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Pleasant activity scheduling, which is also referred to as behavioral activation, is a therapy technique that is often used to treat individuals with mental health conditions such as depression. It involves scheduling and participating in positive events that are meant to boost an individual’s mood. Pleasant activity scheduling is recognized as an evidence-based treatment that is effective in reducing a variety of mental health symptoms. How Activity Scheduling Works Individuals who are experiencing depression often isolate themselves....

When you’re stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode and releases hormones that give you energy and make you more alert by raising your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Stress is the body’s response to physical, emotional, or mental pressure. A short burst of stress can be beneficial because it can help you avoid an accidental collision or power through work to meet an important deadline. While it’s normal to feel stressed from time to time, being chronically stressed can affect your mental and physical health....

Habits are a valuable part of a healthy lifestyle because good daily behaviors get locked in as they become automatic. However (though we may not always like to admit it), we all have bad habits, which can range from the merely inconvenient (biting your nails) to seriously longevity-threatening (smoking). So how can you break a bad habit? According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), there’s no single answer that will work for everyone....

When it comes to mealtime, feeding baby twins is a big challenge for parents. Often, they are both hungry at the same time, and they’re not very patient about waiting their turn while their sibling is eating. After mastering the skill of feeding two babies at the same time while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, parents face new challenges when transitioning to solid food. Most families find that it is most efficient to feed both babies at the same time....

For many Americans, job stress is nothing new. With a culture that is often driven by how successful a person is, how impressive their title is, and how much money or assets they have, we face significant pressure to perform at a high level on a daily basis. Meanwhile, many of our essential jobs are filled by individuals who are struggling to get by and couldn’t afford to take time off to protect their health during the height of the pandemic....

At this point, most of us are familiar with the concept of mindfulness. Through this ancient practice of focusing on sensory stimuli like our breathing or bodily sensations, we can be more present in the moment, and that can effectively reduce distress. Key Takeaways Mindfulness is an ancient practice that requires an awareness of sensory stimuli and presence in the moment.Mindfulness-based therapy has been linked to both mental and physical benefits....

Relationships can certainly be rewarding, but they’re not always easy. They often require a lot of time, effort, commitment, and compromise from both partners. Most people face relationship challenges at some point or another. On one hand, there may be a sense of comfort in knowing that your partner is aware of the condition and its effects, and understands what you’re going through. However, living with depression can make dating and relationships even harder....

Noah is believed to come from the Hebrew “Noach,” meaning “rest.” It is also the name of a prominent biblical figure. In the Old Testament’s book of Genesis, Noah was chosen by God as the only righteous man of his time. He was told to gather animals “two by two” from every species and build the Ark, which allowed him, his family, and the animals to survive the Great Flood meant to punish the world....

One of the things that family and friends of people affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) find to be the most stressful when interacting with their loved one is the excessive reassurance-seeking that can often accompany the condition. Excessive reassurance seeking is the need to check in with someone over and over again to make sure everything is OK with respect to a particular worry or obsession. While responding may seem supportive, it only serves to perpetuate OCD behaviors and thoughts....

What Is Psychodrama? This type of therapy incorporates aspects of role-playing, dramatic self-presentation, and group dynamics to help people gain greater understanding and insight into their lives and experiences. Psychodrama is a type of experiential, action-based therapy in which people explore issues by acting out events from their past. While it functions as individual therapy, it utilizes a group format. It is rooted in psychology, but it also incorporates elements of theater and sociology....

The odds are good that you and your loved ones each have your own smartphone. In fact, the Pew Research Center estimates that 97% of Americans own a cellphone, while 85% have a smartphone. Key Takeaways Use of digital devices can free up brain storage to hold additional details.In this way, reliance on the external storage of a smartphone may allow for better functioning as individuals are able to remember more....

What Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy? Somatic experiencing therapy is a type of alternative therapy geared towards helping people find healing from trauma. Created by Peter Levine, PhD, this therapy works on the principle that trauma gets trapped in the body, leading to some of the symptoms people with PTSD or people who have experienced trauma might experience. Through this method, practitioners work on releasing this stress from the body. Many people who have experienced trauma, especially those who have experienced physical trauma such as domestic violence or sexual assault, can dissociate or disconnect from their bodies....

Spanking children for misbehavior has been the discipline method of choice for many generations, across a myriad of cultures. In the U.S., physical punishment of children is still legal in the home in all 50 states and in public schools in 19 states. If it is still so widely used, is it really that bad? Key Takeaways Physical punishment, such as spanking, worsens a child’s behavior over time.Children are negatively affected by spanking regardless of gender, race, culture, or parenting style....

Everyone’s been there. You might have been at the store and saw a sale for your favorite mascara, and sure you just bought some, but why not stock up on a few more? Or maybe a pair of sneakers popped up in an advertisement while you’re scrolling, and why not treat yourself? These spontaneous purchases add up little by little, and suddenly your home is filled with extra things, and your bank account is lower than you want....

Giving thanks and expressing gratitude is one of the oldest concepts in society. It reminds us of how special, beautiful, and blessed our lives are even when we are faced with challenging, stressful, and overwhelming situations. The concept of gratitude is especially important in the midst of a pandemic like COVID-19 when the world around us is unpredictable and sometimes even dangerous. If you’re wondering how gratitude can impact your life or even if you’re just looking for ways to infuse your life with more appreciation and thankfulness, here are the key things you need to know....

July is Disability Pride Month, but that can mean various things to different people. The disabled community is diverse, so individuals with disabilities may vary in their thoughts and feelings regarding Disability Pride Month. Key Takeaways Disability Pride Month has been celebrated in July since 1990, and the number of cities participating in Disability Pride events continue to grow.While the experience of disabilities may differ, a sense of community can help people with disabilities to cope, especially given the ongoing systemic barriers, stigma, etc....

Differing views on the COVID-19 vaccine have had far-reaching impacts. A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that Black people worked through COVID-19 vaccine hesitation more quickly than white people. Key Takeaways In late 2020, about 38% of Black participants and 28% of white participants reported hesitation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.By June 2021, only 26% of Black participants reported hesitation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, while 27% of white participants still reported hesitation....

If you are going to enroll your child in kindergarten, you may be curious about the typical kindergarten curriculum and what you need to do to prepare your child. For example, should children be able to count to 100, recite the alphabet, or perform tasks that make use of fine motor skills? If they’re not expected to know these skills before kindergarten, will they learn them during this landmark school year?...

On the surface, chewing a couple of pieces of nicotine gum every day is much better than smoking. Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds; 250 of which are known to be poisonous, and upwards of 70 that have been identified as carcinogenic. We also know that inhaling secondhand smoke is hazardous, and for a smoker, it’s a double whammy because we breathe in both mainstream and sidestream smoke. It puts us at risk for heart disease, COPD, and cancer for starters....

When it comes to packing for the hospital, there are lots of lists for birthing parents. But what about their partners? They are often an active part of the process and will need to be prepared as well. Having your own small hospital bag containing supplies for your role in the labor and delivery process is also wise. Keep in mind that you are often at the hospital the entire time, sometimes even sleeping in the room with the birthing parent and baby....