Ask some parents whether video game addiction is real and they will say yes. They watch their child retreat into a virtual world for hours on end, neglecting their friends and family and losing interest in everything but their monitor or screen. But what do the experts say? Is this just one more vice (or device) that, like with alcohol or drug addiction, can completely take over and negatively impact one’s world?...
Constipation in children is a frustrating problem for many parents, and dietary changes may offer relief. However, sometimes parents don’t realize their children are constipated. It’s easy to mistake the symptoms for a potty training problem in younger children. Older children may complain of stomach aches if they are constipated. What Causes Constipation? Diets that are high in residue and low in fiber can play a role in the development of constipation in children....
Pinewood Derbies. Blue and Gold Banquets. Summer Day Camp. Such events cause mixed feelings among those of us who have been a part of the Cub Scouting program. In the midst of planning or running an event, we may feel a little overwhelmed and even negative. Reflecting on the overall experience years later, though, there is certainly a sense of nostalgia as well as satisfaction. Parents can often be invited to serve as a volunteer den leader or Cubmaster while their kids are in the program....
Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Maurice Benard Since 1993, Maurice Benard has played Sonny Corinthos on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. Maurice has made his battle with bipolar disorder public. The writers at General Hospital have even made his on-screen character have bipolar disorder so that he can depict what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder....
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are in the postpartum period, your iron level is something your doctor will monitor, especially if you’re at risk of developing iron deficiency anemia, the most common type of anemia. Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia When your iron levels are low, it’s not uncommon to experience a variety of signs and symptoms including, but not limited to: What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?...
What Is Misophonia? Misophonia, also called selective sound sensitivity syndrome, is a condition in which certain sounds trigger an outburst marked by irritation, anger, or aggression. People with misophonia react in an extreme and often emotional way to certain “trigger” sounds. Reactions range from annoyance, running away, or even rage with some individuals lashing out violently. Misophonia is a poorly understood, and under-researched, condition. The term misophonia did not arise to describe the condition until the year 2000, although the condition was described much earlier as selective sound sensitivity syndrome....
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), arguably the most well-known alcohol recovery program, is based on a set of spiritual principles that provide tools for living sober. While 12-step programs such as A.A. offer hope and recovery to many who are willing to embrace the higher power of their understanding, for agnostics or atheists seeking sobriety, faith-based systems of recovery are often a turn-off. For any alcohol or drug rehabilitation program to work, the person seeking sobriety must not feel alienated or uncomfortable with the beliefs or practices it puts forth....
Every year, Verywell Mind helps 150 million people find answers to their mental health questions. That’s why, as part of our mission, we aim to provide you with thorough, data-driven, and unbiased reviews of services that can improve your health and well-being, such as online therapist directories—websites that aim to make it easier for therapy seekers and therapists to connect, both in-person and online. Since 2020, more and more people are seeking mental health care, especially for anxiety or depression—and this has made it increasingly difficult for people to find a therapist that is both available and appropriate for their needs....
Reuptake is an important brain process to understand if you have borderline personality disorder (BPD) or any other mental health problem. Why? Because many medications used to treat mental health disorders work by altering a number of particular neurotransmitters in the brain. Reuptake is a key part of this process. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that provide a pathway for transmitting signals released by nerve cells (neurons) across synapses (the spaces between cells) from one nerve cell to another....
What Does Robert Mean? Robert is an old German name that means “bright fame.” It’s taken from the old German name Hrodebert. The name is made up of two elements: “Hrod” which means fame and “Beraht” which means bright. The name was introduced to the people of England by the Normans in the middle ages. Robert has been one of the most common names used for boys in Europe since the 13th century....
Schizophrenia is a relatively uncommon but serious mental illness characterized by changes in a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is a chronic brain disorder that can affect a person’s ability to interpret reality. People with this condition often experience hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and abnormal behaviors. How many people are affected by schizophrenia in the U.S. and worldwide? While there is a relatively low prevalence of schizophrenia, it is a serious mental disorder that can cause significant impairment....
Signing up for the draft is something that strikes concern in the hearts and minds of parents. Sometimes parents are concerned by the fact that the process seems overwhelming, while other times they simply don’t like the possibility that their son might have to go to war. But regardless of their concerns, their son must still register. History of the Draft The original Selective Service system was started in 1940 when the government was anxious that additional manpower would be needed for World War II....
Finding clothes that are both comfortable and stylish during pregnancy is no easy task. Although clothing manufacturers have greatly expanded their maternity lines since our grandparents’ days, it can still feel like a scavenger hunt searching for outfits that fit your rapidly changing body and your budget. When you’re expecting not just one, but two or more babies, what used to be the simple job of dressing yourself can become even more of a challenge....
What Is Supportive-Expressive Therapy? Supportive-expressive therapy is an evidence-based, psychodynamic psychotherapy that has been found to be effective in treating certain substance use disorders. The goal of supportive-expressive therapy is to help clients achieve mastery over their difficulties, gain self-understanding, and practice self-control over substance use problems. It is based on the theory that the development of problematic substance use, as with the development of personality, is influenced by formative life experiences....
Compression leggings feel tighter and more supportive than standard leggings. And like other compression garments, they’re thought to improve recovery and performance. “Compression leggings increase blood flow from the lower body to the heart, and back again,” Corey Lewis, CPT, personal trainer and CEO of 1AND1, a health and wellness company, says. “This boosts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, improving energy and reducing muscle fatigue.” But the best compression leggings aren’t just tight....
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Ronald Siegel Ronald Siegel, PsyD, is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, where he’s taught since the early 1980s. He’s a longtime student of mindfulness meditation and he has taught internationally about the importance of mindfulness and mind-body treatment....
The United States is facing a historic mental health crisis, and yet, therapy is harder to access than ever before. And if money is one of your worries or one of the things bringing you to therapy in the first place, the last thing you want is for it to be a strain on your resources. We’ve rounded up some of the best free online therapy services and therapy funds extending scholarships for free therapy, including some specifically meant for marginalized communities....
The self-medication theory of addiction is based on the idea that people use substances, such as alcohol and drugs, or the effects of other addictive behaviors, such as eating or gambling, not to seek euphoria, but to relieve dysphoria or change an uncomfortable emotional state. The self-medication theory usually refers to substance use disorders, but it can also be applied to non-substance or behavioral addictions. The Self-Medication Hypothesis The self-medication hypothesis began appearing in medical journals in the 1980s as clinicians noticed that people who were addicted to heroin were using the drug to cope with different types of underlying distress such as rage and loneliness....
A recent study asks the important question: Does time management work? Researchers recognize that there are merits to creating a structured work schedule, and that it is a “vital skill-set” for productivity. While the concept of time management was not being called into question in the research, there were questions about which environments and individuals benefit most from a strategy. Key Takeaways Time management has proven effective as a tool for productivity....
It happens every January, like clockwork. A rash of media coverage marveling about the birth of twins. While twin births are always incredible, they’re not exactly newsworthy, given that there are over 120,000 twin births every year, or about three percent of all births. What makes these births remarkable every January is that these twins manage to arrive at a point in time which gives them not only different birthdays but different birth years....
