Better Brain, Better You

Why are teenagers susceptible to depression? And what can they do to thrive and be emotionally healthier? The teen years are characterised by three converging events that are a window of risk for developing depression. 

First, puberty brings dramatic changes that completely remodels their brain. Second, they gradually become better at self-regulation. Third is the intense series of social changes that happen as they transition into independence.

The teenage brains flexibility to adapt and adjust is what makes teenagers highly susceptible and vulnerable to disruption by these events. Unusual, very intense or traumatic stress events in the teenage years can have a bigger and more lasting impact on mental health than if the same kind of events happen later in life as an adult.

But these same changes and dynamics that make the teenage years a window of risk are also a window of opportunity. With the right support and brain scaffolding to develop coping skills, these challenges can also be deeply enriching and boost their brain health and resilience. 

podcast website: https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/podcast; follow us @ologyonline on facebook, twitter and instagram

What if we could predict when you’re going to get Alzheimer’s disease and you could do something now to stop the development of this brain disease? Today I want to show you why the sleep you’re having right now tells you both when and how fast Alzheimer’ disease is developing inside your brain and how the right sort of sleep can stop the symptoms from developing.

podcast website: https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/podcast; follow us @ologyonline on facebook, twitter and instagram

Do you forget why you went upstairs? Fail to put a name to a familiar face? We’ve all done it. And, as we get older, we often worry that these small memory mistakes will lead to dementia.  Today I share why dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing and how to change your lifestyle to prevent the symptoms of dementia from appearing.

Podcast Website: https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/podcast; follow us @ologyonline on facebook, twitter and instagram

As we move towards easing restrictions in the UK, many of us feel anxious about what life after lockdown will look like. In this episode, I explore how we can can overcome these mental health challenges and readjust to another 'new normal' as lockdown restrictions are lifted. Now that we have a roadmap out of lockdown, the gradual easing of restrictions brings much-anticipated opportunities to see family, play sport, resume contact with friends in the real world or get back to work that we value. But for many of us, even the happy, much longed-for changes can be difficult for our mental health. Podcast Page: ologyonlinecourses.com/podcast; follow us @ologyonline facebook, twitter and instagram

Do you feel your memory and thinking are not as good as they used to be? That your brain is slowing down as you get older? I share how exercise can reduce both your brain age and risk of developing dementia. Ageing shrinks the brain, affecting memory and thinking, even in healthy older adults. But slowing down this process could be as simple as regularly going for a run or doing an aerobics class. Listen to this episode to learn how to use exercise to slow down the mental decline caused by brain ageing.

Podcast page: https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/podcast; follows us @ologyonline on facebook, twitter and instagram

Do you worry that your teenager is smoking cannabis, drinking alcohol, having sex or getting in with the wrong crowd? I discuss why teenagers take risks and share my top tip for managing their risky behaviour. Risky behaviour has been the hallmark of adolescence for millennia, but today’s world perhaps poses greater challenges than at any point in human history. Increased access to stressful, inappropriate, even dangerous information on social media and the internet is part of every teen’s life. But novelty seeking and risk-taking behaviour are actually an important and healthy part of adolescence. They help teenagers to develop autonomy and start living lives independent of their parents. Podcast Page: https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/podcast; follow us @ologyonline on facebook, twitter, and instagram

Do you want to improve your emotional fitness? I am going to show you how you to train emotional muscles and exercise feelings to build your emotional fitness. Just like going to the gym or going for a run to keep physically fit, our emotions and feelings need regular exercise to build emotional fitness. Emotional fitness is vital for a sense of wellbeing, physical health and mental resilience. Emotionally healthy people feel in control of their emotions and feel the appropriate feelings at the right time to help them cope with life’s challenges. 

Do you want to get your teenager to talk to you? I share my top tips on how to communicate with teenagers so they’ll talk to you more and help you stay connected with them.

During the teenage years, children try to pull away from their parents and assert their own independence. This is a completely normal part of their development as they move towards becoming an independent, emotionally regulated adult. But it’s vitally important that parents stay connected with teenagers during this period because they still need guidance, support and comfort, even if they have a funny way of showing it.

Listen to this episode to learn the best strategies for communicating with your teenager. And don’t forget to register for our Free “How To Parent The Teenage Brain” live workshop: https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/parentworkshop

Why are teenagers so emotional? Have they lost their minds? And shouldn't they just grow up? Today I’m going to bust some common myths about teenagers, and share the actual purpose of the teenage brain.

Two massive changes are happening in the teenage brain, which adults can support and teenagers can use to help their brain develop optimally. Listen to this episode to learn the truth about the teenage years.

And don’t forget to sign up for our Free “How To Reduce Your Teenager’s Screen Time” Course HERE:

https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/teen-screen-time-course

You want your teenager to sleep better tonight? Today I’m going to share why teenagers need more sleep, and the best sleep science strategy to help them consistently get good sleep.

This simple strategy has helped thousands of teenagers to consistently and reliably get the 8-9 hours sleep that they need every night. Listen to this episode to learn this effective form of sleep hygiene and start using it tonight with your teenager.

And don’t forget to sign up for our Free “How To Help Your Teenager Sleep Better” Course HERE:

https://www.ologyonlinecourses.com/teen-sleep-course