourself, wow, I didn't even taste that or where did it go? So, what kind of nutrition do your taste buds want? What would make them sing? And as always, we can always splurge, but moderation is good practice.

Touching base with yourself daily about this kind of reflection is good mental floss. We're actively engaging what it is we are giving our minds and bodies. If it's all doom and gloom and starving our senses of what they need, then we are suffering from mental malnutrition and this feeds into stress, anxiety, and depression. Check in, give yourself some good nutrition, and see what happens today.

As always, feel free to share your stories, comment or ask questions. Enjoy!

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of the upcoming book The Now Effect, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations.

Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and RelapsePrevention, and Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work. -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist.

If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.

Share:

Email a link to this page to:

Type the code into the box:

Link: (Here's how to do it ... )

To link to this article:

1. Copy the HTML link code shown in the box just below.
2. Paste this HTML code into your blog or web page, into a forum post or a blog comment you make, into your Facebook feed, etc.

<a href="//mhn.centersite.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=28910&cn=4">We've all heard of dental floss, but mental floss to prevent stress, anxiety, and depression? </a>

Thank you!

LOVE this! - Valerie - Mar 25th 2011

Thank you sooo much for posting this, and linking it on your other post "Can Anxiety Be A Good Thing?"!! Currently, I am a Junior in college, and just transferred to a school that is about an hour and a half away from my home.  I am extremely close with my family, and am a triplet who has never been "alone" without my brother or sister until this school year.  I've had an anxiety/panic disorder and mild depression for about six years now and going away has really set off my anxiety, panic & depression.  I was feeling particularly hopeless today, until I read this. 

I thank you again!!

Valerie

A Practice to Help - Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. - Aug 28th 2008

Thank you for your comments, resources and insights. That is exactly how we all learn from one another.

One thing I'd like to add here is an easy way to remember to Come to our Senses is to practice the STOP technique. This is Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, and Proceed. Acronyms can be enormously helpful for remembering to do these practices. In the Observe piece we can check in with our senses, this helps us get in touch what is happening right now. Try it out!

Back to our senses - Daron Larson - Aug 28th 2008

I agree. There is a great deal to gain by paying attention to what we're experiencing through our various senses.

There are some great books out there to support further investigation into this area including Coming to Our Senses by Jon Kabat-Zinn and A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman. Daniel Pink has some interesting points to make in the chapters covering the senses in his book A Whole New Mind.

Take care,

Daron Larson

http://daronlarson.blogspot.com

Life Hope - Arlan - Aug 26th 2008

Your article is a lifesaver. It is an extremely valuable resource for anyone that has had to make decisions in life on a daily basis, everyone. I sincerely hope this message will reach the countless individuals suffering from debilitating symptoms such as low self esteem and confidence.

Arlan Bergoust

Composer/Musician

www.oneyearunderwater.com