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If you, your child, or your spouse/partner has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may encounter naysayers who simply do not understand the condition and its impact on everyday life. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about ADHD, and these misunderstandings can be very hurtful to people living with it. Some people inaccurately believe ADHD is a “made up” disorder which is over-diagnosed and over-medicated. Others perceive ADHD as a benign, inconsequential condition that is easily managed with good parenting and disappears as a child moves into adulthood....

Labor is not the constant thrill that television shows and movies often portray it to be. In fact, much of labor is sitting around and waiting. You are usually waiting for the next contraction, which in the early part of labor can be 15 to 20 minutes apart. This is a lot of waiting time. One of the problems with waiting is the emotional toll it can take. This is particularly true if you are doing nothing but waiting....

Purposeful use of distraction techniques can actually be of benefit in helping people cope with emotions that are strong and uncomfortable. What exactly is a distraction and what are some examples of distraction that may be helpful? Overview People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience very strong and uncomfortable emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, and shame. These emotions can be very difficult to deal with and, as a result, they may lead people with PTSD to use unhealthy coping strategies, such as alcohol or drug use (self-medicating)....

If you are or recently were pregnant and noticing changes in your skin, know that you’re not alone. Over 90% of people who are pregnant experience changes in their skin—and some symptoms last for a bit even after the baby arrives. The hallmark of one of the most common, pruritus, is itchy skin. Whether or not you’re familiar with the nagging itchiness that can occur before or after childbirth, it’s worth knowing that it’s a possibility....

Most children, adolescents, and teens consider school, sports, and other activities their most important social platforms. Although they can connect with friends online, having access to their peers in-person is key to building relationships. Key Takeaways While short-term social distancing should have minimal impact on kids, long-term isolation may pose some risks.Socialization is a vital part of a child’s development, helping kids learn how to interact with others.Parents need to get creative when finding ways for their kids to interact with others using safe social distancing practices and technology to help bridge the gap during the COVID-19 pandemic....

Jane is a common name for girls across the world. It’s so common that generic terms for women like “Jane Doe” and “Plain Jane” were coined. The name Jane is of English origin and means “God is gracious.” Some people believe that Jane was derived from the old French name Jehanne, which in turn, is thought to be derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan which means “Yahweh is merciful.” Jane first became popular in the mid-16th century where it was used as an alternative to the name Joan....

What Is Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome? As the opioid crisis in America has worsened, more and more infants are born to parents who experience opioid addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of women experiencing opioid addiction rose by 131% between 2010 and 2017. In 2019, 7% of pregnant women reported using prescription opioid pain relievers, and one in five reported misusing opioids. Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome...

Diabetes in Pregnancy Risks: The Past In the past, the health risks for pregnant women who had diabetes was a big concern. It was hard for mothers with diabetes to conceive and carry live healthy babies to term. Before the advent of portable hand-held glucometers that provide quick results, disposable syringes, better medications and care guidelines, it was difficult if not almost impossible to achieve and maintain good glycemic control during pregnancy—let alone the tight glycemic control required to reduce risks....

What Is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy? Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) developed by psychologist Albert Ellis. REBT is an action-oriented approach that’s focused on helping people deal with irrational beliefs and learn how to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a healthier, more realistic way. When people hold irrational beliefs about themselves or the world, problems can result. The goal of REBT is to help people recognize and alter those beliefs and negative thinking patterns in order to overcome psychological problems and mental distress....

Research has found that stress is a significant predictor of poor sleep, meaning that the more stressed people are, the worse their sleep will be affected. Unfortunately, sleep problems then lead to more stress and poorer stress coping. Stress dreams are vivid, intense, and often distressing dreams that are caused by stress or anxiety. These dreams generally occur during REM sleep and focus on daytime worries. They can be upsetting, but they can also be more mundane....

What Is a Tension Headache? Tension headaches also referred to as tension-type headaches (TTH), are headaches that are mild to moderate in severity. Sufferers describe them as feeling like a band around their heads. There are two different types of tension headaches. Episodic ones happen on fewer than 15 days a month; chronic ones happen more than 15 days per month. They are the most common type of headache, with up to 78% of the general population experiencing them at some point during their lives....

In the world of social media and unmoderated forums, hurtful culture surrounding weight loss, body size, and food culture can run rampant. In 2021, fitness trainer Lucy Bergin went viral on the popular app TikTok for losing 35lbs in six months, where her videos racked up over 12 million views. Since then, TikTok has experienced an explosion in weight-normative videos and diet culture. Key Takeaways A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont analyzed hashtags about weight loss and body image....

If you’ve heard of someone using the term “bi-curious," it’s completely normal if you’ve found yourself wondering what that term means. In short, if someone identifies as bi-curious, then they are open to engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with people of varying gender identities. For example, a cisgender woman might be open to dating another cisgender woman, a cisgender man, or someone who is nonbinary. This article further discusses what the term bi-curious means, how it differs from bisexuality, and what it’s like to date as a bi-curious person....

Religion often involves cultural beliefs, worldviews, texts, prophecies, revelations, and morals that have spiritual meaning to members of the particular faith, and it can encompass a range of practices, including sermons, rituals, prayer, meditation, holy places, symbols, trances, and feasts. Religion is a set of organized beliefs, practices, and systems that most often relate to the belief and worship of a controlling force, such as a personal god or another supernatural being....

It may be hard to learn that there is no cure for ADHD. But the symptoms can be successfully managed and treated. With appropriate treatment, you can expect to see improvements in your school or work performance, and you may notice your relationships, confidence, and self-esteem improve as well. Though ADHD treatment is often associated with prescription drugs, that’s not the only treatment available. Therapy, special accommodations, social skills training, and lifestyle changes can also help reduce ADHD symptoms....

When you imagine the day you give birth, you probably think about being surrounded by family, maybe friends, and of course your doctor or midwife. But in reality, there are lots of people involved who may attend your birth. Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life had the scene nearly perfect when they let everyone come in the room, but tell the father, “Only people involved with the birth allowed…” In truth, most hospitals and birth centers are not this bad, but there are still some out there with strict protocols about who can attend the birth of your baby....

It’s difficult to imagine what led a friend, family member, or celebrity to commit suicide. There may have been no clear warning signs, and you may wonder what clues you might have missed. Often, many factors combine to lead a person to the decision to take their own life. Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Press Play to Learn More About Suicide & Suicidal Ideation Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring psychiatrist Mark Goulston, shares why people have suicidal thoughts, why you shouldn’t blame yourself if you’ve lost someone to suicide, and what to do if you are having suicidal thoughts....

Posting on social media can be fun, cathartic, or just a way to pass the time. Key Takeaways Sharing content and photos of kids in your life can have negative implications for your relationship with them and their mental health.Understanding how to practice good digital citizenship can help make posting more comfortable.Asking children for permission before posting can build trust. However, if you’re a parent, caretaker or someone who kids in your life look up to, your posts may affect them more than you think, and may even impact their mental health....

Most parents want their children to do well in school, and that usually means getting A’s. They believe that good grades will help guarantee that their children will lead happy, productive, and successful lives. While good grades can be an indication that children will grow up to excel in life as they did in school, it’s far from a guarantee. In fact, straight A’s can actually be a sign that your child isn’t learning what he needs to learn in order to be successful in life....

Whether you have Italian roots or you simply love the way Italian names roll off the tongue, there are many choices of Italian names for your baby boy or girl. Much like the other Romance languages, Italian baby names may have originated in Latin, or they may be Latinized versions of names from other languages. Traditionally, Italian parents choose their children’s names based on the name of a grandparent, choosing names from the father’s side of the family first and then from the mother’s side....