The course, taught by psychology professor Laurie Santos, focuses on understanding happiness in life

By  Eric Todisco March 24, 2020 10:55 AM

Yale University has the perfect solution to keeping happiness alive amid the trying times of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Connecticut-based Ivy League college is making its widely-popular “happiness” course available online for free via Coursera.

According to Yale’s news site, the online course, titled “The Science of Well Being,” is taught by psychology professor Laurie Santos. The class features lectures from Santos on discovering what makes humans truly happy.

The course was initially started in 2018 as an in-person lecture by Santos titled “Psychology and the Good Life.” Before launching the happiness course, Santos said that she would eat daily with students and was “shocked at the kind of mental health issues” she was witnessing.

Since beginning the class, it grew in popularity, drawing in 1,000 students for enrollment and becoming one of the most popular courses at the university.

After its high demand — with nearly a quarter of Yale University students enrolling a year — it was transitioned into an online class.

RELATED: Best Apps to Stay Social and See Friends While Isolated Over Coronavirus

Now, both students and non-students can enroll in the class online and complete assignments, submit them for a grade and earn a certificate of completion. (Sign up here)

“We’re in a particularly challenging time not just for this health crisis, this physical health crisis, but also a potential mental health crisis as well,” Santos told CNN.

She also shared with the outlet that while many believe that happiness derives from things like finding a more attractive partner or buying a bigger house, it actually comes from the simpler things in life.

“What plays a much bigger role are our simple practices, simple acts like making a social connection, or taking time for gratitude, or taking time to be in the present moment,” Santos explained.

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Catie Henderson, a 29-year-old from Atlanta that had studied philosophy in college, took the course last year, wanting to continue her “learning and development.”

After completing the course, Henderson said she learned a lot about the misconceptions surrounding happiness in life.

“Getting your dream job or dream spouse won’t create happiness. You have to build habits,” Henderson said. “And connecting with others is important, but getting right with yourself is equally important.”

• By Eric Todisco@etodisco15

I turn on the salt lamp, get the diffuser going with some soothing essential oils, and roll an essential oil blend on my shoulders, and chest. I also use a relaxing Lavender scent hand cream and a Lavender essential oil stick to use under my nose for extra relaxing benefits. 

All lights out, no computers, no reading, no television, nothing but the soft glow of the salt lamp.

Part of the new routine also includes sleeping 10 hours a night or as close as I can. It has made a huge difference in my mental health. Physically I feel rested and much less fatigued. I also allow myself naps if Fibromyalgia is ruling my day.

If you can’t sleep the extra hours or take naps, you can still incorporate most of the self-care tips into your daily routine. Self-care is so important whether you have a chronic illness or not. Make sure to put your health first as often as possible to have your best life.

Melinda 

March 3, 2020/ U.S. Pain Foundation

Headache and migraine diseases captured attention nationally throughout February thanks to features on ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’s Sunday Morning Show, and PBS’s NewsHour. Members of the INvisible Project were highlighted on all three stations.

On Feb. 25, Dr. William B. Young, a headache specialist at Jefferson Headache Center and contributing writer for the INvisible Project, discussed the reality and severity of millions of Americans who have migraine disease on the Sunday Morning Show.

Watch Dr. Young on Sunday Morning Show segment here

That same week, Good Morning America (GMA) ran three segments on migraine. Jaime Sanders (also known as the Migraine Diva) and Robert Pushis and his family were filmed at their homes to show life with chronic migraine. Producers on the medical team for the show found the INvisible Project: 3rd Edition Migraine Diseases online and reached out to the participants to be featured on the show.

Watch Robert Pushis’s GMA story here

Watch Jaime Sander’s GMA story here

On Feb. 26, PBS’s NewsHour aired an eight-minute segment on migraine disease, exploring the state of treatment and advocacy efforts. PBS sent their camera crew to Washington, D.C., the week prior to film parts of Headache on the Hill. The segment featured cameos from two past INvisible Project participants—Dr. Amaal Starling, a headache specialist at Mayo Clinic; Shirley Kessel, founder of Miles for Migraine, whose three generations of family were featured in the first edition—along with INvisible Project writer, Dr. JoAnna Kempner, a sociologist at Rutgers University was also featured as she discussed the stigma of migraine throughout history.

In fact, a total of 19 INvisible Project participants and contributors were spotted.

Watch the NewsHour segment here 

“This has been an amazing month for the migraine and headache disease community,” says Nicole Hemmenway, interim CEO and Director of the INvisible Project. “We are so proud of our past participants for using their voices to speak up, and thrilled we were able to play a small role in helping them get the platform they deserve.”

READ THE LATEST INVISIBLE PROJECT: MIGRAINE DISEASE 

published 3/4/20

About Coronavirus (Covid-19) and Lyme

Many people with and without Lyme are fearful of Coronavirus also called Covid-19. In my Seattle Lyme practice, I am answering questions about what one should do to protect themselves and to boost their immune systems. Many wonder if immune dysregulation, caused by Lyme, increases their chances of acquiring the virus, having a severe case, or even death. 

Here is what I am discussing and recommending.

Coronavirus Severity

First, most people who get Covid-19 have mild to moderate illness. Also, even in Seattle, the chances of getting the infection are quite low. Let’s look more at the numbers.

