Brendon Fallon is the host and executive producer of NTD's "Vital Signs," a health show that zooms in on the important matters of health that come up in everyday life—connecting the dots across the broad canvas of our holistic wellbeing.


Brendon Fallon

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Discover trending health videos for body, mind, and soul on Vital Signs. Explore important matters of everyday health, from better sleep to virus immunity

Vital Signs

The Virus Scientists Fear Most — Ebola, Hantavirus & H5N1 with ICU Doctor Roger Seheult

Flip ADHD: 5 ’Strategic Unfocus’ Tools from a Harvard Neuroscientist

Peptides, Finding Purpose, and Powerful Habits – Keys to Longevity | Bob Goldman MD

Which Protein, Fats for Brain Health? What’s Missing from the New Pyramid? | David Perlmutter MD

Mindfulness: Why Your Mind Runs Wild—First Steps to Taking Control

If High LDL Doesn’t Signal Heart Risk, What Does?–Critical Blood Tests

Tune out Anxiety, Hone Focus Through Wearable Vibration–Neuroscientist

3-Step ‘NY Firefighter’ Trauma, Burnout Relief Exercises—James Gordon MD

ADHD: Feed Kids These Foods, Avoid These—Harvard Psychiatrist Uma Naidoo

How to Reboot Your Immune Sys to Stop Allergies, Arthritis, Gut Issues | Jeffrey Bland PhD

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California

More Than 17,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Southern California Wildfire Threatens Homes

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


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News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

Sports News

Kyle Busch, Two-Time NASCAR Champion, Dies at 41

India Responds to Trump’s Repost of Birthright Citizenship Comment

Trump Withdraws National Park Service Nominee

Beyond Serotonin, What Causes Depression? 7 Habits to Boost Mood

Tips to Rein in Rage to Rescue Relationships | Brad Jacobs MD

Essential 7 Supplements to Boost Strength, Lifespan After 60 | Doug Spiel MD

Fix the Gut Cause of Vaginal Infection, Bloating, IBS | Adeeti Gupta MD

Anti-Cancer: Plants vs Meds in Activating Immune Shield

How to Starve Cancer Cells– Carnivore Doctor

Use Home Hydrotherapy to Combat Flu, Next Big Virus

Good Bacteria Against Breast Cancer and IBS

What Silent Diet Factor Grows Cancer? Genes vs. Lifestyle for Cancer Risk | Dr. Jason Fung

How to Boost Cancer Immunity and How Cancer ‘Thinks’ Like a Virus | Dr. Jason Fung

Fixing the Hidden ‘Gut Factor’ in Women’s Hormone Health—Reduce UTI, STD, Depression

Counter Colon Cancer, Colitis, Irritable Bowel by Eating This Homemade Yogurt

Anti-Cancer Force of the Microbiome, Immune-Boosting Rapamycin, Chemo-Kinesiology

How Much Vitamin D, Zinc to Cut Cancer Risk? How Copper Grows Tumors

Alzheimer’s: 12 Vitamins, Foods, Exercises for Brain Metabolism | David Perlmutter MD

Neurosurgeon Recovers His Soul, Reveals Anti-Parkinson’s Compound | Joe Maroon MD

Shift Immune Cells from Attack to Brain-Defense Mode | David Perlmutter MD

7 Anti-Alzheimer’s Nutrients and How to Take Them—A Brain Surgeon’s Guide

Ways to Protect Infant, Fetal Brains from Toxins–Cut ADHD, Autism Risk 2

Cut ADHD, Autism Risk From Cooking Oils, Wheat, and Cheese

Why ADHD Brains Jump Around

How Twins’ Autism Shifted After Detox of Home, Diet, Lifestyle

Can Super Nutrient NMN Counter Brain Fog, Fatigue of mRNA Vax? Anti-Age Benefits?

7 Brain Nutrients to Shield Against Vaccines, Pesticides, and Other Toxins—Feat. Dr. Russell Blaylock

Risk vs Benefit: Constipation, Gout, Kidney Stones on Zero Carb | Carnivore MD

Long-Life Humans: What was their Secret? | Anthony Chaffee MD

Elderberry Versus Elderflower Against Colds, Flu, and COVID

Key Signs of Kidney Disease and Steps to Prevent It

Top Myopia Treatments: Natural Remedy, Medicine, Lifestyle | Dr. Rani Banik

Spotting the Sugars, Dyes, Preservatives that Risk Kids’ Health

Why Women Must Build Muscle — Best Protein, Exercises | JJ Virgin

Vinegar, Rye, Steel-Cut Oats, and other Fat Busters | Jason Fung MD

Curb Hunger Hormones to Lose Weight Drug Free | Jason Fung MD

Ease Arthritis: Supplements to Surgery | Orthopedic Surgeon

Cut Kidney Inflammation Risk via the Fasting Mimicking Diet | Dr. Jason Fung

Why the ‘Biggest Losers’ Regained Weight | Dr. Jason Fung

Why Are We Fatter Now Than in the 70s? | Dr. Jason Fung

Which Foods Most Harm the Liver, Cause Diabetes? Feat. Dr. Jason Fung

The Simple Fix for Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes

Weight Loss

Best Weight Loss Plan to Cut Flabby Skin, Keep Muscle, Stay Thin?

While the COVID-19 pandemic is several years behind us, for many the mental health impacts linger. A late 2023 American Psychological Association (APA) survey showed a 5 percent <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/collective-trauma-recovery" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">uptick</a> in mental health diagnoses (to 37 percent) among adult Americans compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Clinical psychologist, Jessica Russo, Psy.D., uses visualization therapy—a gradual exposure therapy—to treat patients’ stress and trauma conditions, including those stemming from the pandemic era.

