What the heck is the Dorothy Syndrome and what does it have to do with mid-life crisis? Well, it has everything to do with MLC! The Dorothy Syndrome is a phrase that I coined and is the premise for my upcoming book titled "The Dorothy Syndrome: Mid-life on the Yellow Brick Road". While coaching at another web site forum, I started using the metaphors used in one of my favorite stories and movies..."The Wizard of OZ". I was astonished at how easily I could use the dialog from the movie or premise of the story to describe the transitions, emotions, the typical experiences that occur during an MLC, whether it be for the woman or the man. »more»

In his new book "Spark," author John J. Ratey, M.D., explains emerging research indicating the positive effect that exercise has on brain health from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer's. »more»

A provocative study on aging and emotional stability was published last summer in the Journal of Neuroscience and reported in the Los Angeles Times. In short it found that healthy, older people "are less bothered by things and are more in control of their reactions to fear." »more»

Feeling lonely is never fun. However when it happens in middle age it can take a very bad toll on one's health. In the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, two University of Chicago psychologists report their findings that loneliness leads to very negative physiological affects on middle age bodies. »more»

So what makes a healthy personality? Psychologists have been studying this important question, and at least two of these five traits appear to be directly related to physical well-being and longevity: Emotional stability and conscientiousness. More to the point, wellness is linked to changes in these traits over time. »more»

If you are not yet signed up for the monthly LifeTwo newsletter then do so now. All you have to do is type the email address in the green box on the upper right-hand column of this web site. You can unsubscribe at anytime. »more»

The toll that chronic stress can take on the body is well-known (see our post " Something Else to Fret About; Worrying can kill you")"and researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have found another one--making you more vulnerable to age-related mental decline. »more»

Empty nests. Menopause. Midlife crisis. Those are some of the reasons midlife is supposed to cause depression in women.

But as with so much information about midlife, that is at best only part of the story. »more»

Most people want to live happy and live long. Can you have it all?

The good news: happiness and longevity seem to be positively correlated -- in other words, longer-lived people tend to be happier, and happier people tend to be long-lived. »more»

Neuroticism--the enduring tendency to experience negative emotional states--has consistently been shown to increased mortality. It almost seems unfair that neurotics, who already experience more than their share of anxiety, anger, guilt, and depression, have one more thing to stress about, it's killing them. »more»