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Play dates are one of those things that parents or caregivers often feel passionate about. Some believe that toddlers need play dates while others feel that kids do not need play time with other little ones until they get to preschool. The truth is, play dates are not detrimental to toddlers, but nor are they indispensable. All a play date is—or at least should be—is fun. And not just for the kids; play dates can be fun for parents and caregivers too....

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious psychological condition characterized by unstable moods and emotions, relationships, and behavior. During a BPD episode, a person may act impulsively, engage in risky behaviors, switch moods quickly, have higher levels of anger, appear numb, or experience paranoia. An estimated 1.4% of the adult population has borderline personality disorder, with roughly three-quarters of the diagnoses occurring in women; although, it is suggested that this is due to high rates of misdiagnosis in men....

The COVID-19 crisis has been devastating for millions of people around the world, and its impact goes far beyond the physical effects of the disease. Studies have found even that people without clinical depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key Takeaways Some people have found mental health benefits from the COVID-19 crisis, according to a survey carried out during the first wave of the pandemic....

While some people are happy to be able to resume some activities, others are filled with fear as they think about a return to their pre-pandemic life. If you’re a bit anxious about how to adjust to the “new normal” as things continue to open up, you’re not alone. It’s important to take care of yourself and manage your fears in a healthy way. Name Your Emotions It’s important to notice when you’re feeling anxious....

If your child has been diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) you may be at a loss as to where to begin. It can be daunting to wade through information to find what is worth reading and what is a waste of your time. Let’s begin with some basic information along with resources for learning more, addressing specific behaviors, and getting support so you can best help your child with ODD....

How many personality traits do you think exist? How many personality traits can you list just off the top of your head? Outgoing, friendly, kind, cranky, lazy, mean. You can probably rattle off a lot of different descriptions that apply to personality, but do each of these really represent a specific personality trait? Psychologists have tried to determine just how many personality traits there might be, and the numbers vary dramatically from one expert to the next....

An adult adoption may occur once the potential adoptee reaches the age of 18 or older. At that time, the only consent required is that of the adult wishing to be adopted and, of course, the person willing to adopt. Reasons for an Adult Adoption It’s important to note that adult adoption is different from establishing guardianship. Legal guardianship is intended to help safeguard and provide for an adult who cannot care for him or herself....

It’s normal to have an occasional sluggish day, but if you’re staggering through life longing for a nap or looking for a bottomless coffee pot, it’s time to evaluate your habits and change those that are making you more tired during the day. If your fatigue is new, accompanied by other symptoms, or so severe you can’t function normally, start with a visit to your doctor. You don’t need to accept exhaustion as normal, especially if you have a clean bill of health....

Every kid loves play dough, but like any children’s craft toy or activity, it poses the risk of a major mess. Your child should make a mess (it’s actually good for kids to get dirty), but the clean up can be frustrating, especially if whatever they’re playing with winds up in their hair. If that’s the case, don’t panic. Getting play dough out of your toddler’s hair is actually super easy and painless....

Thoughts of smoking are common as you go through nicotine withdrawal. It may feel as though your thoughts are trying to convince you to have just one more cigarette. Addictive thought patterns can happen when you least expect them. It may feel like you’re never going to stop missing cigarettes, but don’t let these thoughts fool you. You can absolutely live nicotine-free. While coping with thoughts about smoking isn’t easy, remember it’s only temporary....

Interviewing, choosing and hiring a caregiver for your child(ren) can be a confusing experience. Once you have gotten past the steps of interviewing a nanny or babysitter and feel satisfied with the responses, it is important that you do not overlook the important last step: checking references. Here are ever-important things to consider when conducting reference checks on anyone who may be caring for your child. Communicate Importance of Reference Checks When interviewing a potential child care provider, whether it is a teenage babysitter, day care teacher, or nanny, be sure to communicate that you intend to conduct a reference check and highly value findings....

Ryan is a classic Irish last name that has become a popular first name for both boys and girls. Ryan comes from the Gaelic words righ and an, which together mean “little king.” It’s also derived from the Irish surname O’Riain. Ryan was initially used mostly for baby boys but has become increasingly popular for girls as well. How Popular Is the Name Ryan? Although the name Ryan has never broken into the top 10 U....

Advertising Policy Updated June 15, 2016 To help us maintain the resources needed to create the quality content you deserve, we accept advertisements on our website. We greatly value transparency and hope that this policy leaves you feeling even more confident about the content and service we provide. Verywell accepts advertising on all of its sites but maintains a strict and clear separation between advertising and editorial content. Please see our Advertising Policy for full details on how advertisements and sponsored content are distinguished on our pages and the guidelines to which they must adhere....

When life gets chaotic, finding time to sit down, let alone meditate, may seem unrealistic. The good news? You don’t need hours or even much experience to benefit from a daily practice of meditation. Being able to bring awareness to your breath and refocus your attention on the present moment can help you manage stress, reduce anxiety, and feel more energized. There are plenty of great reasons to listen to meditation podcasts....

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you may have difficulty processing and accepting the loss. You may sometimes forget that the person is not around, or that they’re not a part of your life anymore. These are characteristics of denial, which is a normal part of the grieving process. You may also experience grief and denial after the loss of other things that are important to you, such as a job, a business, a friendship, or a relationship....

Among the recognized causes of recurrent miscarriages are undiagnosed or poorly controlled health conditions in the mother. Undiagnosed thyroid disease is one such problem linked to miscarriage in some studies. Given that the symptoms of thyroid disease are often less than obvious, many women with recurrent miscarriages wonder whether they might have an untreated thyroid condition. Thyroid Antibodies and Their Role in Miscarriage Thyroid disease is actually a category of different problems rather than a single entity....

Uninvolved parenting, sometimes referred to as neglectful parenting, is a style characterized by a lack of responsiveness to a child’s needs. Uninvolved parents make few to no demands of their children and they are often indifferent, dismissive, or even completely neglectful. During the 1960s, psychologist Diana Baumrind described three different parenting styles based on her research with preschool-age children: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting. In later years, researchers added uninvolved parenting....

Back in September 2022 the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) drafted a statement recommending adults under 65 be screened routinely for anxiety, and in October published a similar recommendation for kids. Key Takeaways The US Preventive Services Task Force has suggested that young people over the age of seven should receive routine anxiety screenings.It follows recommendations that adults under 65 should also receive routine screenings. Treating anxiety in children may lead to fewer mental health conditions appearing later on....

Gender is separate from sex. Although genetic factors usually define a person’s biological sex, people determine their own gender identity. This article explores what gender identity is, definitions of various gender identities, and where individuals can find support. What Is Gender Identity? Because a person’s sex and gender identity are separate, it’s essential to know the difference between them. Gender The World Health Organization (WHO) perceives gender as a social construct that people typically describe in femininity and masculinity....

Spoiler alert! This article contains major spoilers for the first season of the TV show, “Moon Knight,” available on Disney+. Pop culture is full of characters that have dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. From “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” to “Psycho,” from “Fight Club” to “Split,” and from “The United States of Tara” to “Ratched,” characters with more than one identity repeatedly appear in books, movies, and TV shows....