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When it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancy, there are a variety of birth control options, each with their own pros and cons. From condoms to birth control pills to IUDs, there’s a range of choices, effectiveness, and side effects. You might have also heard about one such form of birth control called the rhythm method, which consists of abstaining from sex or using a barrier method on the days of the month that you are most likely to get pregnant....

What’s the difference between an open house at your child’s school and parent-teacher conferences? Both will probably require you taking time off from work and sitting in very small chairs. These two back-to-school occasions serve different purposes for both parents and administration. Each school event has its own purpose as well, so it’s worth talking a little bit about what the aims of the open house and the parent-teacher conferences are....

Starting kindergarten is a huge milestone in a child’s life, but it’s important to make sure your little one is ready for this important step. The goals and benchmarks can vary from state to state in the U.S., but it’s best to be prepared for what the expectations are. Parents will want to consult with school administrators and ideally their child’s prospective kindergarten teacher to determine whether the child has the social skills needed....

Children do all sorts of weird things: Gagging themselves so they vomit. Playing with their own poop. Eating bugs. Sticking their fingers inside their rectums during bath time. While these may sound like gross or disturbing behaviors, they also sound like typical (and normal) things that toddlers might do. As an adult, you understand that these behaviors are inappropriate and unhealthy, but a toddler can’t yet make that connection. Toddlers don’t have any past knowledge about these experiences and can’t yet predict the consequences....

Whether your child has epilepsy, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, or another disability, it’s important to talk about it. You’ll likely need to revisit the conversation quite often. As your child matures, they will likely develop new questions or concerns about their disability. The way you approach these conversations will greatly influence how your child feels about themself and their potential. Acknowledge Your Child’s Disability Sometimes, guardians and parents avoid conversations about a child’s disability....

For the outdoor enthusiast hoping to maintain their active lifestyle in the cold winter months, it might be time to consider purchasing ear warmers. With a wide range of styles available on the market, this small piece of gear can be a game-changer in keeping you warm and insulated. When choosing an ear warmer, look for ones that are stretchy and are made of heat-insulating materials like fleece. We researched dozens of ear warmers and evaluated them for size, fit, comfort, and price....

No time of year is quite as contradictory as the winter. It’s the season of holidays and going home to see your family; the season of warming up by the fire; the season of gratitude, gift-giving, and renewal. For others, the approach of shorter, darker, and colder days signals a season of isolation, loneliness, grief, and depression. Many of us, though, may spend our winters feeling all of the above, all at once....

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that is marked by recurrent and typically unanticipated panic attacks. Panic attacks are characterized by a combination of many frightening physical symptoms and upsetting thoughts. For instance, during a panic attack, a person may experience physical sensations, such as shortness of breath, shaking, accelerated heart rate, and chest pain. Additionally, the person may become afraid that they are having a medical emergency, experience feelings of depersonalization and derealization, and even fear that they are dying....

Triploidy, or triploid syndrome, is a chromosome abnormality that occurs when there is an extra set of chromosomes present. Human beings are each supposed to have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). A person gets half of each pair of chromosomes from each parent. Triploidy means that a baby has three sets of the 23 chromosomes rather than two, making a total of 69 chromosomes. Unfortunately, triploidy is a disorder that is incompatible with life....

Are you interested in why and how people buy some products and not others? Have you ever wondered how media messages influence a shopper’s buying choices? If so, then you might be interested in the growing field known as consumer psychology. Consumer psychology is a specialty area that studies how our thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and perceptions influence how we buy and relate to goods and services. One formal definition of the field describes it as “the study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society....

Interpersonal relationships are complex and require healthy boundaries for everyone to thrive together. However, when problems arise, such as manipulative behavior, they need to be addressed immediately. Although the manipulator may be subtle, it’s essential to spot the signs to stop the behavior and protect yourself. Manipulative Behavior Manipulative behavior is used when someone wants to influence a person for their benefit, to obtain power and control. Manipulative behavior can occur in personal and professional relationships and, over time, cause a power imbalance that leads to more problems down the road....

What Is Projection as a Defense Mechanism? Projection is a defense mechanism in which an individual recognizes their unacceptable traits or impulses in someone else to avoid recognizing those traits or impulses in themselves subconsciously. For example, someone who bullies another for being anxious and insecure may be doing so to avoid acknowledging they exhibit those same tendencies. Origins of Projection Sigmund Freud proposed the idea of defense mechanisms as part of his psychoanalytic theory....

Cigarette sales have increased for the first time in two decades, as more people have taken up smoking during the pandemic, often using it as a coping mechanism or a substitute for mental health care. Key Takeaways Annual cigarette sales have increased for the first time in 20 years, according to the Federal Trade Commission.Young adults in particular can be more vulnerable to stress and may use cigarettes as a coping mechanism....

On August 15, 2022, more than 2,000 California mental healthcare workers went on strike. These members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers walked off the job after announcing an open-ended job action in order to protest the working environment and the level of patient care they say they are seeing at their employer, Kaiser Permanente. Key Takeaways More than 2,000 unionized mental health workers are going into their second week of strike action in CaliforniaThis isn’t the first time that Kaiser Permanente, the strikers’ employer, has faced worker backlash over patient care and appointment wait timesThe strike comes amidst a heavy wave of resignations by staff in healthcare As one union member said in a statement at the outset of the action, “We’re not willing to be part of a system that disrespects the work we do and prevents us from providing ethical care....

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder marked by mood instability, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, and problems with self-image. In 1980, BPD became an official personality disorder in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition” (DSM-III). Many wonder how the term “borderline” came to describe BPD. Let’s learn more about the origin of this term and why its use has been debated through the years. History of “Borderline” in Borderline Personality Disorder The term “borderline” was first introduced in 1938 by American psychoanalyst Adolph Stern....

One of the ways that alcohol can affect the brain is by damaging the functioning of serotonin, a chemical that influences mood, sleep, appetite, temperature regulation, and mood. Consequently, people with alcohol use disorders often report problems with depression and anxiety. Their health care providers will typically prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to help them maintain optimal levels of serotonin. “SSRIs are the most widely prescribed class of anti-depressants,” said William Dundon, senior research investigator in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine....

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) is a prescription medication typically used to treat depression. However, the FDA has also approved it for the treatment of social anxiety disorder, a mental health condition marked by an irrational fear of being watched or judged, or of embarrassing or humiliating oneself. Zoloft for Anxiety Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which works to slow the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate mood and control anxiety....

A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy that has a greater chance of encountering problems before, during, or after delivery. It requires more careful monitoring than a typical pregnancy. However, even though there is the potential for complications, with early and regular prenatal care a high-risk pregnancy can lead to a safe delivery and healthy baby. Here’s what you need to know about the diagnosis, care, and monitoring of a high-risk pregnancy....

Antidepressants can be highly effective in the treatment of depression, but they can also cause unwanted side effects. Weight gain is one common side effect of certain classes of antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Weight gain is also associated with the atypical antidepressant Remeron (mirtazapine). Antidepressants That Can Cause Weight Gain While each person responds differently to antidepressant medications, the following are some of the ones that may be associated with weight gain in some people:...

Often, parents who are thinking about getting a divorce will ask what age is best for their kids. While there’s no magic number that defines when kids are most resilient, age is a valid consideration. But it’s not the only one. If you’re thinking about filing for a divorce, here are some factors you should keep in mind. Navigating Divorce With Kids Divorced parents need to keep their kids’ best interests at the forefront of the many decisions they will have to make....