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What Is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that changes how the brain works. It is usually a chronic and lifelong issue that includes symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and a lack of ability to express emotions, also known as a blunted affect. While schizophrenia significantly affects many of those who have it, those with high-functioning schizophrenia are often able to perform daily tasks more independently. Although not an official diagnosis, high-functioning schizophrenia generally refers to being able to function successfully in work or social realms in the face of symptoms of the illness....

Three months is a turning point for many babies and their parents. Your baby is no longer a newborn anymore and they have officially completed the first quarter of their first year of life. They have reached a number of milestones, such as tracking objects with their eyes, reaching and grasping for things with their hands, and pushing up on their arms when lying on their tummy. What amazing accomplishments!...

Interest in intelligence dates back to more than a century ago. But it wasn’t until psychologist Alfred Binet was asked to identify which students needed educational assistance that the first intelligence quotient (IQ) test was born. Although it has its limitations, Binet’s IQ test is well-known around the world as a way to assess and compare intelligence. It also set the stage for the development of several of the IQ tests that are still in use today....

For some people, COVID-19 symptoms remain weeks or even months after the infection has gone—a condition known as post-COVID-19 syndrome or “long COVID.” The lingering symptoms aren’t the same for everybody, but many patients report memory lapses, difficulty concentrating and other cognitive issues, commonly referred to collectively as “brain fog.” Key Takeaways According to a new study, some COVID-19 survivors have cognitive issues (“brain fog”) several months after recovering from the infection....

Experiencing bullying is not without consequences. In fact, bullying often has a lasting impact on the people targeted and the consequences can last a lifetime. Teens and children who have been targeted by bullies often struggle with things like anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, and low self-esteem for years after the bullying has long since ended. To cope with these negative consequences, some kids even resort to self-harming behaviors like cutting or burning themselves....

What Is Cannabis Use Disorder? Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a diagnosis given for problematic marijuana use. CUD was introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition or DSM 5. (The previous DSM edition separated problematic use into two different disorders: cannabis abuse and cannabis dependence.) Cannabis use disorder affects roughly 10% of the 193 million cannabis users in the world. The diagnosis captures the possibility that people can be negatively impacted by marijuana use without necessarily being addicted....

Research suggests that women with Type 1 diabetes are 2.4 times more likely than women without diabetes to develop an eating disorder, and 1.9 times more likely to develop subthreshold eating disorders. If a person with diabetes has an eating disorder or misuses insulin to lose weight, the condition is often called diabulimia. Diabetes Diabetes is a disease that occurs when one’s blood glucose is too high as a result of problems with the hormone insulin....

Did you ever wonder why so many of your friends who drink also smoke? Have you ever thought that you had successfully quit smoking, but the next time you had an alcoholic beverage you just had to have a cigarette? As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U.S. Why is it so difficult for drinkers to quit smoking?...

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is much more common than you might imagine. A recent study on the prevalence of mental health disorders in the U.S. found that about 1.6% of the population has BPD. While that number may sound small, that means that there are more than four million people with BPD in the U.S. alone. Although many people have never heard of BPD, it is actually more common than many well-known disorders, such as schizophrenia....

It’s natural for kids to have questions about why their father isn’t in their life. As painful as it is to be the one stuck doing the explaining, these questions are ones you cannot ignore. As a result, be prepared with what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. While you might not want to share every gritty detail with your son or daughter regarding why their father is absent, there are ways to answer their questions that help children feel more secure....

The gender of a child is something we’ve been conditioned to assume is settled while they are still in the womb, but that isn’t always the case. In reality, children may not identify as the gender that matches the sex they were assigned at birth. This might be something obvious, as with a toddler who openly tells their parent that they are a different gender than the one assigned to them, or the subject may not arise until a child’s teenage years....

Social distancing is the best tool to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Unfortunately, not everyone seems to be on the same page when it comes to maintaining physical distance during the pandemic. Key Takeaways Despite the fact that social distancing is essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19, many people continue to ignore the social distancing orders put in place to keep them safe.Social pressure can motivate your friends and family to practice social distancing....

Humans evolved the fight or flight response to evaluate threats based on the information at hand. It’s helped our species survive for centuries. But now, in the digital age, the sheer amount of information we have access to has skyrocketed. And as we consume news at an increasingly rapid rate, our minds and bodies are affected. Key Takeaways Thanks to social media, consuming news is almost unavoidable.But the news can elicit a chronic stress response, which can take a toll on the body and mind....

A breast pump can be very useful if you’re breastfeeding. The device allows you to express breast milk and store it to ensure your baby is fed when you’re apart. When choosing a pump, it’s important that the flange (also called a breast shield) fits you properly. A flange that doesn’t fit can breast soreness and injury as well as reduce the amount of milk you produce. The Standard Breast Pump Flange The breast pump flange is the part that connects your breast to the pump....

At a personal level, improving your mental health does not happen overnight, no matter who you are. It takes work, preparation, persistence and often requires external support—whether that comes from a therapist, a friend or loved one, or a larger community. As with our physical health, maintaining mental self-care is not easy. So when it comes to breaking through systemic disparities in mental health that can affect entire populations of individuals, it’s not hard to see how much work, preparation, persistence, and support may be necessary....

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often experience very intense mood swings. But how can these mood swings be distinguished from normal variations in mood, or from the types of mood swings associated with other disorders? People with BPD often feel like they are on an emotional rollercoaster and typically have an unstable sense of self and extreme fear of abandonment. BPD is part of the Cluster B personality disorders, which are marked by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior....

Neurontin (gabapentin) is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat bipolar disorder. Let’s review the basics on Neurontin, including side effects and whether science supports its use as a mood stabilizer. What Medical Conditions Is Neurontin Approved to Treat? Neurontin is a medication approved by the FDA to treat partial seizures and postherpetic neuralgia, pain that remains after someone has shingles. Potential Serious Side Effects According to the FDA, Neurontin may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior....

More than 31% of all U.S. births are by cesarean section (C-section), per the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But despite the high percentage of C-section births, there’s a stigma attached to this method of delivery. It’s regarded by many as the “unnatural” option and inferior to a vaginal delivery, which can lead to feelings of shame and failure. Key Takeaways Almost a third of births in the U....

A pregnancy with identical twins is different than a pregnancy with just one baby. There are some unique medical issues and complications specific to identical twins. If you are pregnant with identical twins, these are some things you should consider. What Are Identical Twins? It’s important to accurately understand twin type. The term identical is used to describe monozygotic multiples—twins that form from a single fertilized egg that splits into two....

Quiet borderline personality disorder (BPD) is not a recognized subtype in terms of diagnosis; rather, it’s a term that refers to people who meet the criteria for diagnosis of borderline personality disorder but who don’t fit the typical profile. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Borderline personality disorder is an illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships....