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Although there isn’t one clear definition, romantic love is most often thought of as a combination of attraction and idealization that can result in (or from) a bonded relationship. Romantic love has inspired artists for centuries and been the subject of countless plays, songs, movies, books, and other creative endeavors. As anyone who’s been in love knows, love is complicated and capable of eliciting strong emotions, from elation to heartbreak. Romantic relationships go through ups and downs—from that initial, intoxicating “honeymoon” phase to a sense of disappointment, and, ideally, to a state of acceptance and a desire for permanence....

Many parents were doing a celebratory dance when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. After all, many parents have waited more than 11 months for this day to arrive! Update In October 2022, the FDA authorized the updated bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna for everyone ages 5 and older. These boosters provide protection against both the Omicron variant and the original strain of the virus....

BPA, or bisphenol-A, is a chemical found in some plastics and epoxy resins. If you look for the recycle number 7, you’ll know that the plastic you’re using contains BPA. BPA can also be found in some dental sealants, canned food linings, pre-2012 baby bottles, and medical devices. The media frequently reports on concerns over BPA, and you can find BPA-free water bottles for sale in most sporting goods stores. Are these BPA-free products worth it?...

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 84 It’s tough to know how you’re doing unless you have someone to compare yourself against. After all, do you earn a lot of money?...

Self-awareness is often encouraged, but it can be challenging. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found brain imaging evidence that self-perception becomes compressed over time. Key Takeaways One’s self-perception may become compressed over time.Brain imaging can demonstrate temporal self-compression. These findings may explain how some individuals struggle to plan ahead given challenges seeing themselves in the future. This research was based on 4 studies, whereby participants rated themselves at time points in the past and future, and found that they compressed their past and future selves in comparison to their present self, which was also evidenced by scans from brain imaging technology....

Whether you have a career you love, you are working purely for financial reasons, or something in between, one of the biggest stressors you might encounter as you prepare for your baby’s arrival is planning your maternity leave. This process can seem overwhelming—especially if you are not sure where to start. The best approach is to take it one step at a time. This guide will help you think about how you are going to handle being away, who will take on your responsibilities, and how you will transition back once your leave is up....

Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral and developmental disorder that affects about 5%-7% of the population. Both children and adults can experience ADHD, but it isn’t typically diagnosed in children until the elementary school years. Still, symptoms of ADHD can begin to emerge as early as the toddler years, and parents often wonder if their young child may be showing signs of ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD in toddlers may resemble behaviors that are normal for toddlers, such as an inability to focus, hyperactivity, and impulsive movements and behaviors....

Many parents want to raise their kids to not only be in tune with their emotions but to also have healthy self-esteem and a solid communication style. If you’re reading this article, that’s likely true of you, too. Consequently, it may surprise you to learn that some of the things you do or say to your kids aren’t actually helpful, but instead could be considered gaslighting. What Is Gaslighting? When it comes to gaslighting, it’s often considered a subtle form of manipulation that causes the person on the receiving end to question their reality....

There are many ways to induce or speed up labor. One method people often talk about is intentionally breaking the bag of water (amniotic sac) around the baby. This procedure is called amniotomy or artificial rupture of membranes (AROM). It is used to speed up or induce labor. People often wonder how long after the doctor breaks your water will the baby be born. Typically, amniotomy will quickly get labor going but the time to delivery varies widely from minutes to many hours....

First recognized as a condition that affects war veterans, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be caused by any number of traumatic events, such as a car accident, natural disaster, near-death experience, or other isolated acts of violence or abuse. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (sometimes called complex PTSD or c-PTSD), is an anxiety condition that involves many of the same symptoms of PTSD along with other symptoms. When the underlying trauma is repeated and ongoing, however, some mental health professionals make a distinction between PTSD and its more intense sibling, complex PTSD (C-PTSD)....

What Is Chrometophobia? Most people worry about money. However, some people have an irrational fear of spending money, known as chrometophobia, says Aimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of “Understanding Bipolar Disorder.” The term chrometophobia originates from the Greek words chrimata, meaning money, and phobos, meaning fear. This phobia is also sometimes referred to as chrematophobia. This article explores the symptoms, causes, impact, diagnosis, and treatment of chrometophobia, as well as some coping strategies that may be helpful....

School-age kids love getting rewards, and they hate losing. That’s why something as simple as stickers can be such powerful tools in steering kids away from behavior problems and toward making better choices in the future. Likewise, knowing that there are consequences for bad behavior — things that they do not want, like losing TV or video game time — can be a powerful child discipline tool. Preparing to Make a List of Consequences These are some things to keep in mind as you create your consequences list....

Your therapist may have recommended that you pursue dialectical behavior therapy for your obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). What type of therapy is this and how does it compare with other therapies for OCD? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how thoughts and feelings can lead to behaviors. It has been found to be very helpful in both the short term and long term for people living with OCD....

We’ve heard it again and again. But is there real psychology behind the popular phrase “opposites attract” in relationships? A myth has developed that like magnets, we are attracted to our polar opposites. In old romantic movies that we viewed, we might have seen the good girl attracted to the bad boy. Or we may have a friend, a shy, retiring sort, who is attracted to an outgoing and friendly person....

In the Dr. Seuss Super Stretchy ABC game, the challenge is to put hands, feet, and even ears on up to five letters at a time. Kids stretch, turn, twist and reach their way to a win, but the process is more important, and more fun, than the final outcome. Use it to add an activity, and a bit of learning, to indoor play. This game is designed for two to four players, ages 3 and up (the pieces are too small for younger kids)....

You send your child off to school to get an education, and nutrient-packed lunches they enjoy can help them succeed. Middle school can be an especially demanding time for students. In addition to all the rigors of academia, many tweens are going through the increased energy demands of puberty, navigating more decisions on their own, experiencing emotional ups and downs, and going through a slew of other changes. But a packed lunch–especially one that is balanced–can give your child the fuel they need to power through the day as well as help them create habits that can last them into high school, college, and beyond....

Motivation plays a role in almost everything we do. From getting out of bed in the morning to tackling a chore to going after a new role at work, it’s ultimately that underlying sense of motivation that drives us from beginning to completion of any task that life throws our way. Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, an esteemed neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University notes that, “Motivation is a key activity to living a productive life....

It’s the holiday season, a time that’s supposed to be joyful and festive. But for many people, this time of year can be difficult, especially if you or someone you care about are struggling with the loss of a loved one. If you’re feeling grief this holiday season, know that you’re not alone. It can be particularly difficult to deal with grief during the holidays. Holiday traditions may serve as a reminder of what has been lost, and the happiness of others can make grieving individuals feel isolated and alone....

Climate change is a threat significantly impacting each of us, with the perils of our declining environment becoming more and more unsettling by the day. If you’re feeling guilt, anxiety, sadness, and anger about earth changes, you certainly aren’t alone. The answer isn’t to avoid the natural world. Rather, it is to go towards it. Connecting to the environment can help decrease stress and increase your mental health. This article will explore why helping the environment is important, the benefits of caring for our shared land, and ways you can get involved....

Remember Capture the Flag from summer camp or childhood camping trips? It’s a favorite backyard game that offers players a fast-paced, exhilarating mix of fitness and fun. Play outside with two to four teams of any size. A game of Capture the Flag can be a quick and simple turnaround or a long battle. Everything depends on the deviousness of the players. That, plus the number of teams and players and the size of your playing area, will determine the length and competitiveness of a game....