Happy Saturday, readers!

As cliche as it might sound, we can’t help but think of new beginnings when we think of a new year, and what better way to welcome new beginnings than by keeping up with all the new mental health news, research, and even opinions as we launch into 2015?

After all, we want to stay as healthy and informed as possible!

This week’s Psychology Around the Net features research related to pets and their owners’ personalities, gut bacteria and how it relates to anxiety, how childhood guilt can affect adult mental health issues, and more.

Feelings Of Guilt During Childhood Linked To Mental Illness: New research suggests excessive feelings of guilt during childhood can help determine mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder later in life.

8 Things Your Pet Says About Your Personality: Check out some of these general conclusions researchers have come up with about your personality based on the type of pet you own. (HINT: It’s not all about just dogs and cats, either!)

Mind Over Matter: Can You Think Your Way to Strength? Recent research tests how our brain cortex (including regular mental imagery exercises) plays a role in strength development.

The Surprising Link Between Gut Bacteria and Anxiety: Although past tests were conducted only on animals, researchers now have some preliminary evidence to suggest there indeed is a connection between gut bacteria and humans — specifically, human mental health.

Is Depression a Kind of Allergic Reaction? Scientists are exploring the possibility that some depression could be caused by issues such as inflammation caused by our bodies’ immune systems.

A ‘Check Up From the Neck Up’ — Mental Health Screening Kiosks: Drexel University is the first college in the nation to introduce on-campus “mental health kiosks” to help students learn more about mental health issues like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

Try This Life-Changing Stress Hack for a More Relaxed 2015: Learn all about the “Alexander Technique” and three ways you can incorporate it into your soon-to-be less-stressful life.

A Point of View: The Pursuit of Happiness: Check out one writer’s idea that happiness is a “destination” rather than a “condition” and, thus, can inspire journeys.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 8 Jan 2015
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.