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Approximately 140 million Americans still aren’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To address this, a viewpoint published in JAMA Psychiatry recommends that mental health professionals consider what their clients think and feel, their social experiences, and their opportunities for behavioral change. Key Takeaways Minimal research has been done regarding mental health and vaccination behavior.Three areas for intervention by mental health professionals include what is thought and felt, social experiences, and options for adjusting behavior....

One of the most impactful elements of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic was the closure of schools. Children dealt with the loss of social and academic interaction. Key Takeaways A recent study shows that loneliness led to mental health struggles in moms during pandemic school lockdowns.The detrimental feelings related to the school closures were short-lived and got better when kids returned to school. One study, published in a briefing from the Institute for Social & Economic Research at the University of Essex, shows that the closures also had an impact on mothers and their mental health....

What Does Noelle Mean? Looking for an elegant and festive name for your baby? How about, Noelle? Or, for some French flair, Noëlle. The name Noelle means “Christmas.” It is the feminine form of the masculine name Noël, and it’s a great choice for December babies (though you don’t have to have a winter baby to choose this name). Noelle evolved from the French word noël, which is derived from the Latin phrase “natalis dies Domini”, meaning “the Lord’s birthday”....

In the abbreviations SSRI and SNRI, the “RI” stands for “reuptake inhibitor.” Reuptake inhibitors are a type of drug used to treat depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. They work by increasing the concentration of certain brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, to alter mood. There many types of reuptake inhibitors, including: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (SNDRIs) While the drugs all have similar mechanisms of action, they differ in which neurotransmitters they target....

Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse in Long Island, New York, became the first person in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on December 14, 2020. The average American who doesn’t work in healthcare might be able to get it as early as February 2021, though some estimate it could be closer to April. Despite the fact that the pandemic has killed a staggering number of Americans, some people still remain skeptical of the vaccine....

Medicine balls are the perfect addition to any exercise routine. They work as a strength and an explosive movement tool, helping to build your muscles—upper body, lower body, and core—and your stamina, all while crushing major calories. Not to mention they work for all fitness levels and ages. “Medicine balls offer a great way to change up your workout routine,” says Carlos Davila, a trainer and Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Fhitting Room....

Carla doesn’t need an alarm clock—she can count on her three-year-old son Jack to get her out of bed every morning. The problem is that Jack wakes between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., stands up in his crib, and cries for Momma. “Every night, I go to bed and pray that he’ll sleep until 6 a.m. That would be heaven,” says Carla, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. When waking around dawn feels like a win, it might be time to take action....

Generally, twins and other multiples are born earlier than singletons. This is useful information to have, as it means you’ll need to be prepared for your new arrivals as early as 28 weeks after conception. It’s also important to know that twins are more likely than singletons to require at least a few days in the hospital before coming home. Why Twins Are Often Born Early There are a variety of reasons why twins are often born before they are full term at 39 weeks....

The Kinsey Scale was created by pioneering sex researcher Alfred Kinsey and his colleagues Wardell Pomeroy and Clyde Martin, who called it the Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale. It was first introduced in their book Sexual Behavior in the Human Male in 1948. Although it has a number of limitations, the Kinsey Scale was groundbreaking when it was initially published because it was the first scientific scale to suggest that human sexuality and sexual attraction are a continuum and not limited to solely heterosexual or homosexual orientations....

What Does ‘Termination’ Mean in Therapy? Termination can occur quickly if a client’s needs change or the therapist is suddenly unable to practice, or it can include discussion for several sessions. Termination in Therapy In therapy, when a client stops coming to their current therapist for sessions, this is known as “termination.” “Termination” refers to the end of the therapeutic relationship and can mean that the client will no longer receive therapy, will transition to another therapist, or is taking a break and may return in the future....

It’s a hot summer day and you’re parched, so naturally, you reach for a cold glass of water. This gets you wondering if your 3-month-old baby also needs some H20 to stay hydrated and beat the heat. While the intentions are well-meaning, if your baby is under 6 months old, you should not give them any water. “Prior to 6 months, giving your baby water will take the place of either formula or breast milk, meaning they will not be getting the nutrition that they need,” explains Krystyn Parks, a pediatric registered dietitian nutritionist and the founder of Feeding Made Easy....

The numbers do not lie. Mental illness and addiction often overlap. In fact, nearly 9 million people have a co-occurring disorder according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Yet, only 7 percent of these individuals get treatment for both conditions. And nearly 60 percent receive no treatment at all. Understanding Comorbidity Comorbidity refers to the fact that two conditions, such as a specific mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, often co-exist together....

We could all use a vacation right about now. After a year of collective trauma, job insecurity or heavy workloads, and astronomical amounts of stress, a little time to unplug and unwind could do wonders for the mind and body. Key Takeaways Feelings of burnout, anxiety, and depression are at an all-time high after a year of navigating a global pandemic, collective trauma, and work-life conflicts.Taking a designated vacation can greatly benefit your mental health and replenish your energy reserves....

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by difficulties with focus, executive functioning, memory, impulse control, and hyperactivity. It is a disorder that occurs as a result of a brain difference. When someone has ADHD, their brain functions differently than someone who is neurotypical. While this can help them with things like working, doing homework, or interacting with other people, the compensatory behaviors can be exhausting and are often not healthy long-term....

One of the many ADHD traits that gets misread as a sign of rudeness is the habit of interrupting people in conversations, usually with a thought that seems completely unrelated to the topic. When someone gets cut off, they often think it means you weren’t really listening or you don’t care what they have to say. ADHD Symptom Spotlight is a series that dives deep into a hallmark or overlooked symptom of ADHD each week....

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder marked by avoiding or restricting food intake to the point of significant weight loss, malnutrition, or functional interference. The restricting behavior can be due to sensory sensitivity, trauma, or lack of interest in food. ARFID was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 2013, replacing Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood and expanding the diagnostic criteria to include individuals across the lifespan....

For anyone who’s experienced the bodily takeover when a wave of anxiety hits—the racing heart, sweaty palms, and tight chest—relief can’t come soon enough. So, when celebrities like Khloe Kardashian talk about popping a beta blocker—a drug typically prescribed to treat heart failure—when feeling anxious, public interest rises. Key Takeaways Beta blockers are typically prescribed to treat heart failure.But more recently, they’re being prescribed off-label to treat symptoms of anxiety.Beta blockers could be a short-term treatment option to alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety....

While most people don’t love jury duty, they do understand the importance of taking part in their civic responsibility. But there are times when you simply can’t serve, either because of personal hardship or physical or mental limitations that make jury service difficult, if not impossible, to perform. If you are living with bipolar disorder, you may assume that it automatically excludes you from sitting on a jury. In some cases, you may be right, particularly if you’re on disability and unable to work....

If you are like many people who are pregnant, you may view morning sickness as a right of passage—something to be expected in pregnancy. You may even assume that aside from eating saltines and sucking on ginger candy, there is not much you can do but ride it out. But sometimes if morning sickness is left untreated—or if it morphs into hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness—it can wreak havoc on your system, especially if accompanied by vomiting....

After a pregnancy loss, most couples want answers. Many people wonder if the loss happened because of something they did, or if the miscarriage or stillbirth could have been prevented somehow. Usually, the answer to that question is no. Miscarriage and stillbirth are rarely anyone’s fault, and sometimes pregnancy loss is even a predetermined outcome at the time of conception. Even though we know pregnancy loss usually does not happen because of anything the mother (or father) did, doctors cannot always explain why they do happen....