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There are many reasons why you might be considering taking an antidepressant like Zoloft while breastfeeding. You may have been taking Zoloft before you became pregnant and would like to take it again now. Or, like many new parents, you may have never taken Zoloft before, but are considering it now, as you deal with a postpartum mood disorder like postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. It’s rarely easy to seek help for a mental health challenge, and you should be proud that you are addressing your mental health by considering taking an antidepressant....

What Is Color Therapy? We can trace this form of therapy back to the ancient Egyptians. They made use of sun-filled rooms with colored glasses for therapeutic purposes. Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a form of therapy that uses color and light to treat certain mental and physical health conditions. Although color therapy has gained some popularity over the years, it’s still not a widely accepted form of therapy in Western medicine....

While the Internet has been rife with alarming stories that the COVID-19 vaccines could harm fertility, this fear is simply not true. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men.” Key Takeaways According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines impair male (or female) fertility....

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., at the University of Washington, is a type of psychotherapy, sometimes called “talk therapy,” used to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), meaning it’s a therapy that focuses on the role of cognition, which refers to thoughts and beliefs, and behavior, or actions, in the development and treatment of BPD. DBT includes some changes to the traditional cognitive-behavioral elements of therapy....

Art therapy has been widely practiced for many, many years, both formally in a therapeutic context, and informally among those who simply feel better when they draw. Decades ago, psychologist Carl Jung recommended coloring mandalas (circular designs that can contain intricate patterns or symbols) as a therapeutic intervention to promote psychological health, as he perceived that drawing mandalas had a calming effect on his patients while facilitating their processing of thoughts and emotions....

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. It is the most common endocrine disorder found in people with ovaries during their reproductive years. In addition to causing reproductive, metabolic, and psychological problems, there appears to be a strong link between PCOS and eating disorders or disordered eating. This article discusses the symptoms of PCOS and how the condition is connected to eating disorders. It also explores how common treatments for PCOS can contribute to the onset or worsening of eating disorders....

Hanukkah is a time of family togetherness and an opportunity to celebrate the human spirit’s ability to find light in the darkness, and persevere despite difficulties. The eight-day-long celebration also involves a fair share of fun, merriment—and of course, delicious foods to eat. Many of us grew up celebrating Hanukkah with our families, and are looking for new ways to celebrate with our growing families. Others of us are looking to celebrate it for the first time, and may even be celebrating the holiday alongside other traditional winter holidays....

Families can be a life-giving force when they are healthy and relatively stress-free. When healthy, they can be one constant you can count on—so much so that a healthy family relationship can positively impact your health and well-being. Strong family relationships also provide comfort, guidance, and strength that you can draw on in times of stress. Likewise, they provide a sense of belonging and unconditional love you are not likely to find anywhere else....

Metformin is an insulin-sensitizing drug primarily used to treat diabetes, but it can also be used to promote ovulation. Exactly how the medication improves fertility is unclear, but metformin is commonly prescribed to treat various fertility issues. People who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) might benefit from taking metformin alone, with Clomid, or during IVF treatment. Studies show that taking the drug in combination with other treatments like Clomid typically produces better results than using it on its own....

Guilt is a powerful emotion. And when left unchecked, guilty feelings can lead to some not-so-healthy actions. If you feel guilty during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. There’s something about an international crisis that seems to lead to lots of guilt. Whether you feel guilty that you’re sending your kids to daycare while you continue to work from home, or that you aren’t helping other people as much as you think you could be, recognizing how to deal with that guilt in a healthy way is essential to your well-being....

It can be stressful to watch your tween face rejection. While you want to protect your child, it is also important to give them the tools to handle social rejection on their own. Above all, don’t belittle or brush off your child’s sadness. Scientific research shows that the experience of social rejection is strongly similar to that of physical pain. They both hurt, so be gentle. How to Help Your Child Cope With Rejection Try these tips for helping your child cope:...

Feeling like you’re a little in the dark when it comes to your own family? Has communication dwindled between you and your children? Then it’s time to hold a family meeting, either as a one-time event to discuss important family matters or as the beginning of a regular routine. Sure, it might seem a little cheesy—like something you might see in a made-for-TV movie—but you’d be surprised at what a difference it can make for your clan....

Dragon tag is just one of the dozens of versions of tag or chase kids can play. Like most tag games, it’s lots of fun for a group, requires little equipment, and will really get players running and moving. It fits perfectly with a knights-and-princesses party theme (or a straight-up Dragons theme). But it can be adapted to other themes or just played spontaneously anytime you have a group of kids gathered....

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Meet John Oates John Oates is a member of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates. He’s also an accomplished solo artist who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The American Songwriters Hall of Fame....

Vitamins are increasingly making the news as we learn more about their effects and importance for health. Because certain vitamins and nutritional supplements can affect mood, vitamins can be a potential tool for stress management in certain situations. It helps to know which vitamins have an impact and what the effects are. Molecular biologist Brian Dixon, PhD, and registered dietician John Bosse, both of whom work for USANA Health Sciences, explain how vitamins can affect stress levels....

INTJ means introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging. It is one of the 16 personality types identified by a personality assessment called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Sometimes referred to as the “Architect” or the “Strategist,” people with an INTJ personality are highly analytical, creative, and logical. There are two INTJ subtypes: INTJ-A and INTJ-T. INTJ-A: This subtype is known as the “Assertive Architect.” An INTJ-A tends to have more self-confidence than an INTJ-T, particularly when handling life’s ups and downs....

Described as the “sunshine vitamin," vitamin D has steadily drawn public interest as a potential treatment for depression. Could this inexpensive supplement counteract the effects of this widespread and, often, debilitating disorder? While some research indicates that people with depression have lower levels of vitamin D than their counterparts without depression, so far, no large-scale study has found that the vitamin “cures” the condition. The causes and symptoms of depression are multifaceted, which means that often no one drug, vitamin, or identified treatment can make them disappear entirely....

What Does Jonathan Mean? If you’re looking for a strong biblical name, then here is one. Jonathan is a Hebrew name meaning “God has given.” It is a shortened version of the name Jehonathan or yehōnātān (Yahweh has given). Yahweh is the god of the Israelites, whose name was revealed to Moses in the form of four Hebrew consonants. The name is derived from two Hebrew elements; yeho referring to the Hebrew God and natan meaning “to give....

It has been over a year since the world went into lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic upended life as we knew it. In that time, everyday routines, sources of joy, and relationships have changed, often leaving little room for happiness. In its place, fear and sadness have become constant companions for many people, felt so often that they become base emotions. Key Takeaways After spending over a year in a near-constant state of fear and sadness, the idea of discovering happiness post-pandemic can be both difficult to fathom and scary to chase....

Lily is an English name used in reference to the popular white, showy flower. It signifies purity and innocence. Although it isn’t derived directly from the Bible, it does have Biblical connections: lilies are often used to represent the Virgin Mary’s purity, and St. Joseph is frequently pictured holding lilies to represent his relationship with Jesus’ mother. How Popular Is the Name Lily? Lily has been holding steady in the top 50 baby names in the U....