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A paraprofessional is a specially trained, credentialed educational worker who supports students in school under the supervision of a teacher. Your child may notice this type of aide in their classroom or be assigned to individually engage with a paraprofessional as part of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). A paraprofessional may be referred to as a paraeducator, special education paraprofessional, teaching assistant, instructional assistant, or ed tech. Informally, they may be called a parapro or para....

People who experience shame usually try to hide the thing they feel ashamed of. When shame is chronic, it can involve the feeling that you are fundamentally flawed. Shame can often be hard to identify in oneself. Shame Shame can be defined as a feeling of embarrassment or humiliation that arises from the perception of having done something dishonorable, immoral, or improper. While shame is a negative emotion, its origins play a part in our survival as a species....

You don’t have to be socially isolated to feel lonely. You might be in a long-term relationship or even in a family with many siblings. You might live in a shared house with friends and still feel alone. Loneliness is a negative state in which you feel discomfort or social pain. You may feel alone, empty, or possibly even unwanted. It’s not unusual to feel lonely in a crowd or with a loved one....

What Is a Manic Episode? These are some of the characteristics of a manic episode: Manic Episode A manic episode occurs when a person who has bipolar disorder feels extremely active and energetic, often beyond their control, says Aimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of “Understanding Bipolar Disorder.” Feeling either euphorically happy or irritable and disagreeable Having a high level of energy and being very active, to the point of feeling wired and doing multiple things at a time Having racing thoughts and ideas that are difficult to pin down Not needing much sleep and feeling energetic, despite not having slept much in days Talking a lot more than usual and very fast, making it difficult for others to keep up Behaving impulsively and recklessly....

For both children and adults, the primary symptoms that define ADHD include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Not all individuals with ADHD will display these symptoms in the same way or to the same degree, and you may certainly see changes in the way the symptoms manifest as individual ages and moves through different stages of life. You mention hyperactivity, and this is one of the areas of ADHD that does seem to present a bit differently in adulthood....

Putting your newborn in a safe car seat is an important part of taking care of your baby. While buying a new car seat is an option, many parents wonder whether it’s OK to get a used one from a garage sale or an online auction or borrow one from a friend or family member. While a used car seat might save money, it could also compromise safety. Most often, experts recommend buying a new car seat, due to potential safety issues with used car seats....

Our Reader Asks I have a friend who only calls me when she’s in “crisis.” One week she is short on money. The next, her boyfriend is being mean to her. But most of her problems are her own fault. I don’t want to abandon her but I dread talking to her. What should I do? Change the Situation It sounds like you’re getting worn out hearing your friend’s problems, which is understandable....

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs known as central nervous system depressants, used to treat a variety of mood disorders and other health conditions including seizures, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. While they’re effective in treating these conditions for a short time, benzodiazepines may cause frustrating side effects like drowsiness, loss of libido, and lack of coordination. Long-term use can lead to adverse behavioral symptoms and drug dependence. How Benzodiazepines Work Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, downers, nerve pills, and tranks, work by enhancing your brain’s response to a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)....

While typical baby foods tend to be nutritious, they don’t have a reputation for being particularly flavorful. Although babies don’t seem to mind, if you’d like to jazz up your new eater’s first meals, you can absolutely start with cinnamon. After all, it goes well with many baby-friendly favorites, like sweet potatoes, apple sauce, baby cereal, and softened pears, and is neither a common allergen or stomach irritant, says Mark R....

Pregnancy comes with a big list of things you can no longer do, and drinking alcohol is right up at the top. But you may be wondering whether that applies to all types of alcohol or whether a limited amount of wine is OK later on in pregnancy. When doctors first identified fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) (then called fetal alcohol syndrome), they urged people who were expecting to abstain from binge drinking....

A miscarriage is a type of pregnancy loss that occurs on its own within the first half of a pregnancy (the first 20 weeks). Most occur during the first trimester (the first 13 weeks). According to one systematic review of the literature, 11% to 22% of pregnancies may end in miscarriage. It is theoretically possible for a tendency toward miscarriages to be hereditary and to run in families, and a few studies have suggested that unexplained recurrent miscarriages might sometimes run in families....

Hyperarousal is a specific cluster of symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As the name implies, hyperarousal is the abnormally heightened state of anxiety that occurs whenever you think about a traumatic event. Even though the threat may no longer be present, your body will respond as if it were. PTSD can develop after a recent or past trauma, such as warfare, acts of violence, a life-threatening illness, or abuse....

Koro is the fear of the genitals shrinking and retracting into the body. Koro is sometimes referred to as genital retraction syndrome. Cases of this fear have been reported around the world in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the U.S. Females occasionally suffer from a variation of koro in which they believe that their nipples are retracting. Interestingly, koro often appears as an epidemic in which multiple cases are reported simultaneously within a specific geographic area....

A second pregnancy does have its differences. Despite the fact that you are a veteran, you will be in for some surprises, both physical and mental. Not to mention, you will need to help prepare your other children for the new baby. Physical Differences Physically, you will find that you experience a lot of the sensations of tugging, pulling, and expanding about a month sooner than in your first pregnancy. This is because the uterus and supporting ligaments have stretched before, but also because you are more aware of what you are feeling....

Pregnancy is a time of many changes and it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed by them from time to time. However, chronic stress can be harmful to your health and the baby’s, so it’s important to take steps to manage your stress levels. This article explores the potential causes of stress during pregnancy, the effects of prenatal stress, and some coping strategies that may be helpful. Potential Causes of Prenatal Stress Pregnancy itself can be a stressful time, as you may find yourself worried about the baby and all the changes in your body and your life....

With fall officially in full swing, it means fall TV shows are starting to premiere. Each year in the cooler months, television networks bring the new seasons of their shows to your screens, and for TV fans, it is a very exciting time to discover new shows and see where old favorites left off. Key Takeaways Every fall, TV networks and streaming providers release new TV shows.This fall has more options for families than ever....

A stash of money in the bottom of a cookie jar probably isn’t going to destroy your marriage. But realizing that your spouse cheats on you financially could be the beginning of the end of your marriage. In an already troubled marriage, financial infidelity could be what makes you decide to call it quits. One of the common warning signs or red flags in a marriage is lying about money. Even though one in three Americans admits to lying about money to their spouse, the issue is too important to avoid....

If you’re worried about money, you’re not alone. Money is a common source of stress for American adults. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), 72% of adults report feeling stressed about money, whether it’s worrying about paying rent or feeling bogged down by debt. This is pretty significant given financial stress is linked to so many health issues. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling and other types of at-home learning became the norm for many families. If that caused you to reevaluate how you want to educate your child, know that there are unique challenges when homeschooling a child with dyslexia. If you’re considering this option, you might also be wondering what preparations, resources, or strategies would be most helpful in addition to or instead of traditional homeschooling methods. With that in mind, here is some advice from experts on how to homeschool a child with dyslexia....

“What is middle school like?” Has your child asked that question to you? The middle school years are exciting ones, as your child grows and develops into a teenager. But middle school is also a time of significant change, and kids don’t always know what to expect. How Middle School Is Different Here’s how to help your future middle schooler understand what the experience might be like, and how middle school will be different from elementary school....