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Relaxation techniques are strategies used to assist in managing panic symptoms, reducing stress, and eliciting a sense of calm. Such techniques, including breathing exercises, have also been shown to help manage panic attacks. The following describes the relaxation technique of deep breathing. Start practicing this technique today to begin feeling more relaxed. Benefits Breathing is a function that we all do naturally and with little conscious awareness or effort. Deep breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, involves bringing one’s focus to the breathing process....

During the COVID-19 pandemic families spent more time together than ever before. Being locked down together taught parents important lessons in family dynamics—in particular, many fathers were suddenly enlightened as to just how much work goes into caring for children. Key Takeaways Dads believe that during the pandemic, they took on greater responsibility with childcare.On the contrary, moms felt that dads didn’t step up as much as they could have.It’s important to make the “invisible” responsibilities of parenting visible to both partners....

Depending on the context, the phrase “dumbing down” can refer to the hiding of natural intellectual abilities, or to the altering of the school curriculum to make it less rigorous. In either instance, it is a negative thing, and to say something is “dumbed down” is to suggest it is inferior. If a person is behaving or performing at a lower level than they are capable, this is also considered a form of dumbing down....

The tendency to overestimate how much other people agree with us is known among social psychologists as the false consensus effect. This kind of cognitive bias leads people to believe that their own values and ideas are “normal” and that the majority of people share these same opinions. Let’s say Jim’s Facebook newsfeed is full of stories advocating a certain political position. Even though that feed is curated by Jim to include people he knows and is influenced by an algorithm based on Jim’s behavior, he may overestimate how many people agree with this position....

Motor skills are skills that enable the movements and tasks we do every day. Learning these skills is a crucial part of child development. Fine motor skills are those that require a high degree of control and precision and use the small muscles of the hand or wrist (such as using a fork or crayon). Gross motor skills use the large muscles in the body to allow for balance, coordination, reaction time, and physical strength so that we can do bigger movements, such as walking, running, and jumping....

Whether you’ve been in therapy for a long time, or are just starting out, you may be wondering how long you should continue. You may be unsure of how you’ll know when it’s time to stop therapy. You may be hoping that you’ll be able to end therapy soon, or you may be questioning if you’ve been in therapy for too long. Here, we’ll break down what you should know about how long to be in therapy, and how to determine a therapy length that makes sense for you....

In the ovaries of the female reproductive system, an ovarian follicle is a fluid-filled sac that contains an immature egg, or oocyte. During ovulation, a mature egg is released from a follicle. While several follicles begin to develop each cycle, normally only one will ovulate an egg (rarely, more than one egg is released, increasing the potential for twins). After ovulation, the follicle turns into a corpus luteum. The follicles that do not release a mature egg disintegrate, a process known as atresia that can happen at any stage of follicular development....

If you’ve been diagnosed with clinical depression, you may be relieved to learn what’s been causing your symptoms and that there are many medications and other treatments available for them. At the same time, you may be worried you won’t be able to afford the drugs or therapy that can help you. Sometimes insurance plans aren’t very generous about treating mental health conditions, and if you don’t have insurance at all, then paying out of pocket for a medication like Prozac, or even its generic form (fluoxetine), may be a reach for you....

Blowing and chasing bubbles with your kids will get you outdoors and enjoying healthy exercise. It can be a fun activity for all ages. And you don’t have to spend money on store-bought bubbles. Learning how to make bubble solution at home is often simpler and less expensive. Homemade bubble solution also encourages kids to use the kitchen, measure ingredients, and perform a little easy math. And DIY bubbles also teach lessons about reusing and repurposing materials, which can spark your child’s imagination....

A Venn diagram is a visual tool used to compare and contrast two or more objects, events, people, or concepts. It is often used in language arts and math classes to organize differences and similarities. This simple graphic makes it easy for students to understand how two things are both different and alike at the same time. What Is a Venn Diagram? A Venn diagram can become complicated, but in its simplest form, it is two circles that overlap in the middle....

