We live in a culture that values work and often defines us by what we do for a living. The money we earn, the status and possessions we attain, and what we produce at our jobs all contribute to how we view ourselves, and how we are viewed by the world. Too often, these pursuits have not left room for self-care or balanced living. As a society, we have not paid enough attention to mental health in the workplace....
While there is never really a good time to feel unwell, catching a cold during pregnancy comes with additional challenges. Coughing or sneezing may be extra uncomfortable as the muscles around your uterus are already stretched and pulled. A stuffy nose may feel even more congested than normal as the mucus membranes may already be a bit swollen due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. When faced with a seasonal cold or flu while pregnant, you also must consider not only your own health but that of your baby as well when managing your symptoms....
Schizophrenia is a condition that affects how the brain functions and results in problems with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The condition affects less than 1% of adults in the U.S. and tends to be a highly misunderstood condition. While the condition is serious and can be very damaging if left untreated, there are effective medications and treatments that can help. If you don’t have schizophrenia, it is probably difficult to understand the internal experience of schizophrenia....
Most of us are familiar with the idea of our milk “coming in” after our baby is born. But what you may not realize is that milk production actually starts during pregnancy, whether you plan to breastfeed or not. Turning your breasts into milk-making factories requires preparation, and while you may or may not notice it, throughout your pregnancy, your body is working hard to make this happen. Here’s what to know about the start of breast milk production, including when it happens, what the signs of it are, and what to do about possible leakage....
Pulling up and standing are fun, exciting developmental milestones for babies and parents alike. These important skills help babies develop their arm and leg muscles and give them a whole new, upright view of the world. Plus, standing is the prelude to cruising and walking, which means your baby will soon become a lot more mobile. Typically, babies pull up to stand sometime between 7 and 12 months old. Learn more about when babies usually start to stand, related milestones, and when to be concerned if your child has not begun to pull up to stand....
Being alone on Valentine’s Day may leave you feeling left out. It’s easy to let the media and advertisements make you feel like something is missing if you are not in a relationship on this particular day. There are many reasons why you may find yourself alone on Valentine’s day. Maybe you’ve chosen to be single or are not interested in a relationship. It’s also possible that you’re single for reasons outside of your control....
Quitting because he’s behind, yelling because he didn’t win or getting angry at you for winning are all signs your child is a sore loser. Being a sore loser isn’t likely to do your child any favors. After all, no one wants to play with the kid who cheats because he’s losing or the one who always quits in a half way through a game. It’s common for kids to struggle to maintain a positive attitude while losing at their favorite game....
Accutane (isotretinoin) is a retinoid medication that is commonly used to treat severe acne. The drug is often very effective, but taking it while pregnant can cause serious, even deadly complications for babies. For this reason, it’s very important to prevent pregnancy while taking the drug. While Accutane is the best-known brand name, isotretinoin is also marketed as Claravis, Sotret, and Amnesteem. It is an oral medication taken once or twice a day over a period of several months to help decrease acne....
When it comes to personality traits, if you’re someone that has scored high in agreeableness, you’re likely popular and tend to make friends easily. You also may be seen as trustworthy, altruistic, honest, modest, empathetic, and cooperative. Agreeableness is a core personality trait that reflects and individual’s abilities to get along well with others and their concern for social harmony. Agreeableness is one of the Big Five personality traits, which theorizes that there are five major dimensions to personality....
Internal fetal monitoring involves the placement of an electrode directly onto the scalp of the baby while it is still in the womb. This test is performed to evaluate the baby’s heart rate as well as the variability of heartbeats at the time of labor. While IFM is most often used during high-risk births, it can also be used in a low-risk birth if the care team is unable to get an accurate reading from external monitoring techniques, such as auscultation and electronic fetal monitor (EFM)....
Have you ever experienced a negative emotional reaction to an emergency situation? In that moment, was your instinct to carefully consider all possible courses of action or was it to react instinctively in a fight-or-flight response? The difference between these two reactions highlights how positive versus negative emotions can direct your life experiences. Broaden and Build theory helps to explain how we can move away from a survival mode way of responding to situations into a more expansive and thoughtful approach to life....
Not everyone who smokes marijuana becomes addicted to it, but research shows that some long-term users can and do become dependent upon the drug. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people are considered addicted to marijuana if they continue to use even when it interferes with many aspects of their lives and if they have withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit. For those users who began using marijuana in their teens, the percentage of those who become dependent goes to about 17%....
If your little one has been making attempts to escape their crib (successfully or not), it may signify that they’re ready for a toddler bed. Sometimes, the transition from crib to big-kid bed isn’t an easy one, especially when it comes to choosing the right bed for your child. With so many different styles, materials, and features out there, it can be challenging to pick one that best suits your toddler....
Cluster feeding is a pattern in which a baby eats several times within a few hours. There is nothing wrong with cluster feeding (it’s not a sign of anything dangerous). Some babies are more likely to eat this way before a long nap or during growth spurt phases. Usually, cluster feeding occurs with breastfeeding babies, but formula-fed babies can also cluster feed. The most common eating pattern for babies is to take a large feeding every few hours....
If your tween is struggling with homework or just can’t seem to keep themself organized, a homework contract can help. This simple agreement between a kid and their parents can help the tween stay on task and give the parents peace of mind, knowing they’ve laid out their expectations for schoolwork. What Is a Homework Contract? A well-written contract points out your child’s homework responsibilities point by point. It also helps them understand how you can help guide and work with them in order to keep their assignments under control....
What Does David Mean? The name David has deep Biblical roots and means “beloved.” It is derived from the Hebrew name Dawid, which evolved from the Hebrew word dod (beloved). In the Bible, David is an important figure and appears as the Old Testament second king of Israel. As a young shepherd, he defeats the giant Philistine Goliath with a slingshot. The name has special meaning in Jewish culture, with the Star of David being the symbol of Judaism....
The classic nature vs. nurture debate in psychology centers on whether certain behavioral traits and psychopathologies are genetic (nature) or learned (nurture). Do we inherit our personalities and preferences biologically or do we adopt them based on our environment and experiences? Key Takeaways A new study suggests depression can be transmitted from parent to child whether they’re genetically related or not.The findings reveal a strong association between the psychopathology of fathers and children in both biological and blended families....
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder characterized by overwhelming, obsessive thoughts and compulsions. These obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors can have a significant impact on your life but can be helped through a number of medical interventions. Whether you are living with OCD or supporting someone with the condition, here are 10 facts about OCD you should know: 1. OCD Can Cause Significant Anxiety If you have OCD, you may experience severe anxiety as a result of obsessive thoughts....
Figure-ground perception refers to the tendency of the visual system to simplify a scene into the main object that we are looking at (the figure) and everything else that forms the background (or ground). The concept of figure-ground perception is often illustrated with the classic “faces or vases” illusion, also known as the Rubin vase. Depending on whether you see the black or the white as the figure, you may see either two faces in profile (meaning you perceive the dark color as the figure) or a vase in the center (meaning you see the white color as the figure)....
Also known as word attack skills, decoding skills are those that you use to make sense of printed words. Simply put, this means being able to recognize and analyze a printed word to connect it to the spoken word it represents. These skills are a must to transition children into successful readers. What Are Decoding Skills? Decoding skills include the ability to recognize the basic sounds and sound blends, called phonemes, that make up a word and to know what the word means, recognize it in context, and know whether or not it’s being used correctly in a sentence....
