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Psychotherapists sometimes encourage clients to perform behavioral experiments that test the reality of their beliefs. It’s a powerful cognitive behavioral therapy technique that can help people recognize that their assumptions aren’t necessarily accurate. What you think and believe isn’t always true. But holding onto some of those beliefs might cause you to suffer. For example, someone who believes they are destined to be an “insomniac” might try several different behavioral experiments in an attempt to uncover whether specific strategies might help them sleep better, like exercising in the morning and turning off their screens an hour before bedtime....

Friendships are an important part of a child’s life. But not all friendships are created equal nor are all friendships healthy ones. In fact, some friendships can leave your child feeling anxious, stressed out, and confused. Yet, kids often struggle to see the damage these relationships can potentially cause. Even some adults cannot tell if their child’s buddy is a friend or frenemy. “Young kids may not understand what healthy friendships look like or even realize that a friendship is unhealthy,” explains Michelle Risser, LISW-S, a mental health therapist....

There are some similarities and overlap in the symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder. Both may include hyperactive or restless behaviors, distractibility, poor concentration, impulsivity, and racing thoughts. Both are also thought to have a strong genetic link. Both can result in sleep disturbances, poor social relationships, feelings of anxiety, depression, frustration, and self-doubt. Both can significantly impact daily functioning. In addition, ADHD and bipolar disorder commonly occur together, making it even more difficult to tease them apart....

Whether you work a nine-to-five job, telecommute, or stay-at-home with the kids, everyone needs an effective method for managing their day. After all, perfectionism, procrastination, and the myth of multitasking are all very real dangers that can keep even the most productive people stuck in one place. So, how do you take control of your schedule and really get things done? According to people like Elon Musk and Bill Gates it all comes down to taking control of your time and your schedule....

Babies in households where food is scarce—referred to as food insecurity—have a higher obesity risk than infants in homes with enough for everyone to eat, a new study suggests. Key Takeaways Babies from households where food is scarce have a higher obesity risk than those from households where food is plentiful.Previous findings have identified greater obesity rates in adults from households without enough food to eat, but few studies have focused on infants from such homes....

In the past decade, more and more psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals have incorporated mindfulness meditation training into their psychotherapy practice. Mindfulness meditation has applications for many different mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder, chronic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). What Is Mindfulness Meditation? Mindfulness meditation is about staying in the present moment without judging others and being very deliberate. Because mindfulness is about not judging, you are to practice thinking of these things neutrally....

Pregnancy cravings are something that most people expect during the nine months of pregnancy. The old standard is pickles and ice cream. The truth is that as many as 68% of all pregnant women will experience cravings, usually due to hormonal changes. Throughout pregnancy, as the different hormones fluctuate, women may find that they are sensitive to the smells of certain foods, actually to the point of nausea in some cases....

Every relationship has its ups and downs. The early stages are often marked by intense and passionate emotions that gradually temper with time. As your relationship grows steadier and more comfortable, you might start to fear that it is growing a bit too well-worn—or even a little boring. Your relationship might be mostly free of conflict, but you still might find yourself feeling unsatisfied, tired, or just plain uninspired. So can you inject some excitement back into a monotonous relationship, or is it time to move on and find a fresh start?...

Strattera and Adderall are medications prescribed to treat attention disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both drugs improve attention span and decrease hyperactivity and impulsiveness; however, the medications are very different. The main difference is that Adderall is a stimulant and Strattera is not. This article discusses how Strattera and Adderall work, how they are used to treat attention disorders, and their potential side effects. It also covers how they compare in terms of efficacy and risk for abuse....

Running with tights can make all the difference when it comes to being comfortable during cold winter runs. Besides holding in heat, compression tights can even help you better understand your body’s position and movement. “My form seems to feel a bit more controlled and my perception is that I am running faster,” says Frankie Ruiz, certified running coach and founder of the Run Club Network and WE RUN MIAMI....

When putting together a home gym, gym flooring is an important detail that shouldn’t be overlooked. “The right floor not only protects the surface where it’s placed but allows you to be comfortable and feel at home during a workout,” says Ashton Ferrazzo, fitness professional and owner of Freedom Fitness Equipment in Charlotte, NC. “People underestimate the value of a good floor system, as it allows you to do almost anything on its surface—as long as you buy the right material!...

The COVID-19 pandemic has been fretful for families. School closures, mask mandates, lockdowns, and the emotional turmoil of it all created a difficult environment to deal with—for parents and kids. The introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson was an incredible step in fighting the pandemic. Key Takeaways Kids aged 6 months and up are now approved to get vaccinated for COVID-19.Some parents are concerned about how the vaccine may affect their children’s future fertility....

Ecstasy, also known as E, X, M, XTC, clarity, essence, Adam, beans, rolls, decadence, and M & M — is a popular street drug. Made from a chemical compound called 3,4- Methylendedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), it is considered to be a psychedelic amphetamine. Ecstasy is most commonly found as tablets which are ingested, but it may also be seen as a powder which is in ingested and may be snorted or smoked (rare); very rarely it may be injected....

I’m running late.I’ll be there in just a little while.I am so sorry I’m late. How many times have you said these words? It feels terrible to be late—to work, to your doctor’s appointment, to your meeting, to meet a friend, getting the kids to school, and even worse, picking the kids up from school. How can you stop this cycle? How can you improve your time management? ADHD coach Kay Grossman, M....

There’s a lot of information out there about finding balance in all things. Ideally, to maintain balance, we have a mix of work and play, of things we have to do and things we want to do, of things that drain us and things that feed us. We also need to carve out enough time for sleep, relationships that sustain us, exercise, healthy meals, and other life-affirming activities in our lives so we don’t drown in only work and chores....

Among the many transformations that occur while you’re pregnant, some—like your newfound pregnancy glow—can be welcome perks. However, the same increase in blood volume that gives your skin that healthy-looking flush can also result in some not-so-welcome changes. Case in point: Postpartum varicose veins. Although they can appear on your vagina and buttocks as a result of pregnancy, they most commonly form as knotted, swollen, veiny areas on the skin on the backs of your calves, insides of your legs, ankles, or feet....

Dolls and figures give your toddler a way to act out the scenes he or she sees in everyday life. She can bathe, change, feed, and cuddle her baby doll mimicking the way you nurture her. He can build a home of blocks and a city and drive his mother or father figurine to work and safely explore the emotions of separation. If she has a sibling, she might act out real-life scenarios that are on her mind, working out things like how to cooperate and share beloved toys....

It’s obvious to you that your spouse needs to see a doctor. To your partner, though, it either isn’t so obvious or they just refuse to go. It is very frustrating and worrisome when a spouse does not have the motivation to take care of their health needs. It can also begin to impact your marriage quite negatively. It is more common for wives to struggle with this problem. Men are particularly more stubborn about seeing doctors....

The teen years can be an intense and tumultuous time. While it’s common for teens to be moody and irritable, sometimes they can develop mental health challenges that are serious and need to be addressed. If your teen witnessed a traumatic event or had a traumatic experience, you might be wondering if they may have developed PTSD. They might even be showing signs of PTSD, such as flashbacks to the event, nightmares, increased agitation, emotional numbness, or trouble concentrating in school....

Implantation is when a fertilized egg, which has divided, multiplied, and turned into a cluster of cells called a blastocyst, attaches to the uterine wall. Generally, this happens approximately between six to 12 days after ovulation, and once it does, a pregnancy has officially begun. The timing of ovulation may seem like a detail that only concerns an OB/GYN, but knowing when implantation occurs is important for those trying to conceive....