How do we sustain emotional health and well-being in the face of a pandemic?
Health psychologist Dr. Christopher Fagundes, Ph.D. , shares research-based strategies to manage chronic stress, fear and uncertainty that are so common at this time. He discusses “mental health hygiene,” habits that support physical and emotional health, how to contend with loneliness and isolation when we are physically distanced, healthy media consumption and supporting children’s emotional wellness. In addition, Dr. Fagundes briefly discusses scientific findings regarding the connections among stress, immunity, inflammation and “cytokine storms” and how healthy habits may enhance immunity and build resilience.
Related Readings
- Sustaining Wellness: Stress, Coping, Immunity & Resilience (Slide Deck)
Christopher P. Fagundes - How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account
J. David Creswell and Emily K. Lindsay - Matters of the Heart: Grief, Morbidity, and Mortality
Christopher P. Fagundes and E. Lydia Wu - The New Science of Wise Psychological Interventions
Gregory M. Walton - Early-Life Stress and Adult Inflammation
Christopher P. Fagundes and Baldwin Way - Emotion Regulation in Older Age
Heather L. Urry and James J. Gross - Cognitive Emotion Regulation
Kevin N. Ochsner and James J. Gross - Cognitive Habits and Memory Distortions in Anxiety and Depression
Paula T. Hertel and Faith Brozovich - A Stage Model of Stress and Disease
Sheldon Cohen, Peter J. Gianaros, and Stephen B. Manuck
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About Christopher Fagundes, Ph.D.
Christopher Fagundes, Ph.D. is an associate professor in Rice University’s Department of Psychological Sciences. A health psychologist with expertise in psychoneuroimmunology and close relationships, Dr. Fagundes designs and tests interventions that boost resilience, reduce psychological stress, and improve cardiovascular and immune function in older adults amid major life stressors. Dr. Fagundes has taught courses including Stress and Health Across the Lifespan, Health Psychology and Psychoneuroimmunology. He is currently examining how early life stress and ex vivo production of pro-inflammatory cytokines synergistically interact to impact disease symptom severity among those infected with COVID-19.
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