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The gut-brain axis is a system of two-way communication between the digestive system and central nervous system. Growing research suggests that the gut-brain axis, with a special focus on the health of the gut microbiome, can influence things like inflammation and disease, and even mental health. Which Parts of the Body Make Up the Gut-Brain Axis? When talking about the gut-brain axis, you might not realize all the parts of our body that are involved in this process of internal communication....

In other words, the split attraction model says that there can be a difference between someone’s sexual orientation and their romantic orientation. One study even found that sexual desire and what they refer to as “affectional bonding” can be completely independent of one another. The split attraction model, which is sometimes shortened to SAM, the split attraction model, which is sometimes shortened to SAM, is a framework that’s intended to help asexual and aromantic people better understand their sexual attractions and how those may be different from their romantic attractions....

Unicorn polyamory (aka unicorn poly) is the term for when two people who are in a relationship add a third party to their dynamic. Unicorn polyamory commonly refers to an arrangement between a heterosexual couple (of one man and one woman) and a bisexual woman—though they could also be a bisexual man or a nonbinary person. The “unicorn,” or third party, can be a person of any gender or sexual orientation who joins a couple regardless of the people’s genders and sexual orientations....

White privilege is a concept that highlights the unfair societal advantages that white people have over non-white people. It is something that is pervasive throughout society and exists in all of the major systems and institutions that operate in society, as well as on an interpersonal level. The term has a long history but it has come into sharper focus due to events such as the murder of George Floyd and the resulting Black Lives Matter protests....

It’s warm and sunny out so you decide to go out for a stroller walk with your new baby. Since babies are supposed to avoid direct sunlight, you put on their tiny sunhat, pull your stroller’s shade down as you walk, and stop in a shady area under some trees to take your baby out for some tummy time. Spending a day outside without ever exposing your little one to the sun seems elusive, though....

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that’s more about the neurology of the brain than the outward manifestations of behavioral problems and poor choices, according to a group of addiction medicine professionals. In April 2011, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released its new Definition of Addiction, which, for the first time, extends addiction to include behaviors other than problematic substance abuse. A group of 80 addiction experts worked for four years to arrive at the new definition of addiction and concluded that addiction is about the underlying neurology of the brain—not about outward behavior....

A lot of psychology students are surprised (and sometimes dismayed) to realize that statistics courses are required for graduation in their chosen major. Yes, statistics courses are a major part of virtually all psychology programs. You will also encounter the subject in many of your other classes, particularly those that involve experimental design or research methods. To succeed in psychology, you not only need to be able to pass a statistics class....

One of the most common myths about gifted children is that they are the bright-eyed eager students in the classroom. They are the ones who pay rapt attention to every word the teacher utters and love to do their homework. While this may be true of some gifted children, it is far from typical gifted behavior. In fact, many gifted students behave in quite the opposite manner: they may be inattentive and often don’t do their homework, or they may do it and neglect to turn it in....

Going through pregnancy can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. In the months leading up to your pregnancy, through your journey, and the weeks after as you start your role as a mother, you are bound to go through a rollercoaster of emotions. In the beginning, you might experience challenges trying to get pregnant. Or, if you’ve already given birth you may be looking for ways to heal and accept your postpartum body....

From dealing with doctors and medication to relationships here are 9 things you shouldn’t do or fail to do if bipolar is part of your life. 1. Patients: Don’t Hide Symptoms from Your Doctor Did you know that it takes an average of nine to 10 years for people to be properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder? There are two big reasons for this. One is that ​doctors miss the diagnosis all too frequently, even when hypomanic symptoms are brought to their attention....

Why We’re Attracted to Certain People There’s a reason you’re attracted to people with problems. Your relationships with your parents might be the first place to look for clues. In the “Ask a Therapist” series, I’ll be answering your questions about all things mental health and psychology. Whether you are struggling with a mental health condition, coping with anxiety about a life situation, or simply looking for a therapist’s insight, submit a question....

A blood transfusion is a common procedure where donated blood is delivered to a patient through a line inserted into a vein. It is concerning enough when the procedure is performed on an adult. When it happens to a baby, particularly one in neonatal intensive care (NICU), it can be downright distressing. Reasons for NICU Blood Transfusions In most cases, a blood transfusion is used to increase the number of red blood cells that carry oxygen to body tissues, including the brain and heart....

When you’re breastfeeding a newborn or young infant, it’s every two to three hours day and night. It’s enough to make you feel tied down and stuck in the house. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s not only possible to leave the house with your breastfed baby, but it’s also easy. It might seem intimidating at first, but after you get out and do it, you’ll see that breastfeeding on-the-go isn’t that scary after all....

Breastfeeding moms tend to use one of two hand positions to support the breast while they are latching their baby. The two positions are the C-hold or palmer grasp and the V-hold or scissor grasp. One hold is not better than the another, and they both work well. When choosing the hold for you, you should try them both and use the one that makes you feel the most comfortable....

Breath-holding spells typically occur when a child begins crying, either because of a fall or a temper tantrum. Then the child involuntarily holds his or her breath and faints. During a breath-holding spell, a child will become blue and limp and then quickly begin breathing again and wake up. Some breath-holding spells are considered cyanotic—cyanosis is when the skin turns a blue or purple color due to low oxygen saturation. This is the most common type....

Bipolar disorder is a serious mood disorder that impacts at least 4.4% of Americans. This mental condition features pronounced bouts of depression and mania. While it is challenging to live with, the proper treatment protocol can support those with this diagnosis and help them achieve a great quality of life. Can Bipolar Disorder Show Up in a Brain Scan? While brain scans aren’t used to diagnose bipolar disorder, they are used to learn more about how this condition impacts the brain and body....

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is something we’ve been told since we were kids. And there’s truth to the idea that eating breakfast sets you up for success and better health. So a product like Carnation Breakfast Essentials (you may remember it as Carnation Instant Breakfast) is appealing. In children, eating breakfast is associated with everything from increased attention span and healthy body weight to sharper memory and improved test scores....

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant increases in mental health conditions and substance use, with 40% of adults struggling in the United States, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Key Takeaways The latest data released by the CDC shows significant increases in mental health issues as the pandemic continues.This adds to similar research showing there’s a growing prevalence of anxiety and mental distress, even among those who’ve never had these issues before....

One of the most important elements of having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is learning how to cope with persistent anxiety and physical symptoms. Although each person has a unique experience with GAD, there are many common symptoms present with this condition that most everyone will experience to some degree. These symptoms include physical symptoms (muscle tension, body aches, etc.), behavioral symptoms (procrastination, isolation, etc.), and emotional symptoms (intrusive thoughts, constant worry, etc....

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you know that one of the biggest triggers of OCD symptoms is stress. While there are a number of ways that people choose to cope with stress, not all coping strategies are healthy. In fact, some can do more harm than good. Let’s review both healthy and unhealthy ways to manage your stress to help keep your OCD symptoms under control. Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress Getting a good night’s sleep....