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Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Dr. Chris Winter Chris Winter is a neurologist and sleep expert who helps his patients learn to sleep better. One of his most recent areas of interest surrounds athletes and sleep....

An implicit bias is an unconscious association, belief, or attitude toward any social group. Due to implicit biases, people may often attribute certain qualities or characteristics to all members of a particular group, a phenomenon known as stereotyping. It is important to remember that implicit biases operate almost entirely on an unconscious level. While explicit biases and prejudices are intentional and controllable, implicit biases are less so. A person may even express explicit disapproval of a certain attitude or belief while still harboring similar biases on a more unconscious level....

If you’re pregnant, you’re likely paying extra close attention to your body. If you feel a cramp, you may worry that it is a sign of a miscarriage, especially if it is early in your pregnancy. While the first trimester is the most common time for miscarriages, there are other reasons for cramps. Whether cramping signals a miscarriage depends on when it occurs, severity, and whether you’re experiencing other symptoms with it....

During the 1960s, Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a series of obedience experiments that led to some surprising results. The Milgram experiment was a famous and controversial study that explored the effects of authority on obedience. In the study, an authority figure ordered participants to deliver what they believed were dangerous electrical shocks to another person. These results suggested that people are highly influenced by authority, and highly obedient.More recent investigations cast doubt on some of the implications of Milgram’s findings and even the results and procedures themselves....

Scientists from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed the world’s first test to objectively detect mood disorders, by measuring levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein in the brain. Key Takeaways In adults, a protein in the brain called BDNF promotes the growth and survival of nerve cells that play an important role in brain health and cognitive function.For the first time, scientists have developed a test to accurately predict depression and bipolar disorder based on BDNF levels....

What Is Philemaphobia? Philemaphobia, or philematophobia, is the fear of kissing. It is common among young and inexperienced kissers who are afraid of doing something wrong. In these cases, the anxiety is generally mild to moderate and dissipates quickly as the person gains experience. Sometimes, however, philemaphobia is more severe and can occur at any age. This article discusses some of the causes and symptoms of the fear of kissing. It also explores available treatments that may help and strategies that you can use to cope with your fear....

I used to be a big fan of multi-tasking when it became a popular strategy for productivity. The idea of doubling productivity by doing multiple things at once is quite appealing for busy people, and these days most of us are busy people. However, several studies show that in most cases, multi-tasking can negatively affect productivity and efficiency. Here’s how. Multi-Tasking and Your Brain Focusing on more than one task at a time, repeatedly switching back and forth between two or more tasks, or focusing on many things in a short period of time can all be considered ‘multitasking’ and they can all leave you less focused and efficient than you may think....

If the idea of yet another mile on the treadmill doesn’t excite you, you may find yourself opting for the challenge of barefoot running. Barefoot running offers more connection to the ground (although whether it reduces injuries is still an open question). Barefoot runnings shoes offer a great way to transition to this style of running since they will provide your feet with some protection. The best barefoot running shoes are well-fitted and won’t restrict your range of motion....

The best time to take an antidepressant, either morning or night depends on the type of side effects you might be experiencing. To determine if you should take your antidepressant at night or in the morning, consider the common side effects of the specific medication you’re taking and how it influences your quality of life. Often, the decision comes down to which side effects are associated with the medication you’ve been prescribed and how it affects you personally....

In 1973, the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade declared abortion a legal and protected option for pregnant people across the country. In the almost five decades since, countless efforts to restrict abortion access have led to everything from only one abortion clinic in states such as Mississippi and North Dakota to the passage of a six-week abortion limit in Texas. These efforts come despite 59% of Americans believing abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to a 2021 survey from Pew Research....

When the world first went into lockdown, people joked about an upcoming Corona Baby Boom. But the reality couldn’t have been further from the truth. With pre-pandemic birth rates already trending downward, 2020 US birth rates took another nosedive. Key Takeaways Delaying pregnancy due to COVID was heartbreaking for many families.Families are now feeling safer to start trying again. The stress and uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic stopped many would-be parents from expanding their families....

