Posts

Stress management shouldn’t be stressful. Two of the most-recommended stress management techniques, exercise, and meditation, bring short-term benefits as well as long-term benefits that lead to greater resilience toward stress. And yet, sometimes when we need stress relief the most—when we’re feeling overwhelmed, frazzled, drained, or anxious—we may feel less inclined to practice some of the stress management techniques that can do us the ​best, such as exercise or meditation....

ESFP (extraverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving) is one of the 16 personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. People with ESFP personality types are often described as spontaneous, resourceful, and outgoing. The ESFP personality type is often referred to as “the performer” or “the entertainer.” They love being the center of attention and are often described as “class clowns.” ESFP is the opposite of the INTJ personality type. According to psychologist David Keirsey, the developer of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, approximately 4% to 10% of all people have an ESFP personality type....

Halloween may be all about costumes and trick-or-treating, but crafting is another fun and creative way to ring in the spooky season. There are endless options for easy projects that the whole family can do together. Whether your kids are into scary witches and creepy crawlers or candy corn and happy pumpkins, you can find a DIY Halloween project that will suit their fancy. Ahead is a collection of original Halloween-themed crafts that are fit for all ages....

Parents and teachers are always balancing the question of whether a student with learning disabilities is doing the best work they can or if they are perhaps slacking off a bit because of a lack of motivation. Learning ways to cope with a child’s lack of motivation is important to school success. Students who are naturally motivated to do their work are said to be intrinsically motivated. These students are satisfied with the feelings of accomplishment that come with encountering new or interesting situations, improving their skills, and doing quality work....

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is often used for the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. As useful as Prozac can be in treating these conditions, the drug may cause side effects ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening. Moreover, people who take Prozac may experience withdrawal symptoms if the treatment is not tapered off appropriately....

The Stroop effect is a phenomenon that occurs when the name of a color doesn’t match the color in which it’s printed (e.g., the word “red” appears in blue text rather than red). In such a color test (aka a Stroop test or task), you’d likely take longer to name the color (and be more likely to get it wrong) than if the color of the ink matched the word....

You’ve done all the research into how to childproof your home—you bought outlet covers, cabinet locks, and more to ensure your baby is safe since, sadly, unintentional accidents are still a leading cause of death among children. (That rate is unfortunately even higher among Black children.) And now your mobile little one is safe from everyday harm inside the house. But there’s still more work to do when it comes to outdoor spaces, which can be just as dangerous to curious babies as indoor spaces....

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is becoming more widely recognized in mainstream culture, thanks to increased education about this neurodevelopmental disorder. This awareness can help many who need support access it. Yet, its growing prevalence leads many to wonder if ADHD is overdiagnosed. Read on to learn about what ADHD is, how common it is, and if it is actually an overdiagnosed disorder. What Is ADHD? Let’s start with the basics and explore what ADHD is....

Stage fright is not commonly thought of as a phobia, despite its ability to nearly cripple performers of all types. Officially, however, it can be categorized as a subset of glossophobia, or fear of public speaking, which is itself a type of social phobia. Stage fright may arise suddenly or gradually and may be mild or severe. Who Gets Stage Fright? Anyone who performs on a public stage, from kids in school to professional actors, is potentially at risk for stage fright....

When you experience recurring miscarriages, your doctor will likely run tests to determine why. If lupus anticoagulant antibodies are found during the course of your doctor’s investigation, it’s important to understand what effect this diagnosis will have on a pregnancy and what role these antibodies played in a previous miscarriages. Better your understanding of this diagnosis with this review, which includes the risks and possible treatments for this condition. Effect of Lupus Anticoagulant on Pregnancy Lupus anticoagulant antibodies are one of the markers for antiphospholipid syndrome, a disorder in which the body creates antibodies against phospholipids (a normal component of human blood cells)....

It’s not unusual for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to struggle with financial issues. The challenges you face may be made worse by a chronic lack of money. Creditors may even be calling, which can feel like verification of your worst thoughts about yourself. Personal Finance Problems BPD can cause all sorts of problems that can harm your finances, including: Impulsive behaviors like excessive spending: One of the diagnostic criteria for BPD is impulsive behavior that is potentially self-damaging....

Pregnancy and childbirth are never without surprises. But for most of us, things go relatively smoothly, aside from fatigue and other bodily discomforts, we generally aren’t left with many serious lingering health issues. That being said, in rare cases, new mothers encounter serious problems related to their pregnancies. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is one such issue. The condition, which usually strikes during or right after pregnancy, can have serious consequences for the functionality of your heart, as well as your lungs and other organs....

Recess is likely to evoke a variety of childhood memories for adults. According to a study published in the Journal of School Health, it has significant impacts on the healthy development of children. Key Takeaways Recess offers an opportunity to support the healthy development of children as whole human beings in schools.The quality of recess includes factors such as a safe play environment, sufficient play equipment, supportive adult engagement, student autonomy, and minimal disruptive conflict....

One of the wonderful things about sending our kids to school is that they get to experience a whole world outside their life at home. Their experiences are educational, of course, but also social. They are experiencing what it’s like to be a part of their school’s culture, to make friends, to connect with teachers, and to change and grow as people. As parents, we want our children to have these experiences on their own and in their own ways, but we also want as much information as possible about what goes on during their time away from us....

If you are going to be on your own for New Year’s Eve, it can be a great opportunity to spend time celebrating yourself. In addition to looking back on the things you’ve accomplished in the prior year, give yourself attention for a change. That means allowing yourself to indulge in a night of luxurious “me-time,” especially if you’re someone who often puts everyone else’s needs before your own. This New Year’s Eve, consider caring for yourself as you would for others....

Magical thinking in children or adults refers to a psychological process in which one links an action or event to another entirely unrelated action or event. Psychologists sometimes connect folklore and superstitions to magical thinking because these traditions suggest that the actions people take lead to certain outcomes, even if that outcome is in no way influenced by the first event. The saying “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” is a prime example of this sort of thinking....

Spoiler alert! This article contains major spoilers for the docuseries Bad Vegan, available on Netflix. Mind in the Media is an ongoing series discussing mental health and psychological topics in popular movies and television. It’s often said that truth is stranger than fiction, and that’s certainly true of Netflix’s docuseries Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, Fugitives. The show details the perplexing case of Sarma Melngailis, the former owner of a celebrity-endorsed raw vegan restaurant in New York City, who illegally took money out of her business to give to her then-husband, conman Anthony Strangis....

If you or your child are living with ADHD, you’ve probably heard more than enough about your weaknesses, challenges, and issues. The good news, though, is that ADHD — when channeled in the right direction — can be a huge asset. In fact, some speculate that ​entertainers Justin Timberlake and Robin Williams, athletes Terry Bradshaw and Pete Rose, inventors Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, physicist Albert Einstein and composer Wolfgang Mozart might all have been “gifted” with ADHD....

Shyness and introversion are commonly mistaken as being the same thing. Shyness involves fear of negative evaluation (and is a milder form of social anxiety), whereas introversion refers to a tendency toward becoming over-stimulated and the need to be alone to gain energy. The opposite of shyness is being outgoing, while the opposite of introversion is extroversion. These concepts are similar but different. The extrovert appears similar, often making friends easily....

Critical incident stress management (CISM) is a type of structured crisis intervention used to support people who have experienced traumatic events. Interventions include education, prevention, and mitigation techniques implemented to reduce stress and prevent longer-lasting mental health issues, such as PTSD. These interventions most commonly occur at a workplace, school, institution, or within a community after a natural disaster or tragedy. CISM is not a type of psychotherapy, and is usually carried out by people trained in crisis management....