While you might think stretching, breathing, and focusing on your posture can’t possibly improve your psychological well-being, there’s growing evidence that yoga can be effective in reducing depression. Traditional treatment for depression usually involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication. But not everyone responds well to these types of evidence-based treatments. Only one-third of individuals receive relief from their first trial with antidepressants. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in mind-body practices that can improve psychological well-being....

Mood changes and discomfort are common before and during a person’s menstrual cycle. You’ve likely learned what to expect from your body during menstruation, but hormonal fluctuations affect your body throughout the entire month. Your mood and energy levels consistently change due to hormonal shifts during your cycle. This is why you may find you’re more productive during certain weeks than others. Let’s explore the sequence of events your body goes through each month and learn more about identifying these changes so you can maximize your mood and productivity during different points in your cycle....

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, so it’s only natural that you want to try anything that might help you quit. Many people try natural remedies, but not all of them are effective or safe. However, some studies do show promising results for some. Many people who successfully quit used multiple approaches, including counseling or a support system, so you might find that a combination of methods works best for you....

When you think of twins that look exactly alike, you’d probably call them “identical” twins. While this is a common way to describe this type of twin, the more precise term is monozygotic. Here is an overview of why monozygotic twins look (and even act) alike, and why the two individuals are not exactly “identical.” What Are Monozygotic Twins? Monozygotic twins form when a single fertilized egg that splits. From there, two embryos form and will eventually develop into two babies....

If you’re pregnant and experiencing a rash on your body, it could be pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP). PUPPP, which is also known as polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, is the most common rash in pregnant people. The skin condition can also be called PUPPS or PEP. It normally occurs in a pregnant person’s first pregnancy during the third trimester (with an average onset of 35 weeks). PUPPS also common in parents-to-be who are carrying multiples....

You don’t have to be pregnant to experience sciatica, but when you are pregnant, sciatica is a particularly unwelcome addition to the experience of growing a baby. Fortunately, there are things you can do to relieve the pain or discomfort of sciatica during pregnancy. What Is Sciatica? When people talk about sciatica, they’re referring to pain that is felt along the sciatic nerve. This nerve travels from the lower back, past the hips and buttocks, and down each leg to the toes....

What Is Strengths-Based Therapy? Strengths-based therapy is a theoretical orientation and approach to psychotherapy treatment based in positive psychology. A strengths-based therapist focuses on the client’s existing resources, resilience, and positive qualities in an effort to use these abilities to improve quality of life and reduce problematic symptoms. Strengths-based therapy can be utilized in conjunction with other orientations, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, humanistic therapy, and narrative therapy. Therapists might also use a strengths-based approach if they are engaging in solution-focused therapy, brief motivational interviewing, or interpersonal therapy....

Tweens need to understand the changes they can expect from puberty, including managing menstruation, before they start their period. In addition, educating tweens about pads and tampons before they need them helps them adjust more comfortably to the changes of puberty and remain confident during what can be a difficult phase of growing up. Go over these common questions with your tween. What Is a Pad? Your child is probably already familiar with pads either from you, friends, TV commercials, or health class....

Acupressure mats are gaining popularity as an at-home, holistic treatment tool for post-workout recovery and overall stress relief. Similar to acupuncture, acupressure is intended to help chi (Qi), or energy, flow freely through the body by stimulating the body’s pressure points. “Acupressure mats work to prevent imbalances, enhance circulation, and help reduce the likelihood of stiff and sore muscles from overuse,” says Gudrun Snyder, acupuncturist and founder of Moon Rabbit Acupuncture....

Cadmium is a natural element and a toxic metal found in cigarettes and in some foods. High levels of cadmium in the body have been linked with adverse health effects like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One study found that people who smoke have four or five times higher cadmium concentrations in their blood than people who don’t smoke. If you smoke cigarettes, it’s important to become aware of the potential side effects of cadmium....