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Nicotine withdrawal can be a challenging process, with physical and emotional symptoms on top of cravings for cigarettes. Deep breathing is an invaluable tool that can help you shift into a positive emotional state when nicotine withdrawal makes you feel on edge. You might hear deep breathing referred to as diaphragmatic breathing because you engage your diaphragm, a muscle at the base of your lungs. It tightens when you take a deep breath, allowing the lungs to expand....

Electronic gadgets, gift cards, and clothes are among the top gifts that dads receive on Father’s Day. Gifts range from the humorous stand-by, like a giant tie, to the exotic, like a safari adventure. The purpose of buying gifts is to celebrate dad, let him know he is appreciated, and give him something that he’ll enjoy. Key Takeaways One out of 10 men will struggle with depression at some point in their lives....

Disputation is a technique used in rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) within cognitive restructuring to treat social anxiety and other mental illnesses. The basic process involves questioning thoughts and beliefs that maintain your anxiety and make it hard for you to move forward. What Are REBT and Disputation? REBT is a form of psychotherapy focused on changing emotional and behavioral problems to empower you to live a fuller life. Through REBT, you will better understand your motivations and how you create irrational or self-defeating thoughts....

As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you’ll probably start counting nine months on your fingers to figure out when your baby will be born. But then your healthcare provider might mention that you’re likely to go into labor once your 40 weeks along, and things don’t seem to line up, because 40 weeks sounds more like 10 months. Your gestational period is in fact 40 weeks long, but it starts counting on the first day of your last period....

Outpatient rehab is a type of rehabilitation center for those who have a substance use disorder. Addiction is a widespread issue, with at least 10% of Americans experiencing substance abuse disorder at some point in their lives. Of that 10%, about 75% of folks will never get help. This disorder isn’t one that only impacts the person diagnosed with it—it also affects their friends, families, colleagues, and society at large. Understanding the options available to stop abusing a substance is an essential first step in getting help....

It is not uncommon for parents to have differences in opinion. If you and your partner argue about everything from the baby’s sleep schedule, potty training, and timeouts, to homework expectations, social media use, and dating, you are not alone. Nearly every relationship faces challenges when kids first enter the scene. But although these parenting disagreements are normal, it’s important to address them. Differences of opinion can lead to fractures in the relationship and possibly even divorce or separation if they are not handled appropriately....

Although forgiveness brings many benefits, particularly to the “forgiver,” forgiving is not always easy. In fact, many people who would like to let go of anger and forgive are stumped with the question of how to forgive someone. While there are many unique perspectives on how to forgive, the following strategies have been proven effective for a variety of people. Express Yourself In contemplating how to forgive someone, you might wonder if you need to discuss the problem before you can forgive....

So, what does having a baby cost? A lot of money. Whether you have maternity insurance or not, babies are expensive. There are, however, ways to save yourself money when having a baby. Here are some things to consider. Know What Your Insurance Covers You will want to find out, preferably before you are pregnant, what you will be expected to pay. Don’t assume that everything maternity-related is covered without getting the details from your insurance provider first....

Language is a powerful thing. Not only is it a vital part of human interaction, but the words people use allow them to share their ideas, thoughts, and feelings with others. When your kids are small, they are still learning the true definitions of words. Consequently, they may try out different words to gauge your response and determine whether they have used them correctly. As they get older, they may even choose to use certain words—particularly swear words—to get a reaction from you, or to fit in socially with their peers....

What Is Illness Anxiety Disorder? Illness anxiety disorder (IAD), formerly known as hypochondriasis, is a condition marked by an excessive fear of having a serious medical condition despite having few or no symptoms. People who have IAD often go to doctors about symptoms they believe are linked to a medical problem or may believe that mild symptoms are more serious than they really are. While there may not be a medical illness present, the concerns that people with IAD have are very real, and the anxiety they feel can cause serious disruptions in normal daily functioning....

You’ve enjoyed a healthy, happy, normal pregnancy. The nursery is ready, the car seat installed, and the last of the thank-you notes for your baby shower are signed, stamped, and delivered. But your due date has come and gone and although your obstetrician says everything looks fine and there’s no need to intervene quite yet, you’re ready to have this baby. Short of insisting that your doctor induce labor before they think it’s necessary, is there anything you can to do help move things along?...

The nocebo effect, also known as the nocebo response, happens when a person’s negative expectations of treatment lead to negative side effects. An example of a nocebo response would be a person expecting that the medication will cause negative side effects and then having those unpleasant side effects even though the medication that they are taking is actually an inert substance. People tend to be more familiar with the nocebo effect’s counterpart, the placebo effect....

Occupational therapy (OT) may sound like it involves finding a job or developing work skills, but it actually deals with strengthening fine motor skills. These skills include tasks like writing, using scissors, tying shoes, and using utensils. OT is commonly used in children’s special education programs. For adults recovering from an accident or stroke, OT may indeed include work-related skills. But for children, whose “occupation” is school and play, therapy focuses more sharply on developmental milestones and skills required for the playground and academic activities....

Learning styles are a popular concept in psychology and education and are intended to identify how people learn best. The VARK model of learning styles suggests that there are four main types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. The idea that students learn best when teaching methods and school activities match their learning styles, strengths, and preferences grew in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. However, most evidence suggests that personal learning preferences have little to no actual influence on learning outcomes....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning parents and healthcare providers to be on alert for Parechovirus (PeV), which may cause serious illness in babies and young children. Key Takeaways The CDC has issued a health alert to warn parents and doctors about parechovirus.Multiple reports of cases in children ages 6 months to 5 years have been received since May 2022.Most cases concern the PeV-A3 strain, which is most commonly associated with severe disease....

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is an exercise that anyone can use to alleviate disturbing and disruptive emotional symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia. Like breathing exercises, visualization, and yoga, PMR is considered a relaxation technique. It’s especially helpful in moments of high stress or nervousness, and even can help someone get through a panic attack. History of PMR PMR was first described by an American physician, Edmund Jacobson, in the 1920s....

While it is not a new term, parents and educators have expressed concerns about “learning loss” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning loss refers to when students forget or lose knowledge they previously gained in school as a result of missed or disrupted education. In 2020, online classrooms were less engaging to some children, causing them to either not advance or regress academically. Even with schools reopening, anxiety and stress about the pandemic, grief due to losing loved ones to COVID-19, and lost class time due to infection have disrupted many students’ education worldwide....

In the United States, over 2.4 million people have celiac disease, which amounts to about one in every 33 individuals. However, the majority of the people with celiac disease actually do not even know they have it. Celiac disease is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in the United States, meaning that doctors do not always diagnose it properly or that individuals do not seek help in the first place for their symptoms....

It’s important for every child to know water survival skills as well as how to swim. While swimming lessons can’t eliminate the risk of drowning completely, they can keep kids safer around water and help to prevent tragic water accidents, particularly for kids over age 1. Here’s an age-by-age guide on swimming lessons for kids, including what to look for and what to expect. Baby Swim Lessons Infant aquatic programs are often enjoyable for both parents and babies....

With sunshine and heat comes the promise of endless days spent playing in the pool, at the lake, and in splash pads. But for children and toddlers (even those who can swim on their own), this favorite summer and vacation pastime can be dangerous for little ones and anxiety-producing for parents and other caregivers. In general, the number of kids with unintentional injuries increases during the warmer months. An estimated 4,800 young children (under age 5) require treatment in emergency departments due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year, and in 2016, 289 children under 5 died from drowning in a pool or spa....