How Reading Fiction Can Benefit You Self-Help Books Can’t Do It All
Less Stress and Better Sleep When we read fiction specifically, we tend to disengage from the world — and that’s a good thing! Our brains can’t always be functioning at their peak capacity. We need breaks, or else we’ll stress ourselves out and negatively affect other areas of our lives. Stress tends to keep us from sound sleep, but reading fiction before bed engages the imagination, taking us away from the stresses of everyday life before we drift off. More Comfort With Uncertainty Even though many stories (particularly those portrayed in popular movies) have nice happy endings, most people would agree that life sometimes leaves things a little more open-ended. While this fact might stress out some people, researchers have discovered that fiction readers don’t need “cognitive closure” as much as nonfiction readers.
Many CEOs and other successful individuals continually espouse the benefits of regular reading. Many times, leaders read self-help books to improve their leadership skills and become more successful. This is all well and good, but even the most successful people in the world could be missing out on the unique benefits that come specifically from reading fiction. But what are those benefits exactly?
Greater Empathy When a psychologist analyzed 86
Greater Happiness Even if none of the benefits of fiction interest you, everyone wants to find ways to make themselves happy — and for many, that is reading fiction. According to one survey, 76% of participants said that reading makes them feel good and improves their lives. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that novel you’ve been meaning to read and crack it open!
functioning MRI (fMRI) studies, he found that the same parts of the brain that fire up when reading fictional stories also fire up when we’re seeking to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. That’s because when the characters in the book we’re reading are thinking or feeling a certain way, we tend to think or feel that way with them.
What Is Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)? WHY IT CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS INJURY
Sometimes, people get injured in car accidents but don’t fully realize it. “I just have a little neck pain,” they think. “No need to go to the doctor.”
The Quebec Task Force (a group that did extensive study on whiplash) has created a classification of WAD severity:
0 No complaints about the neck, no physical signs. 1 Neck complaints of pain, stiffness, or tenderness only — no physical signs. 2 Neck complaint AND musculoskeletal signs (decreased range of motion and point tenderness). 3 Neck complaint AND neurological signs (decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes, weakness, and sensory deficits). 4 Neck complaints AND fracture or dislocation. Of course, fractures can be very serious in this area of your body. Your physician may perform X-rays and other diagnostics to rule out fractures. Physical therapy can be very helpful in the recovery of strength, endurance, range of motion, and management of pain. Soft collars are of little benefit, but rigid collars may be helpful in the acute stages of recovery. If you suffer from whiplash after a car accident, don’t hesitate to give us a call! A certified therapist can help your neck feel right again.
Ignoring your whiplash, however, can be a life-altering mistake.
“Whiplash” is the term that describes the sudden forward and backward movement of the head and neck that most commonly occurs during a motor vehicle accident. It can also occur during a variety of other activities such as recreational and competitive sports. (Note that a whiplash could also occur with a rapid side-to-side movement as well, not just up and down.) Whiplash or whiplash associated disorder (WAD) is estimated to cost consumers and the insurance industry billions of dollars each year. With a WAD, there can be soft tissue injury, bone fracture, and nerve damage. Because of the considerable number of structures (bone, spinal cord, brain, ligaments, intervertebral discs, muscle, joint capsules, and tendons) involved, recovery can take months or years. However, most cases of whiplash resolve in a couple months or less.
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