Posts

Synthetic cannabinoids, also called synthetic marijuana or fake weed, have been used by many as an alternative to marijuana since products were first introduced in 2002. Despite the fact that these man-made products were created in laboratories to help scientists study the cannabinoid system in the human brain, they often claim to be made of “natural” material from a variety of plants. Hundreds of synthetic cannabinoids exist and the effects can be unpredictable and even life-threatening....

If you are considering seeking professional treatment for a drug or alcohol problem, one of the first questions you will probably have is, “How much will it cost?” In fact, one of the main reasons that people delay getting drug and alcohol treatment is the costs involved. The problem with trying to find an answer to how much rehabilitation will cost is that there are so many variables involved, including the type of treatment you need and the length of time you will need to be in the treatment program....

The visual-spatial learning style is one of eight types of learning styles defined in Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Visual-spatial learning style, or visual-spatial intelligence, refers to a person’s ability to perceive, analyze, and understand visual information in the world around them. Essentially, they can picture concepts with their mind’s eye. People with this learning style tend to think visually and often prefer learning the same way. They are good at seeing the “big picture,” but they sometimes overlook the details....

A transracial adoption occurs when a family adopts a child of a different race than their own. For instance, when Caucasian parents adopt an Alaska Native child, or when Black parents adopt an Asian child. As with all types of adoption, there can be beautiful aspects to how these families are formed, come together, and learn and grow with each other. But there can also be ethical complications and important considerations for parents to keep in mind....

Great insights can come from asking a trusted, caring friend for advice. Likewise, polling a group of people—even strangers—for advice can provide a variety of helpful ideas. But sometimes advice is offered when you didn’t ask for it. New moms, college students, and people who work with the public may be more prone to getting unsolicited advice. However, anyone can be on the receiving end of unsolicited advice, and it doesn’t always feel helpful....

Up to 65% of adults with bipolar disorder experienced symptoms prior to the age of 18. So while the condition is often associated with adults, kids of any age can have bipolar disorder. Childhood-onset bipolar is associated with a more severe course of illness compared to people who don’t begin to experience symptoms until adulthood. Early intervention can be the key to getting symptoms under control. Even if you know an adult with bipolar disorder—or you have been diagnosed with it yourself—it might not look the same in a teenager....

What Is Ageism? Ageism is a type of discrimination that involves prejudice against people based on their age. Similar to racism and sexism, ageism involves holding negative stereotypes about people of different ages. Ageism affects everyone, both young and old. Age discrimination can be seen in a wide variety of settings and situations including the workplace and in healthcare. This article discusses how ageism is defined and how stereotypes contribute to age discrimination....

Preterm labor is one of the most serious things that can occur in a pregnancy. Although not very likely, serious health issues or even an increased risk of death can occur when a baby is born a few weeks before its due date. Sometimes, the effects of preterm labor and birth can last a lifetime for a baby. It is important to know the signs of preterm labor during pregnancy. Your midwife or doctor should go over the signs with you at a prenatal visit early in your pregnancy....

A sexual fantasy is a mental image that promotes one’s desire for sex and can help enhance the sexual experience. While the people, themes, and frequency may change, sexual fantasies are completely normal and “common to everyone,” according to research. Here we will share some of the most common sexual fantasies, including the changes that people often make to their bodies and personalities when having these images. We’ll also explore what fantasies mean, and when it may be appropriate to act on them....

Words of encouragement can make a meaningful difference for a woman in labor. Childbirth is hard, both physically and emotionally, and many women have to dig deep to find the necessary strength. What you say to your partner or loved one in the labor and delivery room can go a long way toward helping her cope. Comfort in labor comes in many forms, though most of the time we tend to think about physical comfort measures and pain-relieving medications....

Many people deliver their babies by Cesarean section (C-section). Whether it’s planned or unexpected, the surgical delivery of a child may make breastfeeding a bit more challenging at first, due to recovery from the operation. However, breastfeeding after a C-section is recommended and beneficial for both parent and child, if the parent would like to do so. Learn more about how to successfully breastfeed after a C-section and ways to overcome any issues that may arise....

Imagine being in a high school hallway, watching crowds of teenagers traveling to their classes. As a blond girl and her tall boyfriend walk by hand-in-hand, you might be impressed with how close they seem. But if you look a little closer, you would see that something is terribly wrong with our hypothetical couple. She is wearing long sleeves on a humid day (to hide the bruises on her arms where he squeezed her when he was angry)....

Early child development is influenced by a wide variety of both biological and environmental factors. Biological factors can play a particularly important role in early development. These factors influence a child in both positive and negative ways. They can affect children throughout their development, particularly during critical times such as the prenatal period and early childhood. Research conducted at Rutgers University demonstrated that prenatal factors affect linguistic development and postnatal factors contribute to a child’s cognitive development....

While everyone gets angry, some people have better control over their anger than others. When someone suffers from angrophobia, or the fear of anger, they truly fear getting angry because their anger is often so out of control that it’s frightening. Overview The term angrophobia refers specifically to the fear of becoming angry rather than the fear of others becoming angry with you. Like all phobias, angrophobia varies widely in both its symptoms and its severity from one person to the next....

If you’re in the dating game, single moms will likely be in the mix. In fact, according to a Pew Research Center study, the U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households, specifically those run by single moms. Single parents bring unique perspectives, priorities, and life experiences to the table—and that can make them great partners. They’re often capable, smart, flexible, and know what they’re looking for in a relationship....

When you don’t get your period as expected, you might start to worry. The absence of your normal menstrual cycle can be concerning since it can indicate a pregnancy or it may be related to an illness or stress. It is considered one of the major possible signs of early pregnancy. People have different names for it such as a late period, skipping a cycle, or a missed period. In essence, it simply means that your normal menstrual cycle or period didn’t happen when it should have happened....

Resilience is often encouraged, especially during times of difficulty. Unfortunately, that may be more challenging than expected, as a recently published study in Group & Organization Management found that resilience is a dynamic process, rather than a fixed human characteristic. Key Takeaways Resilience is a dynamic process, and newcomers to an organization demonstrated more resilience than those who had been there longer.People with greater emotional stability were better able to maintain commitment levels to the organization over time....

What Is Empathy? Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. Essentially, it is putting yourself in someone else’s position and feeling what they are feeling. Empathy means that when you see another person suffering, such as after they’ve lost a loved one, you are able to instantly envision yourself going through that same experience and feel what they are going through....

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts 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. Friday Fix: Episode 196 There are many things that can clutter your mind—worrying about the future, rehashing the past, second-guessing your decisions, and thinking about how you’re being perceived....

Ultrasound exams are notoriously inaccurate for predicting the weight of your baby. An ultrasound can give an estimate of the weight of your baby, but this estimate can be off a pound or more in either direction. There are multiple ways to predict a baby’s weight via ultrasound, and the results can vary widely. It is generally not advisable to make decisions about induction of labor or a planned cesarean section based solely on estimated fetal weight....