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Parenting a baby can be stressful and overwhelming. As such, it’s crucial that parents have strategies that help them keep their heads on straight. One popular relaxation strategy is diffusing or inhaling essential oils as a form of aromatherapy, which had been shown to reduce the perception of stress as well as lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. These same benefits can be achieved by applying essential oils to the skin after combining them with a carrier oil....

Ketamine is a drug gaining fast notoriety with America’s young population. In 2020, 1.3% of 12th graders were found to have misused the drug for recreational purposes—this number was at 0.7% only a year prior. Widely known for its medicinal properties, ketamine’s effects have made it a popular addition to the party scene. It has also joined the ranks of GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) and Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) as a date rape drug....

The name Maya has been linked to several origins and as a result, has several meanings. It’s most commonly linked to Indian origins, where it means “dream” or “illusion” in Sanskrit, which is the sacred language of Hinduism. It is also considered an alternative name for Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, love, beauty, and joy. In Greek, Maya means “good mother,” the Greek variation of the name is also sometimes spelled Maia....

Medication for morning sickness is usually the last resort. There are many non-medicinal things that you should try before looking at medication for morning sickness. When these fail, you should talk to your midwife or doctor about using medication for morning sickness to help you through the worst of it. The good news is that there is help available for women with extreme sickness. In fact, there are two types of medication for morning sickness: over the counter medication and prescription medication....

Sociopath is a term people use, often arbitrarily, to describe someone who is apparently without conscience, hateful, or hate-worthy. The term psychopath is used to convey a sociopath who is simply more dangerous, like a mass murderer. Although sociopath and psychopath are often used interchangeably and may overlap, each has its own clear lines of distinction. For example, sociopathy is the unofficial term for antisocial personality disorder (APD), while psychopathy is not an official diagnosis and is not considered an APD....

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder. The symptoms of schizophrenia affect many of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The severity of these symptoms can fluctuate and even someone who is quite ill can sometimes feel and appear normal, even without medication. This remission of symptoms does not mean the illness has gone away. Impact of Symptoms It’s important for you, with the help of your doctor, case managers, and loved ones, to figure out what kinds of support you need, and then put those supports in place....

What Is Self-Acceptance? None of us are perfect—we all have things we would like to improve about ourselves. However, some people are able to accept their shortcomings; whereas others fixate on them and become their own worst critics. This article explores the characteristics of self-acceptance, discusses its importance, and suggests some strategies that can help you learn to accept yourself. Self-acceptance is the ability to accept both your strengths and your personal faults without judgment, says Meghan Marcum, PsyD, chief psychologist at AMFM Healthcare....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 54 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A number of factors can contribute to the brain disorder, including older parental age, pregnancy, or birth complications. According to a new study, the length of time between births may also be a factor. Key Takeaways A study notes that waiting at least two-and-a-half years between births may decrease the possibility of a second child receiving an autism diagnosis....

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives in many ways. Most recently, the pandemic has impacted global supply chains. This has led to empty grocery store shelves, help wanted signs, and closed restaurant dining rooms—all casualties of the supply chain and labor shortages. Key Takeaways Supply chain disruptions have made it difficult for schools to get food items and supplies needed to serve lunches to students.Labor shortages have also hampered schools’ efforts, both internally and with vendors and suppliers....

Symbyax is a combination of olanzapine, the active ingredient in Zyprexa, and fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac. It was the first FDA-approved medication for the depressive episodes that occur in bipolar disorder or bipolar depression. Uses Symbyax may be prescribed for the treatment of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. However, Symbyax has not gained much traction and has and has largely fallen out of favor with psychiatrists since there is no way to titrate separately the individual ingredients....

In the blink of an eye, we went from “early” holiday shopping to wondering, “Can I rent Santa’s reindeer for last-minute shipping?” In situations like this, it’s best to take a deep breath and think, “What would Bluey’s parents do?” And we think Bandit and Chilli Heeler, the very reasonable yet extremely fun parents of everyone’s favorite Australian puppies, would calmly search the internet, find this very clever model of their home, and click “add to cart” immediately....

What Is Thrush? Thrush, which is technically a yeast infection, is a common breastfeeding problem. Also known as a fungal infection or Candida, thrush can develop on your breasts and in your baby’s mouth. Although it can be painful, thrush usually is not serious. But it can spread quickly and it is tough to treat. The best way to combat thrush is to try to avoid it. Here is what you need to know, including how to prevent thrush while breastfeeding....

Children living in homes where there is parental substance abuse can find life difficult, unpredictable, and confusing. Sometimes they even believe the alcohol or drug abuse is their fault. Dealing with this chaos and unpredictability can leave kids feeling insecure and uncertain. Additionally, they may receive inconsistent messages from their parents. How to Talk to Kids About Addiction Whether you’re the child’s non-addicted parent, a concerned relative, or a teacher, talking to kids about their parent’s addiction is not an easy conversation....

People have become addicted to opioids for centuries, however, opioid use has escalated since 2000 with the development and marketing of powerful painkillers that are highly addictive and carry an enormous risk of overdose. Opioid addiction has become a serious global problem, with opioid epidemics occurring in the United States and other parts of the world. Prescription opioid painkiller addiction has a lot in common with heroin addiction, but there are important differences that influence the kind of treatment that will be most effective....

An intake interview is your first appointment with a therapist. During this initial appointment, he or she will ask various questions in order to make, or come closer to making a diagnosis and to create a personalized treatment plan for you. The initial appointment is also your time to ask your therapist questions. The questions your therapist asks depend on a variety of factors, including the reason you gave for coming there, your age, and any pre-existing conditions....

If you use social media, you’ve probably seen the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other sites. What started out as a way for survivors of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual bullying to bond and share their stories has become a global movement that has sparked significant changes, both social and legal. What’s more, the movement has allowed survivors to feel supported while simultaneously initiating a national—and worldwide—conversation about the widespread issues surrounding harassment, assault, and the changes that need to be made....

What Is the Dark Triad Personality? Are people inherently good or inherently evil? If you’re trying to avoid a philosophical or existential debate it is easiest to say, it depends on the person. That is, there is no one-size-fits-all template for the traits of all humankind. However, psychologists have been able to associate certain behaviors with traits that can be major red flags for someone’s personality. Those traits are known as the Dark Triad....

High-functioning autism is sometimes used colloquially to describe autistic people who do not need much support to function in their daily lives. It often means that a person can speak, write, read, manage daily tasks, and live independently. It means that their traits and behaviors do not create too many disruptions in their relationships, occupation, or education. However, it is crucial to recognize that the term “high-functioning autism” is not a recognized diagnosis or condition specifier....

Your parenting style can affect everything from your child’s self-esteem and physical health to how they relate to others. It’s important to ensure your parenting style is supporting healthy growth and development because the way you interact with your child and how you discipline them will influence them for the rest of their life. Researchers have identified four main types of parenting styles: AuthoritarianAuthoritativePermissiveUninvolved Each style takes a different approach to raising children, offers different pros and cons, and can be identified by a number of different characteristics....

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that can cause confusion, memory loss, and cognitive decline. It is the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a progressive, irreversible condition, which means that symptoms gradually go from mild to worse until the person cannot communicate or function independently. The progression of this condition is categorized into four stages: pre-clinical stage, early stage, middle stage, and late stage. Signs & Symptoms These are the signs and symptoms of each stage of Alzheimer’s disease....