She joins "Vital Signs with Brendon Fallon" to explain the science behind this therapy and to demonstrate a 3-stage stress-reducing visualization with audience participants.

With many experiencing not just social anxieties, but lingering fears of viral infection or a return of restrictive government measures, such as lockdowns—visualization therapy—is a useful tool to help people negotiate their fears at their own pace, Russo says.

The meditation-style therapy engages the inherent resources of the body and mind to  invoke a mental space of safety and calm from which to positively integrate stressful thoughts and memories.

Russo highlights the workings of mirror neurons as an example of this: Whether someone is doing something, such as walking along a beach, or seeing someone else do that, these brain cells are activated in the same way.

“Your brain will activate the same chemicals— bad chemicals go down; feel good chemicals go up.”

The idea that what is imagined can produce the same responses in the brain as what is directly experienced is a basis for using visualization therapeutically.

“She starts off in the safe place, and then there's a neutral space she goes to, and then she challenges her greatest fear, public speaking,” Russo says of a patient she helped curtail anxiety through this method.

“She's been able to get through this. She's had maybe five public speaking engagements at this point, and she's really doing well.”

You can try the short (sample) visualization included in this episode on a mildly annoying or stressful situation you're facing to see if it works for you.

WATCH<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/un-stuck-your-depression-energy-block-chinese-med-doctor-5923420"> Depression’s Soul Reason</a> ⇒ Find the energy block and ‘soul crisis’ seeds of depression

Listen to Dr. Russo’s extended 15-min visualization <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/vital-signs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">here</a>

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Contact Dr. Russo for appointment and other inquiries <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/jessica-dean-russo-philadelphia-pa/116547">here</a>

Dr. Russo’s <i>Guided Visualization Resources</i>

<a href="https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/visualization-and-guided-imagery-for-stress-reduction">Mental Health.com</a>, Visualization Techniques to Reduce Stress

<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/guided-imagery">Healthline</a>, The Benefits of Guided Imagery and How to Do It

<a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/">National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health</a>

<a href="https://themindfulnessapp.com/">The Mindfulness App</a>

<a href="https://insighttimer.com/">Insight Timer</a>

<a href="https://www.soundstrue.com/collections/authors-martin-l-rossman?srsltid=AfmBOorN8JmcERSitx-uYlGImzuvgwBPAVvBP3tauOM7Y4ZeOjI8Lhda&configure%5Bfilters%5D=(NOT%20tags:Searchspring-Exclusions)%20AND%20collections:authors-martin-l-rossman&configure%5BfacetingAfterDistinct%5D=true&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true">Martin Rossman Collection</a>

<a href="https://www.vitalsource.com/products/the-beginners-handbook-to-the-art-of-guided-virginia-l-thompson-v9781504334419?srsltid=AfmBOor44TUwZ8qytUXbHECJ7EkD1v8eb4Qn11sVa5i565WW_qW06DL_">The Beginners Handbook to the Art of Guided Imagery</a>, Virginia Thompson

<a href="https://www.soundstrue.com/products/self-healing-with-guided-imagery?variant=32219948613731&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=20796109882&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20785874082&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrojHBhDdARIsAJdEJ_dl2IRhnKujBWkbrR5UJrNPAHzp7bmcahO7S8E_r7oLJ8QMJUEkLXIaAr78EALw_wcB">Staying Well with Guided Imagery</a>, Belleruth Naparstek

<a href="https://lesliedavenport.com/guided-imagery/">Healing and Transformation Through Self-Guided Imagery</a>, Leslie Davenport

<a href="https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health/care/!ut/p/a0/FchBDoMgEADAt_iAzYZEYfFmhH6hhdsGiZII%20GELt99seZ9DjC33hO-3cUy18_uxCLD22md9bqnCnLVZ8okd_Nd4zoysVAocj_o9bT-GM6IzVap2MBamlBCGsgEWPBohoUkKp8UErXjnTZxmGL2IKPpI!/">Kaiser Permanente</a>

<a href="https://guidedimagerydownloads.com/max-highstein/">The Healing Waterfall</a>

<a href="https://www.healthjourneys.com/audio-library">Health Journeys Audio Library</a>

<a href="https://thehealingmind.org/collections/all">The Healing Mind</a>

Other mindBody tuneUp 🔅 Vital Signs videos:

Watch <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/rewiring-depression-80-85-percent-of-depressives-improve-significantly-on-adv-nutrient-therapy-feat-dr-william-j-walsh-5533783">Rewiring Depression</a> on Adv. Nutrient Therapy for Depression | William J. Walsh PhD

Watch “<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/neuro-emotional-technique-net-for-your-unresolved-stress-trauma-featuring-dr-daniel-monti-5417492">Issues in Your Tissues</a>” on NET (Neuro-Emotional Technique) for easing trauma and unresolved stress.

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8800951/">Action recognition in the premotor cortex - PubMed</a>

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18725656/">Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park - PubMed</a>

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6143402/">View through a window may influence recovery from surgery - PubMed</a>

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Vital Signs’ host, guests, and contributors offer general information on improving health and wellness. This is not intended as diagnosis or medical advice. You should consult your medical doctor or holistic doctor before enacting any suggested strategies for health and wellness improvement, including those in relation to preventing or treating specific diseases featured on this program.

<em>Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NTD.</em>

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Defuse Fear Through 3-Stage Visualization Method | Jessica Russo, Psy.D.