Natanya Wachtel-BackFromTheDead Living-in-the-NOW

A patient can read a 30-page protocol and feel nothing. Or hear a 30-second story from someone like them and feel everything. That’s the power of social proof and storytelling. Behavioral science shows that peer narratives bypass analytical resistance and tap directly into emotional processing. This isn’t soft communication, it’s how human decision-making works. PXOs use storytelling as a structured tool, not an afterthought. We embed real patient voices into outreach flows, frame trial participation as shared experience, and build identity resonance. When patients hear stories that sound like theirs, hesitation gives way to possibility. Facts inform. Stories transform. How many potential participants are lost because they never heard a story that sounded like their own? #Storytelling #PXO #BehavioralDesign #PatientActivation #SocialProof #ClinicalTrials

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𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗥𝗥 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗸𝗶 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 CRR, in collaboration with World Reiki Research and Harvard University, has just published the results of a landmark study evaluating whether specific subjective Reiki experiences are associated with changes in health-related symptoms using regression and mediation analyses. Ninety-nine Reiki practitioners had clients complete a survey before and after 1,284 Reiki (60-minute in-person) sessions. The regression analyses suggested that not all subjective Reiki experiences contributed equally to symptom improvements. Positive emotions were associated with higher well-being scores, whereas such body sensations as tingling or warmth were linked to greater pain relief, supporting the idea that emotional and sensory engagement represent distinct but important pathways of benefit. This study is a novel contribution to biofield therapy research in several ways: - It explores how Reiki works through specific psychological and physical pathways through employing a mediation analysis to quantify both indirect and direct effects, providing robust empirical support for the underlying mechanisms. - It integrates both psychological (anxiety) and physical (pain) mediators, offering a more holistic understanding of Reiki’s effects. - It offers a framework to provide evidence for Reiki’s acceptance in clinical settings by linking subjective experiences to measurable changes in physiological and psychological health. Importantly, by identifying how Reiki may exert its effects (e.g., through pain relief or anxiety reduction), this analysis begins to answer the “why” question often missing in complementary and integrative medicine research. Understanding not only whether Reiki improves outcomes, but also how and why it does so, is central to advancing the evidence base for complementary and integrative medicine. By employing mediation analysis, the present study provides a step toward explaining the why. When participants experience physical sensations (such as warmth or tingling), this is linked to reductions in pain, which in turn enhances overall well-being. Similarly, when participants experience positive emotions or emotional release, these appear to lower anxiety, which then improves well-being. In this way, the “how” is represented by the mediating pathways (pain relief, anxiety reduction), while the “why” lies in the role of subjective experience as the active ingredient that drives those changes. This shift from describing Reiki’s effects to explaining them is a step toward building evidence and integrating Reiki into broader models of health care. #reiki #biofieldtherapy #research Akleema Ali Natalie L Dyer, PhD https://lnkd.in/eW8vapd7

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The truth about the “chemical imbalance” theory of depression that 85-90% of the public still believes. Dr. Mark Horowitz, Outro’s co-founder and lead author of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, breaks down decades of research showing no robust evidence that depression is caused by low serotonin. Despite six decades of investigation, studies comparing healthy volunteers with people experiencing depression find no difference in serotonin levels. This misconception isn’t just medically inaccurate, it actively impacts treatment outcomes. Research shows that people who believe depression stems from a chemical imbalance are more likely to start antidepressants, less prepared to stop them when no longer helpful, and feel more disempowered about their ability to improve their mood naturally. Understanding that antidepressants don’t work like insulin for diabetes matters for informed treatment decisions. When we move beyond oversimplified explanations, we can explore more comprehensive approaches to mental health that address the full spectrum of factors involved in depression. Learn more about evidence-based approaches to safely taper off antidepressants at outro.com

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Dr. Caroline Fleck explains a key neuroscience insight for parents and leaders: Emotional attunement activates mirror neurons — strengthening empathy, connection, and regulation. By meeting children at their emotional level, we provide foundational validation: they feel seen and heard, and we gain clearer understanding of their experience. This basic relational skill reduces conflict, increases trust, and improves communication. A reminder that influence begins with connection. Full episode: whereparentstalk.com @carolinefleck Lianne Castelino #Leadership #ParentingStrategy #Neuroscience #EmotionalIntelligence #Validation #WhereParentsTalk

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What are the ethical dilemmas in mental health reporting and how can science and health reporters best approach these? Expert reporters discuss the guidelines for ethical storytelling, strategies for engaging sensitively with sources, and the importance of contextualising research within broader socio-political frameworks. | December 2 at 15:00 #WCSJ2025 #sciencejournalism #mentalhealth WFSJ The World Federation of Science Journalists Department of Science, Technology and Innovation South African Science Journalists' Association - Sasja Science Journalism Forum Pulitzer Center Nigeria Health Watch

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