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It sounds like the plot of a vampire novel—an otherwise healthy, well-adjusted person begins to live a life shrouded in darkness. She works nights and sleeps all day behind blackout curtains. If she must leave the house during the day, she slathers on a thick layer of sunscreen and hides behind dark glasses. Yet for those with heliophobia, or fear of sunlight, this may be a reality. Fear of Skin Cancer In some cases, heliophobia is actually a type of health anxiety....

According to an annual survey from the American Psychological Association, stress is an all-too-common experience. What’s more, many people feel stressed beyond their coping abilities. Between work, money issues, family stress, and other obligations, it can be easy to feel overworked, frustrated, and burned out. You may already be practicing stress-relieving techniques like yoga or meditation, but there’s another way to relieve stress you may not have tried: lending a helping hand to someone in need....

Making your partner feel special and loved requires a little knowledge and some effort. But it’s these simple and often small gestures that help express and reinforce the love you have for one another. Below are just a few ways to make your partner feel special and improve the quality of your intimate relationships by showing your appreciation in the way they like to receive it, taking responsibility for your emotions, supporting their goals, and sending sweet messages throughout the day....

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year between September 15th and October 15th as a way to celebrate the achievements of millions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans and the contributions they’ve made—in the United States and beyond. Key Takeaways Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize both the successes and challenges experienced by members of the Hispanic community in the U.S.While some members of the Hispanic community may identify as Latinx, these terms are not necessarily interchangeable....

One of Netflix’s most-watched movies since its release, “Don’t Look Up” delivers the story of two astronomers who, after discovering a comet on track to hit and end all life on Earth in six months, are struggling to get the world—its leaders, especially—to take impending doom seriously. Key Takeaways Netflix’s “Don’t Look Up” is a satirical film depicting the world’s response to a huge comet hurtling toward Earth.For many, the film tapped into the existential dread that’s felt as a result of the lack of action around the climate crisis....

If you’re considering a career in psychology, you may be wondering how much money psychologists earn each year and what the work hours are like. Salaries and schedules in this field vary widely depending upon educational level, specialty area, and years of experience. Some individuals working in the field of psychology earn around $40,000 a year, while others earn six-figure salaries. Psychologists who work in schools or the government usually have full-time schedules during normal business hours, Monday through Friday....

Sexual intimacy involves engaging in sexual actions with someone with whom you feel connected. Note: it is possible to have one but not the other (sex but not emotional intimacy or vice versa), but sexual intimacy typically involves feeling both. What Is Sexual Intimacy? One definition of sexual intimacy is both partners feeling like their sexual relationship needs are being met in the relationship. Learn how to be more sexually intimate—with your partner (and yourself!...

The need to find strategies for handling difficult co-workers is one of the most common among those who work in an office environment. Whether it’s someone who spreads gossip, or someone who expects to offload their responsibilities onto others, there are ways to address any difficulties you’re facing with your co-workers. Because avoiding them is sometimes not an option, many people wonder about the best way to deal with these stress-inducing energy-drainers, and the solutions can’t come too soon....

If your tween’s mood fluctuates like a barometer, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Tweens and mood swings just go together. In fact, it’s perfectly normal for tweenagers to scroll through a variety of emotions, all in one day. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to live with a child who is pleasant one moment, and grumpy the next. Getting through the day (and the next few years) with a moody tween is a challenge for any parent, but you will need to improve and work on your patience....

Jade is a unique and beautiful name derived from the gemstone of the same name. The jade gemstone is typically used in jewelry making, but also can be used in some works of art. The name is from the Spanish phrase “piedra de la ijada” which means “stone of the colic” or “stone of the side.” This was born of the belief that the green gemstone could cure colic in babies when it was placed on their stomachs....

Managing social anxiety disorder (SAD) at work involves recognizing the day-to-day impact of the disorder on your career and identifying solutions. Receiving a diagnosis and entering treatment is the first step toward managing your anxiety symptoms. Telling your employer may also help in that you may receive accommodations to help you better do your job. At the same time, people with SAD may face specific problems in the workplace, including the inability to network effectively, fear of attending business social events, problems developing relationships with coworkers, lack of self-confidence, and difficulty speaking up in meetings....

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can affect all areas of life. Many who have OCD choose not to date and avoid intimate relationships. There are many reasons people resort to this choice; chief among them is the desire to prevent or lessen their anxiety through avoidance of stressful situations. Fortunately, there are other ways to cope that are less extreme. Relationships and Stress Intimate relationships can be stressful for many people—with or without OCD....

Having a toddler is hard work, and there may be days when you couldn’t imagine caring for an infant while also dealing with a dreaded tantrum from your 2-year-old. But many, many families have multiple children, and the parents below are sharing their firsthand experiences of caring for a two-year-old while also being pregnant. For our Perspectives series, we are interviewing pregnant people on how they’re handling this life stage with a toddler at home....

On Friday, January 22, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling for a 15% expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. In a statement announcing the order, the White House stated, “Across the country, one in seven households, and more than one in five Black and Latino households report that their household is struggling to secure the food they need.” These numbers account for about 29 million adults and 12 million children across the country....

Splitting is a term used in psychiatry to describe the inability to hold opposing thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. Some might say that a person who splits sees the world in terms of black or white—all or nothing. It’s a distorted way of thinking in which the positive or negative attributes of a person or event are neither weighed nor cohesive. Common in those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), splitting is considered a defense mechanism by which people with BPD view others, events, or even themselves in all-or-nothing terms....

Exercising with kettlebells can offer you a great workout because you’re able to combine strength exercises and cardio exercises all in one. This usually means shorter, more intense, and more effective workouts. “Training with kettlebells is great because it hits many aspects of a healthy and well-conditioned body all at once,” Kris Ceniza, personal trainer and physical therapist, says. The benefit of adjustable kettlebells over regular kettlebells is that they’re more cost-effective compared to buying individual kettlebells....

One in five children in the United States struggles with childhood obesity, which has largely been linked to diet. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that choosing foods low in nutrients and high in calories contributes to extra weight gain. Key Takeaways A study notes that when children take time to think before making food choices, they opt for healthier items.Although educators and government agencies give children information on eating healthy, information is not enough....

What Does Tyler Mean? The name Tyler is of Old French origin from the world tieulier meaning tiler or tile maker. In Middle English the spelling became tyler. The name was used for a person who lays tiles or bricks, and often as an occupational name for a housebuilder. Tyler is also the name given to the office of the outer guard of a Masonic Lodge. All lodges appoint a Tyler to stand guard outside the door....

Attitudes toward casual sex tend to shift as life circumstances—and relationship statuses—change. Depending on the context, it’s celebrated, relished, derided, envied, and stigmatized. Some people consider it seriously, evaluating all the possible emotional and physical ramifications, potential benefits, and drawbacks before having casual sex. Others take the idea a bit more … casually. Whether you’re inclined to go with the flow or debate the nitty-gritty, take a look at the cultural context and potential mental health effects of casual sex when deciding if it’s right for you....

If you are the parent of a teenager, you may or may not know whether they are masturbating. Most teenagers masturbate, and according to The American Acadamy of Pediatrics, teenage masturbation is a normal activity that is a natural extension of a child’s exploration of their body. You may wonder if the time your teen spends alone, behind the closed bedroom door or during long showers is emotionally and physically healthy....