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Given the current sociocultural fixation with thinness, you could reasonably conclude that eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, are relatively recent phenomena. However, historical evidence shows eating disorders have been around for quite some time—albeit maybe in somewhat different forms. The Historical Record The earliest historical descriptions of people experiencing symptoms consistent with modern-day eating disorders date back to Hellenistic (323 BC-31 BC) and medieval times (5th -15th century AD)....

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is an overarching term to define the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under the age of 1-year old. Key Takeaways Sudden Unexpected Infant Death rates have not changed significantly in the past 20 years. Research has shown that the majority of cases are preventable.A safe sleep environment is the number one way to reduce these rates. A recent study published in Pediatrics, the official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has revealed that the majority of SUID cases are occurring due to unsafe sleep spaces for babies and thus, can be prevented with the correct education and support....

What do you think of when you hear the word “team”? Does the word conjure up images of individuals working hard toward a mutual goal? Do you imagine careful strategizing, intense huddles, encouraging pats on the back, shared feelings of triumph over a job well done? Or does “team” make you think of game-playing and competition? Jockeying for position and advantage, trash talking, or rivalries over leadership and playing time?...

Phosphatidylserine exists naturally in certain foods and is sold as a dietary supplement. Studies in animals suggest that levels decline with age, and supplements may counteract this. Likewise, they may help with conditions such as: What Is Phosphatidylserine? Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid, a fatty substance produced in the body that helps transmit messages between nerve cells in the brain. It covers and protects brain cells, aids blood clotting, and may play a key role in retaining memory sharpness....

Changes in your body and hormones during pregnancy are responsible for a lot of different symptoms. Two common pregnancy complaints are shortness of breath and rib pain, both of which can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to sleep. Here’s what you need to know about the causes and treatments of these discomforts of pregnancy, including how to cope with them, how to sleep with rib pain and shortness of breath, and when to call the doctor....

After a long period of waiting, COVID-19 vaccines are finally available for children under the age of 5. On June 18, 2022 after FDA approval, the CDC greenlit both Moderna and Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged 6 months and up. The fact that both vaccines are now available means that parents have options, which is a good thing. But it also means that parents have a choice to make, and they may not be sure which vaccine to pick for their child....

What Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy? Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strength-based approach to psychotherapy based on solution-building rather than problem-solving. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy that focus on present problems and past causes, SFBT concentrates on how your current circumstances and future hopes. SFBT was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by husband and wife Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin....

Whether you are a mom reminiscing about the days when puberty first hit or a dad who doesn’t know what hit him, there are a few basics every parent needs to know about a teen’s menstrual cycle. Menstruation is known by many names: “menses,” “your period,” “that time of the month,” even “Aunt Flo.” During menstruation, the uterine lining that has built up throughout the month sheds. This shedding of the blood and tissue from the uterus through the vagina is menstruation....

Many people have started using greens powders to boost their nutrient intake without having to cook or prepare any greens. But are they really as “healthy” as people think? “Greens powders may be a way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake with minimal effort,” says Maddi Osburn RDN LD. But they don’t replace whole foods. “Whole fruits and vegetables provide significantly more fiber per serving than most greens powders, which is important for digestive and cardiovascular health,” says Osburn....

Working from home can definitely be appealing—no dress code, no in-person supervision, no commute time, and the freedom to decide where you work. However, working remotely can present some significant and unique challenges. Utilize helpful tips to reduce your work-associated stress and set yourself up to effectively work at home. What Is Stressful About Working at Home? Some people are surprised by the stress they feel once the novelty of working from home wears off and challenges become more apparent....

The use of heat for comfort in labor is not new, though most hospitals do not have ready access to sources of heat. The most common type of heat is a heating pad, water bottle, or rice sock. With the exception of an electric heating pad, most options actually lose heat as they go, meaning that while they need to be reheated, they are safe to sleep with. Heat is great for helping you relax....

Developmental psychologists study the human growth and development that occurs throughout the entire lifespan. This includes not only physical development but also cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality, and emotional growth. These professionals play an important role in adding to our understanding of how people change throughout life, help address developmental concerns, and work to offer assistance to children and adults facing developmental problems. Why the Work of Developmental Psychologists Is Important The study of human development is important not only to psychology but also to biology, anthropology, sociology, education, and history....

Though racism has been a major issue in the U.S. since the inception of our country, in recent years there has been a renewed call for people to actively work to dismantle systemic racism and stop racist acts from being perpetrated. Experts on racism tell us that it it’s no longer enough to not be actively racist. Instead, they insist that we should go one step further and work towards becoming anti-racist....

What Is Teen Counseling? Teen counseling is a therapeutic approach specifically for teens. With counseling, teens participate in talk therapy in a safe environment with a mental health professional with the aim to better understand and express their feelings, identify and solve problems, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Counseling can be in the form of one-on-one talk therapy sessions or group therapy. Having your teen talk to a skilled therapist can support and help them through this crucial period of their life....

When your baby falls down, it’s easy to feel like the worst parent in the world. Yet the majority of babies take a fall at one point another—from a changing table, a bed, or even down stairs. Although you may think you’re the only one, these sorts of scenarios are more common than you might think. The good news is that in most cases, babies are just fine. The old adage that “babies are made of rubber” applies much of the time....

Throughout history, humans have been drawn to fictional sad stories, from Shakespeare’s tragedies like Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet to challenging films like Schindler’s List and Titanic. However, because we think of stories as a form of entertainment, our interest in sad stories has been called paradoxical. Psychologists have started to investigate this question in the last few years and have come up with several answers through their research. After all, if we consume stories for entertainment, why would we choose to spend time with narratives that make us feel sad, an emotion that people typically try to avoid?...

Magnesium is an essential mineral that is critical for health. It plays a role in a wide variety of body functions including the formation of DNA, bone formation, and the regulation of nerve and muscle function. Low levels have also been linked to the development of depression. Magnesium and the Brain In the brain, magnesium helps to regulate the actions of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors. These receptors are believed to play an important role in memory formation and learning....

Something about the outdoors is magical for children. When they are out in the fresh air, where they can move their bodies freely, their moods are almost always positive and many behavior problems seem to disappear. That’s probably because kids actually need a solid amount of time for active play every day. It’s been proven to improve behavior and sharpen their focus. Kids are little bundles of energy and that energy needs to be able to flow for them to be at their best....

Any parent can tell you that raising kids to be kind, respectful, self-sufficient people is a serious undertaking. For many families, part of that parental responsibility includes teaching children to be proud of where they come from. That’s certainly important to many parents in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, so we asked Asian American parents from around the country about how they’re raising their kids to have cultural pride....

Anxiety attacks are fairly common in people who have bipolar disorder. In fact, researchers have found that more than half of those with bipolar disorder also had a comorbid anxiety disorder. Anxiety Attacks There is no formal psychiatric definition of “anxiety attacks.” When the term is used, people are most often referring to a panic attack, which does have a definition. In a panic attack, a person feels sudden and intense fear, even to the point of terror, without the presence of actual danger....