Chronic stress, a factor in everyday life, leads to several dysfunctions of the mind and body, resulting in disorders ranging from addictions to cancers. We are now aware of the emotional brain, its role in brain biology, and the devastation it causes when it dysfunctions. "Your Happy Brain-Why and How to Hug it" presents specific and practical steps which combat stress and nurture the Insula, the emotional center in the brain. The book explains how the 5 senses, especially the sense of touch, reduces stress, prevents many psycho-social disorders, makes people happy, and improves the immune system. It is estimated that in a year, 25% of adults and 20% of children are diagnosed with a mental illness. These statistics make mental illness the third leading health-care problem, affecting all ages. An alarming number of young people are diagnosed with ADHD and addictions; while seniors often suffer from the many "proteinopathies" such as Parkinson's, dementia and Alzheimer's. Mental health statistics do not include social issues such as anger, divorce, truancy, and poor school performance which leads to student drop-out. Yet, as the book points out, all these may have a biological basis. The mental health topics may seem unrelated, but they are linked by the lack of arousal of "Touch Receptors" in the skin and the Insula. The book presents the biological basis for how the touch sensation reduces stress and helps the immune system. This information will hopefully inspire individuals and families to lead happy, fulfilled lives, and contribute towards a more content society with fewer mental health issues. Addiction is a vexing social problem. Nicotine, drugs and alcohol lead the list of chemical addictive agents. There are also behavioral addictions such as binge-eating and gambling, as well as compulsive disorders such as incessant texting, checking social media, and playing video games, etc. These addictions can lead to depression and suicide. The latter is the second most common cause of death in young adults. Behavioral troubles can have their roots in infancy, and the book discusses ways to nurture a child's brain at this critical period of life. Your Happy Brain describes how different parts of the brain can be modulated to work in concert, the factors that influence brain growth, and the vital role a positive childhood plays in lifelong happiness. Readers who will benefit from this book: -Work in the medical and allied-medical fields. -Are interested in behavioral issues, including those involved in criminal justice, law and order, and social work. -Are parents, grandparents and educators interested in understanding the maturation of the brain in children and teenagers. -Seek to improve balance in seniors and prevent common falls and hip fractures. -Recognize the biological effects of stress on humans. -Understanding student drop-out and behavioral issues. -Comprehend the biology of emotional distancing, which is a prelude to divorce. The authors take readers through brain biology and evolution, and provide well-labeled diagrams of relevant areas of the brain. Pictorial models are included to point out how various components of the brain work together, and how to maximize the synergy to produce a Happy Brain. In an easy-to-understand manner, the book describes brain development in general, and the emotional brain in particular. It presents information in a lucid and easy-to-read format, and takes the reader through the blue-print of how evolution designed our emotional and subconscious brain to function in a happy state of mind. The non-medical reader will gain insight into the serious social and medical problems we face today, especially the potential neurological issues we create for ourselves. Some of the biological basis for our common social practices will provide the reader with an "Aha! Now I understand!" moment. More information on the book is available at yourhappy
About the Author: A former high school teacher, Philomena is a free-lance writer whose human-interest articles have been published in national and international newspapers and magazines, including the Illinois-based, Pioneer Press, Inc., a division of TIME, Inc., and Gatehouse Media. Her stories feature a variety of topics including remarkable people, historic landmarks and social issues. She hopes readers of the book will learn how to live happy, fulfilled lives. Dr. Gilbert Lawrence is a clinical oncologist interested in how stress increases the risk for cancer and impacts the success of therapy. The social-cultural practices of different ethnic groups are especially manifest by attitudes towards end-of-life issues. Dr. Lawrence is also fascinated by the fields of primate behavior, evolution, and human sociology. His multifaceted perspective is reflected in this book, which he describes as "the ecology of the brain." This includes the impact of the environment and the five sensory organs on the brain. The Lawrences have been married for 45 years, and live in Utica, New York. They enjoy traveling, ballroom dancing and participating in multi-cultural activities.