Hearing a teen say things like, “I should just go kill myself,” should be cause for alarm. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. If your teen brings up the subject—even if you think it’s a bid for attention—address it right away. Unfortunately, many teens complete suicide every year and often their stunned friends and family say they never imagined their loved one would do it....
Going out can be challenging if you are trying not to smoke. Whether you are trying to quit, trying to smoke less, or have already stopped smoking, going out to socialize can often trigger an urge to smoke. In order to stick to your smoking cessation goals, it is important to find ways to cope with these urges, even if you are in social situations or settings that increase your cravings....
Have you ever noticed how kids like to copy their parents? Whether it’s a 4-year-old who enjoys pretending to shave his face next to Dad in the bathroom mirror, or it’s a 6-year-old pretending to vacuum the living room as her parents do, kids learn how to behave by watching their parents. And while you might think that your teen has outgrown the desire to copy you, that’s not the case....
Flavorful, nutritious, and simple, homemade baby food is a great way to introduce your baby to a variety of fruits, vegetables, textures, and flavors, and it can be more economical than buying pre-made food. While making your own baby food does take more time than using pre-made varieties, there are some techniques and tricks that help you prepare homemade foods more easily and quickly. A few basic cooking techniques and planning strategies can help make parents more comfortable making baby food....
From deciding what to eat for dinner to considering whether it’s the right time to buy a house, problem-solving is a large part of our daily lives. Learn some of the problem-solving strategies that exist and how to use them in real life, along with ways to overcome obstacles that are making it harder to resolve the issues you face. What Is Problem-Solving? A problem exists when there is a goal that we want to achieve but the process by which we will achieve it is not obvious to us....
Carl Rogers’ work and theories made him one of the preeminent psychologists of the 20th-century. He is best known for creating what is known as client-centered therapy, a nondirective approach that places the client in control of the therapeutic process. As one of the leaders of the humanist movement in psychology, Rogers believed that people were essentially good and healthy. This differed greatly from the psychoanalytic focus on abnormal behavior....
Having grown children who are independent, even raising families of their own, is a source of pride and accomplishment for parents. The natural evolution of a family in the U.S. is for children to be launched successfully into the world, leaving parents in their empty nest to someday retire and enjoy the freedom from so much responsibility that they have earned after years of childrearing. While it’s true that the majority of Americans live near their parents once they have left home, there are still many young adults who plant roots far from where their parents live....
What Is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition known to occur in episodes marked by extreme shifts in mood and energy. More than 2% of the world’s population lives with this disorder. This article will examine the types of bipolar disorder and possible causes of this condition. It will look into the unique ways this disorder is presented in men, plus possible ways to manage the condition....
If you’re planning on breastfeeding your baby, you’re certainly not alone. During pregnancy, the overwhelming majority of moms plan to breastfeed after their baby is born. And while the 2018 Breastfeeding Report Card published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 83% of moms started off breastfeeding their babies, only a meager 25% were exclusively breastfed by the time they were six months old. Key Takeaways...
One of the best ways you can take care of your hair when working out is by using the proper hair tie. Using a hair tie that can hold up to your workouts is essential. To avoid tugging, you want a hair tie that is covered in fabric instead of ones with exposed elastic or rubber. You also want to avoid hair ties with metal fasteners or glue bonding as they can be abrasive to hair....
Kayaking isn’t just a paddlesport—it’s also a fun way to get some exercise and explore the great outdoors. And if you own a kayak, you can save money on rental fees and hit the water any time you want (as long as the weather cooperates). “To figure out what kayak is best for you, start by asking yourself [a few questions],” Rudy Raimondi, merchandise planner at West Marine, says. “Where are you going to paddle?...
While there are several packaged, plant-based milk options available on the market, it’s easy to make your own non-dairy milk with a nut milk maker. This simple kitchen appliance comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and will produce fresh nut milk in as little as a few minutes. Buying a nut milk maker may be a bit of an upfront investment but can certainly save you money in the long run by replacing your weekly carton of almond milk....
Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Meet Richie Stephens Richie Stephens is an Irish gangster turned actor who lives in Los Angeles. He frequently plays villains in TV and movies, including “Days of Our Lives,” “Criminal Minds,” “MacGyver,” and “Blue Bloods.”...
What Is Reciprocity? Reciprocity is a process of exchanging things with other people to gain a mutual benefit. The norm of reciprocity (sometimes referred to as the rule of reciprocity) is a social norm where if someone does something for you, you then feel obligated to return the favor. The socialization process plays an important role in developing this need to reciprocate. Through experience, children learn to share with others, take turns, and engage in reciprocal actions....
Serotonin (also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) is also considered a hormone. Most commonly, people are aware of serotonin’s role in the central nervous system (CNS). In the brain, serotonin helps with mood regulation and memory, but it also has essential jobs in other areas of the body. Serotonin is a naturally occurring monoamine neurotransmitter that carries signals between nerve cells throughout your body. It plays an important role in various brain and body functions, including mood stabilization, cognition, learning, memory, and sleep....
The desire for more privacy is a natural part of growing up. In fact, privacy is essential for teens to gain autonomy and individuality. It can be hard for parents to let go of supervising every aspect of their child’s life. However, giving kids more and more freedom is a key part of helping them grow up and develop the skills they need to be functioning adults. While extreme secrecy can be a red flag, it is natural for teens to crave more privacy and space as they mature....
What is bedtime like in your house? For many parents of small children, when the clock rolls around to bedtime, even the best days start to go wrong. And if you have a child who is reluctant at bedtime, it can really affect the whole household. Preschool-aged children (considered to be in the 3 to 5 years of age group) need about 11 to 13 hours of sleep a day (this can include naps)....
We’ve all had that awkward moment when we’ve shared sensitive information with a friend, and they responded with something that hurts. Most of us have also been on the other side of this—a friend confides in us, and we respond in the wrong way. As we look at our friend’s tense polite smile, we cringe inside, chiding ourselves for putting our foot in our mouth. Most insensitive comments aren’t meant to be hurtful....
While your sister might allow her kids to jump on the furniture, you might decide that’s not OK in your house. Or maybe the kids are allowed to bang on the pots and pans in your kitchen but in Grandma’s house, that’s a no-no. It’s important to create a clear set of household rules so your children know what’s allowed and what type of behavior is off-limits. Establishing clear rules is a simple way to reduce behavior problems and increase consistency with your discipline....
Many caregivers have trouble taking care of their own needs as they provide so much care for the needs of others. Whether you feel guilty for taking time out for yourself, or if you just feel like you don’t have the time to take, consider this perspective: If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t have anything left to give. How Caregivers Can Lessen Stress and Overwhelm The following steps can help you to minimize some of the stress you’re feeling, so you can feel less overwhelmed by the caregiver role....
