“I want to begin with the bad news.”

That’s how Jaime Pineda, professor emeritus of cognitive science at UC San Diego, opened his recent talk at the Geisel Library.

“The bad news is that many surveys have been done asking people whether there is a mental crisis in the U.S. Specifically, they ask if people are suffering from some kind of mental crisis. When 90 percent of respondents say ‘yes,’ it’s clear that something is going on.”

Pineda said people report feeling overwhelmed by all the problems they face, from global issues like wars and political instability, to personal challenges like their kids not doing well, to health problems.

Everyone experiences mental chaos – when the mind is distracted, racing and anxious. But, according to Pineda, too much mental chaos can have negative impacts on our health and can limit our creativity.

His new book, “Controlling Mental Chaos: Harnessing the Power of the Creative Mind,” offers those of us who are stressed out and anxious some practical ways to ways to get back to wellbeing.

Pineda says one way is to practice the mindfulness open awareness mind. Instead of focusing on a problem and trying to solve it, you step back and look at the big picture. You might, for example, look at the sunset and simply enjoy it.

“When we control mental chaos, the outcome is well-being,” he said.

Learn more about Pineda’s tips for dealing with stress and anxiety and controlling our mental chaos. Watch Controlling Mental Chaos.