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What Is Impulsivity? Impulsivity, or an impulsive behavior, is broadly defined as actions without foresight that are poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unnecessarily risky, and inappropriate to the situation. Impulsivity is associated with undesirable, rather than desirable, outcomes. Though not exclusive to people with borderline personality disorder (BPD), if you have BPD, you may find yourself struggling to manage impulsive behaviors. From making hasty decisions to getting into fights, impulsivity can cause harm to yourself and those around you....

Instagram Kids is a Facebook-owned app designed specifically for children ages 10-12. The new app would be advertisement-free, require parent permission for use, and feature specific content targeted towards this age group. But in late September 2021, after massive backlash from parents, physicians, and the mental health community in general, progress has been paused on its development. Key Takeaways A new Instagram app, targeted just at kids ages 10-13, has been in the works but is now paused....

In a world where children are highly encouraged to perform extroverted and sensory-stimulating activities like playing sports, my childhood could be considered fairly abnormal. My mother never pushed me to do any extracurriculars I didn’t want to, and she proudly informed anyone who would listen that I eagerly read 100 books every summer. As a health enthusiast who ran a co-op out of our basement, my mom wasn’t concerned with fitting in, and she didn’t impress upon me that I had to, either....

For breastfeeding parents, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to much of the in-person support they rely on. It can be particularly difficult to lose lactation support. Breastfeeding can be difficult for many, and the advice of postpartum doulas, support groups, and even family and friends can make the process much easier. Instead, virtual lactation consultants working via video platforms like Zoom and Google Meet filled the gap. Key Takeaways...

Invariably, tweens, like all of us, will face situations that make them feel overwhelmed and often defeated—such as a looming test or a challenging social situation. Their first response to these common dilemmas may be to assume they simply can’t find a solution, which sets them up for failure. The way to combat this type of negative thinking is to use what are known as metacognitive abilities, which are a normal part of development....

If you get a nosebleed during pregnancy, you are likely to feel alarmed and caught off guard. Nosebleeds often happen suddenly and seeing blood can be frightening…not to mention the fact that mopping up blood is not something any of us enjoy doing! You might be wondering why this is happening, and if there is any way that a nosebleed could harm you or your baby. Nosebleeds aren’t fun, but you can rest assured that they are quite common....

If you are pregnant, it’s natural that you would feel concerned about the new coronavirus, COVID-19, that is rapidly spreading across the globe. Although many cases of the virus are mild, the virus is causing serious illness and death in some cases. You are probably wondering how the virus might affect you and your most precious cargo: your growing baby. Key Takeaways The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautiously concluded that pregnant women are not at higher risk for COVID-19....

Reflux is common in babies and usually begins during the first two months of life. Silent reflux is a type of reflux that doesn’t include spitting up. More than half of babies with reflux spit up, and most are considered “happy spitters.” These are babies who spit up breastmilk or formula with little effort or discomfort. In more serious cases, reflux can cause infants pain, affecting their quality of life. Babies who spit up and display symptoms of irritability are easily diagnosed with reflux, but others may not spit up at all....

Statistics seem to indicate a connection between alcohol and drug abuse and domestic violence, but some researchers question the cause-and-effect relationship. Studies of domestic violence frequently document high rates of alcohol and another drug (AOD) involvement, and AOD use is known to impair judgment, reduce inhibition, and increase aggression. Alcoholism and child abuse, including incest, seem also to be connected. If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates....

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you can likely tell that stress is a major trigger of your OCD symptoms. In addition, as the anxiety caused by your stress often causes you to use poor coping strategies like avoidance, stress can get in the way of treatment for OCD. Because of this, it’s vital to understand what stress is and how to cope with it. Understanding Stress Although we have all experienced stressful situations at one time or another, it can be difficult to explain exactly what stress is....

Few people talk about it, but there is a reason to believe that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and headaches frequently co-occur. Even though headaches have received much less attention among mental health professionals than other problems in PTSD, the connection between PTSD and headaches makes sense. PTSD is a reaction to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Some of the symptoms include: Intrusive thoughts and memories of the eventEfforts to avoid things that trigger such memoriesDistorted thoughtsSymptoms akin to depression (self-blame, detachment, inability to feel happiness, loss of interest in activities) PTSD also puts you at risk of developing physical health problems such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and pain....

The main parts of the nursery include furniture, bedding, and accessories. Of the three, the furniture will be the largest, most expensive pieces. You should logically start by selecting your furniture first, then build the nursery around those elements. How to Set Up Primary Furniture in a Nursery There are four main pieces of furniture in the nursery—a crib, changing table, dresser, and a chair. The price of furniture varies and may be influenced by detailing, finish, quality of construction, and overall design....

Many professional alcohol and drug treatment and rehabilitation programs include exercise as part of an overall program to help patients maintain abstinence and develop a more healthy lifestyle. Many residential treatment centers feature fully-equipped exercise facilities on the premises. Traditionally, the main reason exercise has been recommended for those trying to quit alcohol and drugs is because it keeps them focused on something other than their withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Now, however, there may be evidence that exercise has additional benefits to those who want to avoid drinking and using drugs....

Emailing teachers to argue about grades. Making unreasonable demands of school personnel. Texting coaches about playing time. Bribing colleges in order to get their children admitted. Calling professors to ask for extensions on papers. Contacting potential employers about job interviews. These are the types of things that lawnmower parents do. They can make helicopter parents look mild in comparison because they do more than just hover over their kids. They mow down obstacles and create clear paths....

Ovulation is what happens when an egg, or ovum, is released from the ovaries. After ovulation, the egg then travels to the uterus via the fallopian tubes. If sperm meet up with the egg in time, conception may take place. If you’re new to trying to get pregnant or just want to know more about how the female reproductive system functions, it can be helpful to learn more about ovulation and its role in the process of conception....

While most pregnancies progress smoothly and without serious medical issues, pregnancy doesn’t come without some risk. Among the more serious risks are blood clots, or thrombosis. Pregnant people are five times as likely as non-pregnant people to experience blood clots, according to the CDC. If untreated, blood clotting during pregnancy can lead to serious conditions like pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal. Those are some scary facts, but thankfully, there are many treatment options available for blood clots during pregnancy....

Depression is a serious and common mental health condition, but in some cases, people may fake or exaggerate symptoms to obtain rewards or to avoid undesirable outcomes. Known as malingering, this phenomenon may involve fabricating symptoms of depression (or another mental health condition) in order to avoid work, military service, or jury duty or to obtain something such as prescription medications. Malingering can be difficult to detect since many of the symptoms of depression are easy to emulate, particularly if a person is familiar with the condition....

Music can affect the body in many health-promoting ways, which is the basis for a growing field known as music therapy. However, you can use music in your daily life and achieve many stress relief benefits on your own. One of the great benefits of music as a stress reliever is that it can be used while you conduct your regular activities so it really doesn’t take time away from your busy schedule....

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Unfortunately, adults and children with ADHD are often labeled as unmotivated, lazy, or even apathetic. These negative labels are unfair and hurtful. Instead of simple laziness or a lack of motivation, this “immobility” or “sluggishness” often reflects the impairments in executive function that can be associated with ADHD. Understanding these impairments is important in order to correct common misperceptions about ADHD....

Since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aptitude tests have been used to measure abilities, talents, motor skills, reasoning, and even artistic ability. Beyond assessment, aptitude tests help to round out a child’s profile. Older children may benefit from aptitude tests that can help them transition to higher education post-high school. As children grow, the kinds of aptitude tests they take change. IQ Tests Some of the most well-known aptitude tests are the assessments loosely known as IQ tests....