There are numerous estimates of the death rate for Covid-19. These estimates I have read in the last few days range from 1.4 percent to 3.4 percent. This compares to .1 to .2 percent for the seasonal flu. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports from China suggest 16% of people infected with Covid-19 will have a severe illness. This means 84% of people have mild to moderate infections.

While these statistics look bad, they probably dramatically over-estimate the severity of the illness. First, many with the illness appear to go undetected. If all people infected are accurately counted, this would drive down the suggested death rate and rate of severe illness. A great part of the death rate and illness severity is estimated based on cases in China. Compared to the US, the Chinese have a much greater rate of smoking. Smoking injures the lungs making it much more difficult for someone to tolerate the lung infection caused by Coronavirus.

Some experts suggest Covid-19 is much less infectious than the seasonal Flu while others think it is more infectious.  Yet, at this point, even here in Seattle, the chance of getting Covid-19 is very small because this infection is still quite rare.

What About The Person with Lyme

At this time, we have no idea if someone with Lyme will have a greater problem handling this infection than any other person. Just because Lyme may suppress the immune system to fight Lyme, it does not mean the immune system is suppressed to fight other germs like new or even common viruses such as the Flu. In general, people who are over 60 or who have underlying heart or lung issues are the ones who are dying or have complicated illness.

Prevent Covid-19 Infection

There are some simple steps that people can take to prevent getting this infection. These are common recommendations put forward by public health departments like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health – Seattle & King County. You can download the Seattle & King County flier here.

Avoid Close Contact with People Who Are Sick

Try to stand at least three feet away from someone who is ill or coughing. This decreases your chances of contacting respiratory and mucous droplets that carry the virus. If someone is coughing or sneezing, move away from them.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or a hand sanitizer removes germs you may pick up. Simple soap works great.

Avoid Touching Your Face, Mouth, Nose, and Eyes

Covid-19 is spread through respiratory droplets. If these get on your hands and then you touch your face or parts of your face, you could spread the virus to yourself.

Support Your Innate Immune System

There are two parts of the immune system that fight infections. One part is called the “innate immune system” and the other is called the “acquired immune system”. The innate immune system fights new germs, like Covid-19, the body has never seen before.

The acquired immune system includes cells and antibodies primed to fight infections which the immune system has learned to fight. For instance, in chronic Lyme it is white blood cells and antibodies in the acquired immune system that help fight the infection. The acquired immune system also is activated by vaccines. See How to Boost The Immune System in Lyme for information about how to support the acquired immune system. 

To fight Covid-19, it is the innate immune system that will act first. The innate immune system is composed of barriers like our skin and mucous membranes like those in the nose. It includes various types of immune cells like Natural Killer Cells (NK), Dendritic Cells, Macrophages, Phagocytes, and Mast Cells. Some of the innate immune cells produce protein virus and bacteria germ killers.

A healthy lifestyle helps. Both parts of the immune system work best when one gets seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Emotional toxins like stress and worry suppress immune function – so find ways to destress like counseling, meditation, keep hobbies, visit friends, and exercise. 

There are a number of supplements one can take to support and boost the innate immune system.

• Vitamin A supports mucous membranes that act like a barrier to keep germs out. Vitamin A also regulates the immune system.
• Vitamin D modulates the immune system, prevents excess inflammation, helps macrophages kill germs, and increases antimicrobial proteins that kill germs. In the case of the Flu, people who take Vitamin D regularly have marked decrease in Flu symptoms and the severity of the Flu compared to those who do not take Vitamin D and have the Flu.
• Beta-Glucans found in mushrooms like Reishi turn on Macrophages, NK cells, and Phagocytes.
• Transfer Factors are proteins made by immune cells that turn on various cells like NK cells. One product made by Researched Nutritionals called Transfer Factor Multi-Immune is shown in a very small study to improve NK function by 600%.
• Probiotics appear to prime most innate immune system cells.
• Glutathione appears to help Dendritic Cells. This can be increased either by taking liposomal glutathione or N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) which is a building block for glutathione.

My Recommendation

1. Prevent contact with the Covid-19 infection.
   See “Prevent Covid-19 Infection” section above or the Public Health – Seattle & King County flier for more information.
2. Practice a healty immune system supporting lifestyle. 
   Get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Find ways to lower stress like those mentioned above.
3. Use supplements to support innate immune system function*

• Transfer Factor Multi-Immune by Researched Nutritionals 1 pill 2 times a day
• Reishi Mushrooms 400 mg 1 pill 3 times a day
• Vitamin A 5000 IU 1 time a day
• Vitamin D 5000 IU 1 time a day. Be careful by working with your physician to keep your level between 50-80. Levels above 150 can be toxic.
• Probiotics like Corebiotic by Researched Nutritionals or HMF Forte by Seroyal/Genestra 2 pills 1 time a day
• NAC 500mg 1 pill 3 times a day or liposomal glutathione 500 mg 1 time a day.

You can find the supplements I recommend at my Austin, Texas based online store, Marty Ross MD Supplements.

* Be aware there is no research showing these will actually help someone with Lyme who acquires Covid-19. But based on their function, these may help.

Disclaimer

The ideas and recommendations on this website and in this article are for informational purposes only. For more information about this, see the sitewide Terms & Conditions.