Neurogenesis and The Neurology of Grief and Loss

Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break. ~Shakespeare

Since beginning my study of cognitive-behavioral psychology decades ago, the idea of what constitutes acceptable topics of exploration have changed drastically. What was once limited to the reflective/passive responses and active listening promoted by cognitive therapist like Carl Rogers has given way to a more scientific approach to the emotional state of the human mind.

The last several years have witnessed significant insight into the understanding of what exactly happens in the brain when we are in emotional states. Utilizing functional MRIs and CAT scans, researchers can see firsthand how states like joy, sorrow, and grief affect our neurology. With surprising insights. While it has been a long suspected that practices like mindfulness and meditation can greatly alter our psychology and even cause physical changes to the brain, we now know…