Posts

What Is Dysmorphophobia? Dysmorphophobia, or the fear of deformity, is a term for a condition that is now known as body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder is a somatoform disorder in which people imagine bodily imperfections.​ Dysmorphophobia is a broad term that encompasses multiple specific fears. Some people are afraid of becoming deformed or disfigured, while others fear those who have a disfiguring condition. Some expectant parents worry that their child will be born with a deformity....

When babies are first born, they go through a number of tests and procedures not only to make sure they are healthy but also to ensure that they get a healthy start in life. For instance, they will go through a newborn screening process including the APGAR test, which checks their heart rate, muscle tone, and other indicators to see if emergency care is needed. These newborn procedures also include erythromycin eye drops, a vitamin K injection, and a hepatitis B vaccine....

It may sound silly to wonder about the pregnant belly button, but there are a lot of questions on this topic! During pregnancy, the belly button can undergo a lot of changes. It helps to know what to expect, what’s normal and not, and how to care for your navel while you’re pregnant. Belly Button Pops Out Sometimes during pregnancy, your pregnant belly button will stick out. Even if you’ve been an “innie” all of your life, during pregnancy the expansion of your abdomen can cause you to be an “outie....

If you have panic disorder, you will likely be treated with antidepressant medication. One popular antidepressant used to treat panic disorder and other conditions is Prozac (fluoxetine). Understanding Prozac Prozac is the trademark name of the drug fluoxetine, a medication belonging to a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs first became available in the United States in the 1980s and quickly came to be the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant medication....

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological cognition that causes cognitive decline. It causes damage to nerve cells in your brain and affects your movement. Caring for a person with this condition can be challenging. You need to arm yourself with sufficient knowledge to take care of a person with Parkinson’s appropriately. Parkinson’s is more likely to occur in older people and they often need a lot of hands-on care. As the condition progresses, you might need to brace yourself for new challenges....

“I was only teasing.” Those words tend to be spoken a lot by friends, co-workers, and siblings. But are they as innocuous as they sound? Do they really absolve the teaser from taking responsibility for hurting another person’s feelings? Overview Some people use teasing as a playful way to feel closer to another person or to show friendship. In other words, they only tease the people they are comfortable with and generally tease about things that are shared between them like a little-known quirk or action....

White supremacy has been getting more attention in 2020 from people who benefit from it than ever before. It refers to the belief that white people are better than Black, Indigenous, and People of Color folks, as well as all the implicit and explicit ways in which this perspective is reinforced. BIPOC folks experience white supremacist harm daily given how deeply entrenched this is in the systems and the consciousness of those with whom they come into contact....

Sweating can sometimes seem annoying, but it is important to remember that it is through sweating that the body is able to cool itself when it gets too hot. Without the ability to sweat, a medical condition called anhidrosis, the body can overheat and even develop heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. That being said, in some individuals, excessive sweating—also known as hyperhidrosis—can be an issue. While it is not harmful, it can be embarrassing and frustrating to deal with, especially as a teen in school....

Winter is coming. And while there may not be any “Game of Thrones” White Walkers on their way, it’s still an ominous warning that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) lurks around the corner. The days are getting shorter and colder, while the leaves are falling and unwilling to sprout again until spring. Overall, it can feel bleak. Key Takeaways Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) often occurs during the winter months.Symptoms of SAD include hopelessness, lower libido, and lethargy....

If you’ve brought home a baby recently (or are preparing to), give yourself a massive high-five. Making the transition to parenthood—whether that’s by giving birth, through adoption, surrogacy, etc.—is challenging at the best of times. During pandemic times, it’s a whole other story. Key Takeaways Studies show that newborns are not as likely to get infected with COVID-19 as older children.However, young babies may be at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19....

Most medications are formulated to treat a particular condition or set of symptoms. They go through multiple trials and human studies before being approved by the Food and Drugs Association (FDA) for public use. However, it’s common practice for some medications to be prescribed off-label, especially when it comes to mental health conditions. Off-label means that a drug has been prescribed for reasons other than the original intended use for which it was approved....

During an emergency situation, keeping your baby safe while you tend to unexpected challenges is a priority. In addition to caring for your baby’s physical needs, you may need to find creative ways to carry your baby, because your hands will be occupied as you deal with a number of urgent issues. Making a baby sling from material in your home will help keep your hands free and increase your mobility....

Conflict in a relationship is virtually inevitable. In itself, conflict isn’t a problem; how it’s handled, however, can bring people together or tear them apart. Poor communication skills, disagreements, and misunderstandings can be a source of anger and distance or a springboard to a stronger relationship and a happier future. What Is Healthy Communication? Healthy communication is the effective exchange of thoughts and feelings between people. It often involves people taking turns speaking and listening....

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a mental health crisis (or, some would argue, worsened one we were already in the midst of). Nobody is immune from it—especially moms. The pandemic may be waning, but the psychological impact of a traumatic two years certainly isn’t. “Prior to the pandemic, the rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) were one in five. Over the past two years those rates have increased to 50 to 70 percent,” says Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW, Founding Director of The Motherhood Center in New York....

At the start of the school year, students and families are dealing with yet another round of school bus driver shortages. There just aren’t enough drivers to pick all of the kids up and bring them back home in the afternoons. Key Takeaways A nationwide school bus driver shortage means that some children may arrive at school late, or get home late.Tardiness can have a negative effect on academic performance.Some schools are more affected than others....

Prozac (fluoxetine) is an approved antidepressant for children ages 8 and older. It is a commonly prescribed medication for children and teens with major depressive disorder (MDD) and sometimes bipolar disorder. While it’s not advised that Prozac be prescribed to every child with depression, it can be part of a successful treatment plan for some. Before your child begins taking Prozac, it’s important that you understand its potential side effects. Have a conversation with your child’s doctor and be sure to monitor your child’s behavior carefully if they do start taking it....

Mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are often chalked up to “chemical imbalances." In reality, the situation is much more complex. No one knows exactly what causes OCD, though there are certainly specific risk factors that seem to be present, such as brain abnormalities, chemical changes, genetics, and environment. Is OCD Caused by a Chemical Imbalance? Changes in the neurochemical serotonin, as well as in the neurochemicals dopamine and glutamate, are likely present in OCD....

Technology can be a wonderful tool for teenagers. But, without appropriate guidance, electronics can also be dangerous. From online predators to internet addiction, teen’s face real hazards in the online world. It’s important to establish guidelines that will help your teen make healthy decisions with their smartphones, laptops, and video games. Create a list of written rules that clearly outline your expectations. Explain the negative consequences for breaking the rules ahead of time so your teen isn’t surprised when you take away privileges....

When the COVID-19 pandemic began this past March, parents were understandably frightened. Suddenly, a highly dangerous virus full of unknowns was sweeping our world and our country. It’s a parent’s instinct to keep their children safe, and that’s exactly what parents did when the pandemic began—and it’s what they continue to do now. Key Takeaways A May 2020 CDC report showed a worrying drop in immunization rates for children.This drop is largely due to parental concerns about bringing their children to any healthcare facility during a pandemic....

Parents often wonder if they need to warm up baby food, which is typically first introduced around 6 months of age. Some worry that it must be heated before serving to make it is easier to digest. Others believe that heating is necessary to kill any lurking organisms in the food that could make your baby sick. Medically speaking, it is safe to serve food that has not been warmed up....