posted 07-01-2005 12:27 PM            

Dr. Darlene Mininni, Ph.D., M.P.H.
____________________________________________

July 2005

Dear Friends,

When you’re anxious or sad, you feel it in your body. If you’re upset, you might clench your jaw, get a headache or lack energy. It makes sense that to lift your bad mood, you need to target your body as well as your mind.

One woman told me she dances in her living room when she’s sad because it pulls her out of the dumps. Another said that yoga stretches help soften her anxiety. What these women know is that movement can change their moods. What they might not know is that certain movements can work like a minor tranquilizer to reduce your anxiety, or an antidepressant (like Prozac) to ease your sadness. And you only need to move for 10 to 20 minutes to get an emotional boost.

What type of movement is right for changing your moods?

- For sadness – any movements that energize you such as walking or swimming
- For anxiety – any movements that calm you such as yoga or tai chi

TIP OF THE DAY

When you’re upset, try moving your body. Do activities that are non-competitive (because being on the losing team is not likely to help your bad mood). Don’t overexert yourself. You should be able to talk without getting out of breath. If you do too much, you won’t get the mood-enhancing benefits. Try activities like:

Yoga
Tai Chi
Swimming
Jogging
Walking your dog
Dancing in your living room
A brisk walk at the mall

IN THE NEWS

Listen to Dr. Mininni’s radio interview with Leeza Gibbons on “Leeza at Night” at http://www.emotionaltoolkit.com/etk/mediakit.shtml . Look under “Audio Clips” for the link.

UPCOMING EVENTS

- Wednesday, September 28, 12-1pm: Dr. Mininni will be presenting “The Emotional Toolkit Seminar,” for the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women's Health Education & Resource Center. This is an encore presentation back by popular demand. The event will be held at UCLA’s Louis Jolyon (NPI) Auditorium located at 720 Westwood Blvd. Parking is available for $7.00 at the Jules Stein parking lot. To attend, call their Program Enrollment Line at (310) 794-8155. Enrollment begins in August. For additional questions or directions, please contact Gladys Ruiz at (310) 794-8063 or glruiz@mednet.ucla.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Look for “The Emotional Toolkit: 7 Power-Skills to Nail Your Bad Feelings” (St. Martin’s Press) in bookstores everywhere. It can also be ordered at http://www.emotionaltoolkit.com or http://www.amazon.com.

- Visit our website, http://www.emotionaltoolkit.com for the latest information on emotional well-being, Dr. Mininni’s seminars and other opportunities. You can also browse the library of past e-newsletters.