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When you aren’t accepting of your body, it can lead to more negative emotions and could even contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Two approaches for being more accepting of your body—imperfections and all—are body positivity and body neutrality. Here we explore what these approaches mean, as well as how they came about (the body positivity and body neutrality movements). While each has its own value, adopting both practices can help lead to greater acceptance of your body and what it can do....

When it comes to breastfeeding, there’s plenty to fuss about—whether it’s the latch, sore nipples, or how much milk the baby is actually getting. Add to that list: your skin and body care routine. Just like with pregnancy, there are ingredients that are considered to be “safe” to use when nursing and others that are “no-go.” And of course, there is also that gray area (re: it hasn’t been studied enough)....

Modern home pregnancy tests (which use a urine sample to detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy) are very reliable. So, most of the time, getting a negative result on a pregnancy test means that you are probably not pregnant. But there are a few situations in which a false negative can happen. For example, very early in pregnancy, you may get a negative pregnancy test result if you test in the afternoon....

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that many of us haven’t heard of, but that most of us have had, or will contract at one point or another. The virus usually causes mild symptoms in healthy adults and children. CMV can be transmitted from a parent to their baby during pregnancy. While rare, in some cases, babies who are infected with CMV can experience birth defects or other lifelong health issues....

Misophonia involves a negative reaction to sounds such as chewing, tapping, or ticking. Individuals who live with misophonia can experience negative impacts on their day-to-day life, and treatment can help them to better manage negative reactions to specific triggers. While understanding of and treatment for misophonia remains an area that requires further research, there have been some promising advances made with regard to managing responses to triggering sounds as well as using white noise generators or other ambient noise to reduce discomfort....

One of the first questions that people often ask twins is, “Who was born first?” If you have twins, you may wonder how or if their birth order affects them. Understanding Birth Order There has always been a lot of interest in the study of birth order and its impact on society. Certainly, throughout history, there have been occasions when determining a child’s placement in the family was of utmost importance....

Sextuplets are a set of six offspring all born from the same birth. Parents who are expecting sextuplets will encounter special joys and challenges as they prepare for this rare type of pregnancy and birth. Types of Sextuplets Sextuplets can be fraternal (multizygotic), identical (monozygotic), or a combination of both. Multizygotic sextuplets occur from six unique egg/sperm combinations. Monozygotic multiples are the result of a fertilized egg that splits into two or more embryos....

Racial stereotyping involves a fixed, overgeneralized belief about a particular group of people based on their race. And while some people say things like, “I don’t stereotype anyone based on their appearance,” the truth is that everyone does it due to mental shortcuts influenced by our racial socialization. Racial socialization is the process of receiving information about the values and perspectives of our race from our parents, caregivers, and other influential people....

Babies explore everything around them with all five senses. Getting to know their world in every way possible is how infants learn, and it’s an important step in their development. For a baby, exploration often involves using their mouth, and that can mean a lot of drool. And where there is drool, there is often drool rash. If you are wondering what causes a drool rash, read on. You will discover how you can prevent the rash around your baby’s mouth as well as help keep them more comfortable while their skin heals....

When most people think of domestic abuse, the first thing that comes to mind is likely verbal abuse and physical assault. But research shows that financial abuse occurs just as frequently in unhealthy relationships as other forms of abuse. In fact, a study by the Centers for Financial Security found that 99% of domestic violence cases also involved financial abuse. What’s more, financial abuse is often the first sign of dating violence and domestic abuse....

The protests sparked by recent police killings of Black lives and the Black Lives Matter movement have led many people to think about their own beliefs and behaviors with regards to race, bias, and racism. For many parents, this also includes thinking about what they can do to raise children who are anti-racist. As a parent, you want to raise your kids to grow up to be empathetic, kind, and socially conscious people....

What Is Irritability? Irritability involves feelings of anger or frustration that often arise over even the smallest of things. While irritability can be normal and everyone experiences it on occasion, it may also be an indicator of an underlying condition. If you are experiencing feelings of irritability that are persistent, pervasive, or distressing, talk to your doctor. Such feelings can become excessive and interfere with your daily life, making it difficult to accomplish your normal daily tasks and can disrupt your relationships with others....

Meth withdrawal is a natural but uncomfortable process that begins immediately after someone discontinues taking methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth. Overview Withdrawal involves a predictable set of symptoms, that gradually wear off as the body adjusts to the drug no longer being present. Withdrawal involves physical symptoms like fatigue and psychiatric symptoms like depression or psychosis. While the physical symptoms go away, the psychological symptoms like anxiety can last a long time....

Calcium, vitamin D, and fat work with other nutrients to promote optimal bone and brain development in infants and toddlers, especially in the first 1,000 days of life. Research has shown that this period is critical for brain growth in particular and can affect the mental health of a child for years to come. While milk is one of the most common dietary sources of calcium, vitamin D, and fat for toddlers, it is certainly not the only one....

Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is both a hormone and a brain neurotransmitter, or chemical. It’s mainly stored in the neurons (nerve cells) of the sympathetic nervous system with small amounts also stored in adrenal tissue, which lay on top of your kidneys. As a hormone, norepinephrine is released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands and works alongside adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) to give the body sudden energy in times of stress, known as the “fight or flight” response....

Where do your thoughts wander off to when you daydream? Often we think of future plans or past experiences, but for some, those thoughts frequently skew toward the negative. Key Takeaways A recent study analyzing real-time patterns of thought focused on capturing ruminative thinking, a common symptom of depression and anxiety.The findings revealed that highly ruminative individuals’ thoughts were more negative, past-oriented and self-focused.Spending free moments lost in thought rather than distracting ourselves with technology or social media can benefit the mind....

While not an official clinical term, the phrase “initial diagnosis” or preliminary diagnosis, is sometimes used informally to refer to the diagnosis that a client receives after an intake interview. Psychological disorders can be complex and difficult to accurately diagnose, but many insurance companies require an immediate diagnosis to pay for treatment. However, after receiving an initial diagnosis from a physician, it’s important to verify that you, in fact, are suffering from this condition....

Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) is considered the father of modern social psychology. His work was influenced by Gestalt psychology and stressed the importance of both personal characteristics and the environment in causing behavior. Lewin was also a prolific writer, publishing more than 80 articles and eight books on psychology topics. Below are just a few selected Kurt Lewin quotations. Selected Kurt Lewin Quotes “There is nothing so practical as a good theory....

When the fetal heart rate is slower than expected during the first trimester, your physician may note that there’s some cause for concern and recommend a follow-up ultrasound to check the baby’s development. A slower than expected fetal heartbeat referred to as fetal bradycardia can mean higher odds of miscarriage, but it also may be due to the pregnancy not being as far along as estimated. Miscarriage Risk The average baby’s heart rate is measured around 110 beats per minute (bpm) around 6 weeks gestation (the time of the first detection may be as early as 5 weeks gestation), peaks at 9 weeks (sometimes reaching levels near 180 bpm), and then gradually decreases as the fetus approaches term....

What Are Sunday Scaries? While these feelings generally begin to appear later in the day, someone with higher levels of anxiety may start to experience them earlier, even upon waking. The Cleveland Clinic defines Sunday Scaries as “feelings of intense anxiety and dread that routinely occur every Sunday.” Along with having anxiety on Sunday nights, someone with the Sunday Scaries might notice other symptoms as well. Symptoms of Sunday anxiety can range from increased sweating, upset stomach, headache, and trouble sleeping to more severe manifestations such as depression or even a heart attack....