Posts

Progesterone is one of the sex hormones closely associated with pregnancy and the menstrual cycle. It can also play a role in recurrent miscarriages. In menstruating people, levels of progesterone in the body rise every month after ovulation, preparing the lining of the uterus for the possibility of pregnancy. In a non-pregnant menstrual cycle, progesterone levels rise after ovulation and fall just before the person gets their menstrual period. When pregnancy occurs, the progesterone level should remain elevated....

Video games, flight simulations, and weather forecasting are known uses of virtual reality. The ability to create and interact in a virtual world can be a useful and entertaining tool. A new study from researchers in Australia found that virtual reality may also be beneficial within the realm of mental health. Key Takeaways A new study found that 30% of participants preferred talking with a virtual reality avatar over an in-person conversation with a therapist....

Intergenerational trauma refers to trauma that is passed from a trauma survivor to their descendants. It can also be referred to as transgenerational or multigenerational trauma. People experiencing intergenerational trauma may experience symptoms, reactions, patterns, and emotional and psychological effects from trauma experienced by previous generations (not limited to just parents or grandparents). What Is a Trauma Response? Humans have survived for thousands of years by evolving the ability to adapt....

What Is Spiritual Bypassing? Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues. The term was first coined during the early 1980s by a transpersonal psychotherapist named John Welwood in his book Toward a Psychology of Awakening. According to Welwood, spiritual bypassing can be defined as a “tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks....

The hippocampus plays a critical role in the formation, organization, and storage of new memories and in connecting certain sensations and emotions to these memories. It also plays an important part in the recall of emotional memories. Have you ever noticed how a particular scent might trigger a strong memory? It is the hippocampus that plays a role in this connection. What Is the Hippocampus? The hippocampus is a small, curved formation located deep in the temporal lobe of the brain....

Bullying is a behavior that has historically been linked to kids on the playground, but it can happen among people of any age in any setting—schools, households, workplaces. So the main question observers of such conduct have is…why do people bully others? The driving forces behind bullying may vary from person to person, but bullies share some common characteristics. For example, some people bully because they know that it gets them what they want, while others bully because they are deeply insecure....

A gender-neutral name is unisex, meaning you can give it to a baby girl or a boy. Some gender-neutral names like Avery and Kennedy are traditionally last names that turned into first names after enough people started using them as given names. Other names are used for any gender and/or are experiencing trends toward gender neutrality. For example, the names Dana, Ashley, and Leslie were once mainly used for boys but are now increasingly common for girls....

If it feels like your 4-month-old is a whole new baby at times, you’re not imagining things. The 4-month mark is a big milestone in your little one’s life, thanks to some major brain and physical development milestones. Most babies by this age will have doubled their birth weight (or weigh more) and will be sleeping longer stretches at night. Your 4-month-old’s vision is also drastically improving. “Your baby’s visual range has increased to several yards, which is crucial in this period of rapid early motor and cognitive development,” explains Florencia Segura, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Einstein Pediatrics in Vienna, Virginia....

When it comes to choosing the perfect baby name, something with a bit of history and charm might be just what you’re looking for. If you decide to go retro, you may find inspiration with literary, biblical, and royal names. Consider researching the names of your ancestors. There might be some real gems already in your family. You can also check out this list of some of the cutest, sharpest, most wearable vintage names....

Anxiety in meetings at work can be a problem for those with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Perhaps you have missed out on promotion opportunities because you didn’t speak up in meetings like your colleagues. Or maybe you have avoided promotions completely because they would mean that you would have to attend more meetings. The good news is that there are coping strategies that you can use to help alleviate social anxiety in meetings at work, both in person and virtual....

Avoidance behaviors, in the context of social anxiety disorder (SAD), are things that people do or don’t do to reduce anxiety about being in social situations. These behaviors are problematic because in the long run they only serve to increase fear. Avoidance behaviors can take three different forms: avoidance, escape or partial avoidance. Avoidance True avoidance behaviors involve the complete avoidance of the feared social situation. For example, someone afraid of public speaking might:...

The diagnostic system that was typically used to diagnose borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other personality disorders using axes are now obsolete. BPD and other personality disorders were diagnosed as Axis II disorders in the last Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV). These axes are no longer used in the current edition of the DSM. Diagnosis of BPD in DSM-IV as an Axis II Disorder Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other personality disorders are typically diagnosed using the official guidebook for the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (currently in its fifth edition, the DSM-5)....

It’s an unfortunate fact of many of our lives: We often want what we can’t have. And while the “straight” grasses of hair may look greener—or more desirable—from the other side for some, the opposite can be true for others. Some people with straight hair may envy bouncy, luscious waves or curls, while there are those with a lot of body who would rather have straight hair. If you’re in the latter camp, you may be curious about chemically straightening your hair....

As wonderful as it is to grow a tiny human, the physical adjustments can certainly take a toll. Your body is going through a lot. You’re not just dreaming if it feels like you’re getting sick more than usual. It’s common for your immune system to weaken during pregnancy, making you more susceptible to catching an illness. On top of it, you’re more at risk for a urinary tract infection (UTI) between six and 24 weeks as the uterus grows and puts more pressure on your bladder, blocking the drainage of urine....

There’s good news for growing families, as pregnant people can transfer COVID-19 antibodies to their baby in the womb. In a recent study from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers looked at pregnant people who tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies. Key Takeaways A recent study of pregnant people with COVID-19 antibodies from infection found that those antibodies transferred to their baby in the womb in 78% of cases.Antibodies pass from the parent’s blood to the fetus via the placenta....

When you sign your kids up for sports, you hope they will have fun, get some exercise, and learn new skills. As a parent, nothing is more heartbreaking than discovering that your child’s sports activities are being overshadowed by bullying. Whether it is the coach bullying your child or a teammate, the experience can be devastating for both of you. The good news is, there are some things you can do to help....

It’s not uncommon for people to be less than excited about getting their menstrual period. However, eating disorder treatment professionals are usually thrilled when a patient’s menses return after it has stopped due to an eating disorder. Although amenorrhea has been removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa, it remains a significant marker of the illness for many....

Do we really need to promote physical activity for preschoolers? It seems like little kids don’t require any extra encouragement to move their busy bodies. However, obesity rates are dangerously high in children. While these trends are lower among children ages 2 to 5 than older children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents and caregivers need to make sure that even small children get plenty of active playtimes every day....

When former Thinx CEO Miki Agrawal came up with the concept of “period proof underwear,” the company was applauded for its commitment to empowering women and de-stigmatizing menstruation. So when Agrawal, a self-described feminist who claimed she created an open and safe working environment, was accused of sexually harassing her predominately female staff, people were shocked. Here was a company touted as a trailblazing feminist organization with a former CEO accused of female-to-female sexual harassment....

Are you wondering how soon you can get pregnant after birth? The answer is sooner than you probably think. Do you ever wonder if anyone shows up at their six-week checkup pregnant? The answer is a resounding yes! Many moms are led to believe that they cannot get pregnant soon after delivery, but this is a misconception. The Possibility of Getting Pregnant Soon After Giving Birth Whether you had a vaginal birth or c-section, your body is capable of getting pregnant very shortly after giving birth....