OCD is a complex illness with many causes, including biological, psychological and social factors. A psychological process that may help cause and maintain OCD symptoms is thought-action fusion. Let’s explore the relationship between thought-action fusion and OCD symptoms. What Is Thought-Action Fusion? Thought-action fusion is when you believe that simply thinking about an action is equivalent to actually carrying out that action. For example, if a thought randomly pops into your mind about something unacceptable—such as murdering your partner—you would believe this to just as bad as actually harming them....

On a basic level, any relationship that makes you feel worse rather than better can become toxic over time. Toxic relationships can exist in just about any context, from the playground to the boardroom to the bedroom. You may even deal with toxic relationships among your family members. A toxic relationship is one that makes you feel unsupported, misunderstood, demeaned, or attacked. A relationship is toxic when your well-being is threatened in some way—emotionally, psychologically, and even physically....

Self-injury is the act of hurting one’s body without the intention of suicide. While self-injury is an entirely distinct behavior from suicide, it is often seen as a red flag warning of persons who may likely attempt suicide at a later date. Non-suicidal self-injury can take many different forms including cutting, burning, scratching, abrasion, punching, and headbanging. More severe cases have involved bone-breaking, self-amputation, and permanent eye damage. Self-injury is a symptom associated with different forms of psychiatric illness, including major depressive cycles of bipolar disorder....

Worldwide, schizophrenia affects 1% of the population, and it is a lifelong disorder that can lead to severe impairments in functioning. Disorganized schizophrenia, also referred to as hebephrenic schizophrenia or hebephrenia (based on the Greek term for adolescence), was a subtype of schizophrenia previously recognized in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The DSM-IV included five subtypes of schizophrenia, including disorganized, paranoid, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual....

Your yoga class has just begun, and your instructor invites you to set an intention for your practice. Maybe you’ve done this before, choosing a purpose or hope for the effort you put forth on the mat. But sometimes the invitation to set an intention can come with confusion, pressure, or the question of, “Am I doing this right?” Key Takeaways Research shows that considering and setting intentions can help us achieve goals more easily....

It’s important for your child to know that failing a science test or striking out in the game doesn’t make her a victim. Failure, rejection, and disappointment are part of life. Help your child learn to take personal responsibility for the way she thinks, feels, and behaves so she doesn’t go through life insisting she’s a victim of mean people and unfortunate circumstances. Even when she faces hardship, empower your child to see herself as a mentally strong person who can endure adversity....

Amniotic band syndrome is a condition in which fibrous bands of tissue from a pregnant person’s uterus wrap around a growing fetus. These bands can constrict a baby’s developing fingers, toes, arms, or legs. Rarely, they can wrap around the head, abdomen, or umbilical cord. Amniotic band syndrome occurs in one in every 1,200 to 15,000 births. Other names for amniotic band syndrome are: ADAM sequenceAmniotic bandingAmniotic sequence syndromeConstriction ring syndromeStreeter bands Causes Amniotic band syndrome arises from a structural problem with the amniotic sac that develops during pregnancy....

“Rooming in” after birth is when your baby stays in your room with you, as opposed to spending the majority of the time in the hospital’s nursery. This type of arrangement offers benefits for both you and your baby post-birth. Your baby staying in your room can help promote breastfeeding, encourage rest, increase safety, and allow you to ensure that your baby is cared for in the way that you prefer....

Anxiety is a natural response to stress or perceived danger and is often associated with fear and worry. If you’re feeling anxious, you may experience physical symptoms, such as sweating, shaking, nausea, or muscle tenseness. These symptoms may not go away if you have a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and this can raise blood pressure, just as chronic high blood pressure or hypertension can cause feelings of anxiety. We all experience anxiety on occasion, but if you have been diagnosed with GAD and high blood pressure, you’ll want to seek care....