Heavy drinking is a habit that can creep up or develop as a result of lifestyle factors, such as work, friends, and activities. But most people who drink heavily choose to quit at some point, either on their own or with the help of a treatment or self-help program such as Alcoholic Anonymous (AA), the original 12-step program. So why do people who drink heavily decide to change their alcohol consumption?...
Congrats! You just had a baby! The first week of your baby’s life may be a time of tremendous joy, but also a fair amount of uncertainty. This is normal: you have never been a parent to this little one before, and there are bound to be some growing pains. Keep in mind that just as you are getting to know your baby, your baby is making a huge transition too....
If you have recently dealt with a traumatic event, you might be worried that you’re going to feel lousy indefinitely. While it can certainly take some time to feel fully happy and healthy again, there are many steps you can take to help you move forward. Know that you will indeed be OK again and that you have the power to make your healing journey an effective one. Ahead, we have 10 different ways for you to heal from trauma....
Pop culture has always played a significant role in America’s biggest trends. From “The Rachel” haircut made popular by the TV show “Friends,” to sci-fi-inspired sneakers for “Star Wars” fans, we can always rely on the entertainment world to tell us what is trendy and what is not. It is no wonder that the names used in films, TV shows, and celebrities’ own lives are becoming popular options for babies. Whether you choose a classic name like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively did with Betty, or a more modern name like Jax from “Sons of Anarchy,” your little one is bound to feel like a star....
Breathing is a necessity of life that usually occurs without much thought. When you breathe in, blood cells receive oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a waste product that’s carried back through your body and exhaled. Improper breathing can upset the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange and contribute to anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, and other physical and emotional disturbances. The next time you’re feeling anxious, there are a variety of anxiety breathing exercises to try....
Adderall dependence is more common than you might think. It can happen to anyone who has been using it for an extended period of time, even people who take it exactly as directed. When you become physically dependent on a drug like Adderall, it means that when you try to quit you will experience withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been using Adderall to study, get high, or to feel more awake, you can also become addicted to it....
Auditory discrimination is the ability to recognize similarities and differences between sounds. Particularly, auditory discrimination allows people to distinguish between phonemes in words. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in any given language. Auditory discrimination allows a person to tell the difference between words and sounds that are similar as well as words and sounds that are different. What Is Auditory Discrimination? A child who has trouble with auditory discrimination may have difficulty telling the difference between words such as “sister” and “sitter” or “cat” and “cot....
Making a list of pros and cons can quickly help you see that the negatives of smoking are much greater than the benefits. After all, most long-term smokers have a love/hate relationship with cigarettes. For many, cigarettes punctuate each and every activity of daily life. It becomes a very heavy load to carry over time. As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U....
Planning for any surgery can be scary, even if it is a scheduled cesarean section for the birth of your child. In addition to all the regular preparations for bringing a new baby home, there are some things unique to a C-section that you will want to get mentally and physically ready for. Scheduled C-Section Depending on the reason for your scheduled C-section, you may have several weeks’ notice or just a few days to prepare....
Cannabis contains over 113 different chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two types of chemical compounds derived from cannabis. In recent years, interest has grown in the potential health effects and benefits of cannabis. Much of this interest has centered on these two cannabinoids. This interest will likely grow as cannabis and marijuana products become legal in more states. A number of different products have emerged that contain CBD, THC, or both that are designed to alleviate ailments such as stress, anxiety, and insomnia....
Many adults experience procrastination, which is when you delay taking action on a task. While procrastinating on one or two tasks might seem harmless, chronic procrastination can have negative ripple effects on your life and well-being. While chronic procrastination isn’t a disorder, it can be associated with mental health conditions. Many adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with procrastination. What Is Chronic Procrastination? Chronic procrastination is the practice of consistently avoiding or putting off completing tasks or responsibilities, even when doing so can possibly result in negative outcomes....
Dysphoric mania is the term that was used in the past for what we now call an episode with mixed features, though some health professionals may still use this term. Around 40 percent of people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience episodes with mixed features. Understanding Dysphoria Dysphoria is a word that turns up often in the literature describing bipolar disorder. By definition, dysphoria is a profound state of unease or a general dissatisfaction with life....
Anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening illness that often has a long course. Although many people with anorexia nervosa fully recover, others will develop a chronic form of the condition which can end in death or severe medical complications. Researchers are looking for factors that might help (or hinder) full recovery from anorexia. Identifying these factors can hopefully help medical and mental health professionals determine the best treatment for each person with the condition....
The last year of elementary school will be a good time for you and your fifth grader to look ahead and also look back and reflect. By the time your child is ready to make the transition to middle school, they should have a solid grasp of basic academics. If your child isn’t reading at a fifth-grade level or doesn’t fully understand fifth grade subject matter, for instance, now is the time for an intervention....
We all want to feel close and desired by our partners, and when that doesn’t happen, we may become concerned. However, feeling unwanted in a relationship is extremely common. Especially when new relationship energy (or NRE) wears off, long-term relationships may grow boring and lead to feelings of frustration, a lack of desire, or other potential issues that lead to one partner feeling frustrated. It’s important to note that there are many reasons why someone may feel unwanted, including some causes that may signify a deeper problem with yourself or your relationship....
As we reach the two-month mark of social distancing and various stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many people are feeling physically and emotionally drained from what experts have labeled “quarantine fatigue.” Key Takeaways While most are able to maintain strict quarantine guidelines for while, maintaining crisis mode for months can take a toll.Quarantine fatigue is leading some people to follow social distancing guidelines less stringently.To stay the course, it can be helpful to maintain a routine and validate feelings of frustration or powerlessness....
Friday Fix: Episode 105 Apologizing, being the first to say, “I love you,” and telling someone when your feelings are hurt are just a few examples of vulnerability. 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. Quite often, we’re discouraged from showing our vulnerabilities, however....
If you’ve been having the same work-related dreams forever, it turns out you’re not alone. It makes sense, right? In high school and college, many people swapped stories about how they were having nightmares that they missed a test or failed a class—or even that they showed up to a class not realizing that the final was that day. It comes with the territory of experiencing stress during daily life. One study even confirmed that people who experience worry or stress in their daily lives are more likely to experience them in their dreams....
ADD can certainly have a negative effect on your work life. You may have trouble remembering information, managing your time, organizing and prioritizing, screening out distractions, and just getting started on tasks. You may have a hard time figuring out what is important and get bogged down and stuck on irrelevant details. You may find that deadlines seem to sneak up quickly or have a tough time simply planning out your day....
Discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is based on milestones. A premature baby must typically meet the following criteria before they are ready to go home. 1. Open Crib Your baby will progress from the incubator or radiant warmer to an open crib based on their gestational age, weight, and ability to regulate their body temperature. The transition is usually gradual. Your baby may be returned to the warmer environment at the first sign of inability to maintain temperature....
