A number of people have had success in using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you are struggling with symptoms of PTSD, ACT for PTSD may be helpful. Learn about why this therapy can help and the five goals of treatment. The Rationale Behind Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for PTSD From an early age, we learn to label some feelings as bad and others as good....
In the “Ask a Therapist” series, I’ll be answering your questions about all things mental health and psychology. Whether you are struggling with a mental health condition, coping with anxiety about a life situation, or simply looking for a therapist’s insight, submit a question. Look out for my answers to your questions every Friday in the Healthy Mind newsletter. You’re Addressing Your Feelings, Not the Problem You’re using emotion-focused coping skills right now....
On any given day in the United States, there are nearly 443,000 children in the foster care system. In 2017, over 690,000 children spent time in a foster home. The amount of time children spend in foster care varies greatly by state. Many states are working to reduce the amount of time children are in state custody by trying to reunify children with their birth families or place them for adoption sooner....
Yes, stress can absolutely raise cholesterol (the fatty substance found in your cells)! So, read on to learn more about the relationship between stress and cholesterol levels and how to manage your stress and cholesterol levels. Can Stress Raise Cholesterol? A 2017 study found high rates of cholesterol in those experiencing occupational stress. What Is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a wax-like, fatty substance located in your body’s cells. Your body uses cholesterol to perform necessary bodily functions, including making vitamin D and hormones....
When drug manufacturers create medication, it has several ingredients. Obviously, a drug will contain active ingredients—the chemical compounds that treat the condition for which you’re actually taking the medication. But it also will contain inactive ingredients. These inactive ingredients are called excipients. What Are Excipients? Excipients are included in almost all prescription, over-the-counter medications, and nutritional supplements. These ingredients may dyes, flavors, substances that function to bind the pills together, lubricants and preservatives....
It has been defined as a process of self-discovery that relies on artistic self-expression as a way to achieve emotional release. Expressive arts therapy is an integrative, multimodal approach that utilizes a variety of methods including writing, music, visual arts, drama, and dance to help people achieve personal growth. In this type of treatment, people work with a trained therapist who helps them explore and understand their reactions to their experience with different forms of expressive art....
However, there are both benefits and drawbacks of heuristics. While heuristics are helpful in many situations, they can also lead to cognitive biases. Becoming aware of this might help you make better and more accurate decisions. Heuristics Heuristics are mental shortcuts that allow people to solve problems and make judgments quickly and efficiently. These rule-of-thumb strategies shorten decision-making time and allow people to function without constantly stopping to think about their next course of action....
Think about how you feel after a long, busy day. After running errands, working on projects, and rushing to appointments, do you still feel like you have the energy to work on your goals? Once the day was done, you probably want to collapse in front of the TV and avoid doing anything at all. What Is Ego Depletion? People are often faced with urges, desires, and natural tendencies that demand satisfaction....
The average teen spends about nine hours per day using media for their enjoyment, according to a report by Common Sense Media. On the other hand, those same teens spend less than an average of 10 minutes a day talking to their parents. It’s likely that during those nine hours of media consumption your teen is exposed to thousands of overt and subtle messages about the “ideal” body. These often unrealistic and unattainable portrayals of beauty can affect your teen’s body image and lead them to have negative feelings about how they look and their value as a person....
Do you have a messy room that you dread coming home to? Are you often unable to find things when you need them? Do you have a desk piled high with paperwork that you need to get under control? Is your computer desktop cluttered with several disorganized files and folders? If so, you may wonder how you can start being more organized. This article explores some of the characteristics of organized people, the benefits of this trait, and some steps you can take to be more organized....
“When are you going to have kids?” Or “When are you going to have more kids?” If you have not been asked yet, consider yourself lucky. Unfortunately, just about every couple going through infertility deals with touchy questions and comments. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to have a baby or another baby, it’s an uncomfortable question. It’s even harder to respond when you’re trying to have children unsuccessfully, or if you are unable to have children due to an underlying medical condition....
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Friday Fix: Episode 59 Many well-intentioned people say things like, “Just picture how happy you’ll be when you land that job,” or “Imagine how great you’ll feel when you reach your goal weight!...
Sometimes it can be challenging to feel anything but stressed and uncertain as Thanksgiving approaches. This is especially true if you are starting to think more critically about the origin of that holiday, in terms of how Indigenous communities continue to be harmed since the genocide of Indigenous folx at the hands of America’s earliest settlers. As many have just begun to understand how systemic oppression harms folx or the impact of climate change, you may be feeling more overwhelmed than usual....
It doesn’t matter if a relationship lasts ten days or a decade, breakups are one of the hardest things two people can come to terms with. The end of a relationship can cause psychological pain and dissatisfaction with life. When you lose a partner, you lose the planned future you imagined with them, those little jokes understood by just the both of you, the easy access you permitted each other, and in some cases—you might even lose a friend....
Breastfeeding typically does not cause allergies or food sensitivities in babies. And though research suggests that exclusive breastfeeding may help delay or prevent some types of allergies (which has garnered the interest of many parents, particularly since the incidence of food allergies has risen dramatically in the past few decades), allergy risk is influenced by a mixture of genetic and environmental variables. Breastfeeding is just one part of the puzzle....
Starting the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. Most people pursue IVF only after other fertility treatments have failed. You may have been trying to conceive for months. or, more likely, for years. But this is not always the case. Sometimes, doctors recommend starting with IVF treatment. For example, IVF may be the first option if a person’s fallopian tubes are blocked or if you will be using a gestational carrier and/or an egg donor....
The just noticeable difference (JND), also known as the difference threshold, is the minimum level of stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time. For example, if you were asked to hold two objects of different weights, the just noticeable difference would be the minimum weight difference between the two that you could sense half of the time. The just noticeable difference applies to all senses including touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight....
Many high school students would love the chance to quit math class a few years early, if possible. But at what cost? A new study reveals doing so, as students can choose to in the UK, can have a detrimental impact on their brain development for years to come. These findings have parents and math teachers renewing their interest in making math a subject of choice, rather than one to dread....
Sperm plays a crucial role in reproduction—fertilizing the female’s egg—but it does a lot more than that, say researchers from the University of Adelaide. Key Takeaways A new study found that sperm does more than simply fertilize the egg during reproduction.According to researchers, sperm health affects the health of the baby, making male lifestyle factors an important consideration. Diet, weight, alcohol, and smoking are just a few of the things that affect sperm health....
By the age of 24 months, more than 90% of children in the United States have been vaccinated against Polio, Measles, Hepatitis B, and Chicken Pox. These immunizations are administered as preventative measures to decrease the spread of disease. Pediatricians carry the immense responsibility of educating their young patients’ parents about vaccines and setting up a vaccination schedule that best serves a child’s overall health. With the CDC’s recommendation of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, immunizations are top of mind once again for caregivers....
