The term “casual relationship” is decidedly vague. It can conjure thoughts of one-night stands, a “friends with benefits” scenario, or even just casual dating. Research confirms what many of us already believe about the types of relationships that fall into this broad category, which is that they are all somewhat different. But what might be surprising to some is that they also appear to have benefits for the people engaging in them....
Kids, especially toddlers as they are learning to walk and seem to want to climb all over everything, often fall and hit their heads. They may fall so much that you may have thought of making them wear a helmet all of the time, not just when they are riding a bike or scooter. Of course, that would be going too far in all but the most extreme circumstances. It is much better to childproof your home, encourage them to wear a helmet when appropriate, and supervise your kids well when they are playing to try to prevent most head injuries....
There’s a lot to be angry about right now. And social media has certainly become a place where people try to share or process that anger. But a new trend on TikTok has people trying to understand their anger, as well, as countless users are sharing their results after taking the multidimensional anger test. Key Takeaways Countless TikTok users are sharing their results after taking the multidimensional anger test.The test is based on credible research around the various dimensions of anger and reactivity....
When people think of pregnancy pains, many think of the discomfort of labor and delivery. But those 9 months leading up to the big day can make you feel like your life is just one ache, twinge, and cramp after another. Most pregnancy-related pain is related, in some way, to a lack of support; you carry a lot of extra weight while growing a baby (much of which is added in a short period of time) and that puts intense amounts of pressure on your back, hips and pubic bone, legs, and feet....
Health insurance can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know exactly what your plan covers. Even those with good insurance might be hesitant to seek health services when you are unsure what will or will not be covered. Does health insurance cover the cost of therapy? The short answer is: it depends. Most plans in the United States cover mental health similarly to how they cover other medical costs, meaning that sessions could be billed with a co-pay or go toward your deductible....
Emotional numbness is a state of being in which you are not feeling or expressing emotions. “Emotional numbing is the mental and emotional process of shutting out feelings and may be experienced as deficits of emotional responses or reactivity,” explains Mayra Mendez, PhD, LMFT, a licensed psychotherapist and program coordinator at Providence Saint John’s Child and Family Development Center. Quite often, feeling numb is temporary. However, for some, emotional numbness becomes a strategy to protect themselves from further emotional or physical pain....
Engaging in aerobic exercise comes with many physical benefits including reduced cholesterol levels and a lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes. If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there might be an additional benefit, a reduction of your symptoms. What the Research Says Aerobic exercise can be used therapeutically to improve mild to moderate symptoms of depression, as well as reduce overall stress and anxiety levels. One study examining aerobic exercise and OCD symptoms asked participants to continue their usual treatment adding moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as running, to their treatment regimen for 12 weeks....
Masturbation is a common and healthy behavior, but it can be a challenging topic to discuss. Even adults who are in close sexual, romantic, or other intimate relationships might feel embarrassed about bringing up the topic. The subject of masturbation can even feel “taboo” for married couples to openly talk about. One reason people may find it hard to discuss masturbation is that there are many misconceptions that persist despite evidence that masturbation is normal, healthy, and can be beneficial regardless of relationship status....
What Is Free-Floating Anxiety? It often occurs with generalized anxiety disorder, but it may also be present with other types of anxiety conditions. Free-floating anxiety is a general sense of uneasiness that is not tied to any particular object or specific situation. The term is often used to describe feelings of discomfort, nervousness, worry, and anxiety that appear for seemingly no reason. Symptoms Free-floating anxiety is characterized by feelings of:...
What Is Hemophobia? Hemophobia (also called hematophobia) is the fear of blood, wounds, and injuries. Hemophobia is categorized by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as a “blood-injection-injury” (BII) phobia. This subtype, which also includes trypanophobia or fear of needles, can cause symptoms that are not frequently seen in other types of specific phobias. Having an aversion to blood is natural—in fact, horror movies often prey on our discomfort by showing large quantities of fake blood to inspire fear and unease in their audience....
How long you decide to breastfeed your child is up to you. Experts have their recommendations, others have their opinions, but only you along with your doctor and your partner can make the decision about what works for your family. Some women choose to breastfeed for just a few weeks, others breastfeed for many years, and most women do something in-between. There will always be someone who thinks you breastfed for too long or too short a period....
Whether your child has been hitting someone at school lately or they have been refusing to brush their teeth, you need a solid plan to address behavior problems. A good behavior management plan will ensure that you and all of your child’s other caregivers respond to behavior problems in a consistent manner. A behavior plan also can help you find more effective consequences and better incentives that will motivate your child to change....
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Kati Morton Kati Morton is a licensed marriage and family therapist who runs a private practice in Santa Monica, California. She’s well known for her YouTube channel which has attracted more than 1 million subscribers who tune in to hear her mental health tips....
Overthinking can be a hard habit to break. You might even convince yourself that thinking about something for a really long time is the key to developing the best solution. But that’s usually not the case. In fact, the longer you think about something, the less time and energy you have to take productive action. Plus, thinking about all the things you could have done differently, second-guessing your decisions, and continuously imagining worst-case scenarios can be exhausting....
Once you stop smoking, you might wonder if it is possible to have an occasional cigarette after quitting. If you decide to go ahead and smoke just one, the risk of relapse is strong. Chances are that you’ll be back to smoking as much as you did before you quit. As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U....
Some children may have personality traits that cause them to appear as though they are always in a bad mood. The constant complaints, apparent unhappiness, and other unpleasant behavior can easily wear on a parent. It’s easy for parents and children to fall into a pattern of consistently negative interactions, but a behavioral transformation is possible. As a parent, you have to develop coping strategies that work for you and your child....
Sigmund Freud was one of psychology’s most famous theorists, and he remains an influential figure to this day. While he spent most of his life and career working and developing his theories in Vienna, Austria, the final years of his life were a time of considerable change. Learn more about the final years of Freud’s life and the ultimate cause of his death. The Final Year of Freud’s Life Sigmund Freud died in London on September 23, 1939, at the age of 83....
Nearly one billion adults worldwide struggle with some form of obstructive sleep apnea, according to a 2019 study. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine notes it can cause increased risk ofstroke and higher risk of death due to heart disease. The organization also notes that children are susceptible to struggling with sleep apnea. Key Takeaways A report notes that children who struggle with obstructive sleep apnea may be at risk for cardiac problems....
What Is Social Reinforcement? There are many different types of reinforcement, but when it comes to human beings, one of the most common is the social reinforcement that we encounter all around us. Social reinforcement is feedback, in the form of actions such as smiles, acceptance, praise, acclaim, and attention, that we receive from other people in response to something we do. Reinforcement can either encourage or discourage us from engaging in a behavior....
Showering may be part of your daily routine, but there are times when a shower isn’t particularly accessible. Maybe you’re rushing to work after a quick workout or camping in the mountains without a bathroom nearby. In these situations, body wipes can be an excellent way to freshen up. “Body wipes don’t take the place of traditional cleansers, but they certainly get the job done if you’re in a bind,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist....
