Getting a cold or even the flu when you’re pregnant isn’t an impossibility. In fact, it could be your reality. Being pregnant can actually impair the function of your immune system, making it more likely that you’ll get sick. But don’t panic. Here are some cold and flu remedies in pregnancy that can help you feel better faster. Are You Stuffed Up? Try nasal rinses, like the store-bought saline solutions. This will help you clear your congestion....
There is a subtle art to ending a conversation politely, just as there is to starting one and joining one. If you have social anxiety, extricating yourself from a never-ending conversation can seem like an impossible task. You don’t want to seem rude or uninterested. What do you do? Here are a few tips on exiting a conversation gracefully. Distance yourself Distance yourself physically from the group or individual. Turn yourself partially away and begin to pull back while still listening to what is being said....
Increasing the amount of time you spend in nature is often recommended for better health. A new study published in SSM - Population Health supports this common claim with its findings that nature-based outdoor activities can improve mental health outcomes among adults. Key Takeaways Nature-based outdoor activities for 20-90 minutes for 8-12 weeks were most effective for improving mental health.Gardening, green exercise, and nature-based therapy were found to improve mental health in adults, even for those with pre-existing concerns....
In psychology, priming is a technique in which the introduction of one stimulus influences how people respond to a subsequent stimulus. Priming works by activating an association or representation in memory just before another stimulus or task is introduced. This phenomenon occurs without our conscious awareness, yet it can have a major impact on numerous aspects of our everyday lives. What Is Priming? There are many different examples of how this priming works....
Many people avoid seeking out help for psychological problems because of the perceived stigma associated with needing mental health care. This may particularly be the case for military service members. OEF/OIF soldiers face a number of highly stressful situations, including deployment, combat exposure, and reintegration. Given this, it is really not that surprising that OEF/OIF veterans are showing high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use, anger management problems, physical health problems, and suicide....
Thalassophobia is a specific phobia that involves a persistent, intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the ocean or a lake. Although not recognized as a distinct disorder by the DSM-5, its symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for specific phobias. Thalassophobia differs from aquaphobia, the fear of water, in that it centers on bodies of water that seem vast, dark, deep, and dangerous. People are not afraid of the water so much as they are afraid of what lurks beneath its surface....
Hitting a punching bag requires a lot of strength and stamina. Since it’s a total-body workout, it can offer multiple benefits, including a strengthened core, “stress relief, improved focus, and boosted self-confidence,” Dana VanPamelen, co-owner of Hit House, a kickboxing fitness studio in New York City, says. When looking for punching bags for your fitness routine, consider the height and weight of the bag. “If getting a traditional punching bag, like a heavy bag, the general rule is that the bag should weigh about half of your body weight,” Chris Gagliardi, ACE-CPT, certified personal trainer, health coach, and group fitness instructor, says....
We often hear about the negative aspects of anxiety, but could there be any advantages or benefits that come from living with anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling that is often characterized by intense fear, worry, and apprehension. Many individuals with anxiety describe it as a feeling of nervousness and dread that can be distracting at best and all-consuming at worst. Anxiety is typically experienced on many levels, affecting one’s emotions, leading to uncomfortable physical sensations, and contributing to negative thoughts....
Take a deep breath—a good, deep breath—and let it out. If you’re feeling a little lighter, you’re not imagining it. Mental health professionals and yogis alike will recommend deep breathing because of all the amazing ways it can benefit your mental health, not just your respiratory system. We take more than eight million breaths per year—why is it so hard to get a deep one? And just what is a deep breath?...
Abuse, trauma, and specifically childhood sexual abuse are often proposed as major risk factors for the development of eating disorders, but what is the true connection? One study found that about 30% of eating disordered patients has been sexually abused in childhood. These rates are higher among those who suffer from bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder as opposed to those with anorexia nervosa. However, it is important to keep in mind that correlation is not the same as causation....
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavior disorder that causes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, all of which range in severity and interfere with regular daily activities. ADHD usually develops in childhood but can continue into adulthood. People with this condition often struggle with impulsive behaviors, being too active, and finding it hard to pay attention. ADHD doesn’t look the same in everyone. The type of ADHD a person has depends on the primary symptoms and behaviors they exhibit....
While it may not necessarily sound like a bad thing to everyone, exercise addiction can lead to real problems, so you may be wondering, what is exercise addiction? After all, numerous studies have demonstrated the physical and emotional health benefits of regular exercise — it is essential to our well-being. Unlike many other addictive behaviors, we are encouraged to exercise more. However, there is such a thing as exercise addiction—and it can have harmful consequences....
Each of us parents our children a little differently, based on a combination of intuition and personal beliefs. Researchers have identified four different types of parenting styles, including authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and unresponsive. Diana Baumrind, a clinical psychologist, first recognized these four styles, and researchers Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin further developed them. Permissive parents are often loving, but they don’t enforce many rules, says Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, pediatrician, founder, and CEO of Modern Mommy Doc and The Modern Mamas Club App....
Victim blaming occurs when a victim (usually of a crime) is held entirely or partially at fault for what happened to them. Most commonly, victim blaming is a term used when referring to sexual assaults. Individuals who learn about the assault may assume the victim was doing something inappropriate or making poor choices that led to it happening. But victim blaming may also be an issue when it comes to COVID-19....
When a partner doesn’t discuss their feelings, it’s hard for the other person and can lead to discord. People want to feel like they have open communication and true intimacy. So, how can you encourage your partner to open up? Don’t Give Up on Communication According to John Gottman, women are the ones to bring up issues 80% of the time in heterosexual relationships. A partner who won’t talk about their feelings is a common issue....
One thing that no one really prepares you for when you have a baby is just how often they need to eat. Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, you will be feeding your baby every few hours. And it’s not just feeding itself that’s time-consuming. If you’re bottle-feeding, you have to prepare the bottles, burp your baby afterward, change their diaper, and clean their bottles. Doing all of these things on top of being sleep-deprived and having other responsibilities can seem like a lot....
Moral policing, criticizing, and shaming about COVID-19 is rampant right now, especially on social media. In fact, you probably don’t have to scroll far through your feed before seeing rants about people holding large gatherings or going maskless in certain stores. Even healthcare workers are shamed for everything from entering a grocery store while still wearing their scrubs to taking off work when they’re sick. One report indicates that healthcare workers suffer symptom-shaming for calling out when they have symptoms of a respiratory infection because the healthcare system lacks the staffing to fill in the gaps when people get sick....
There is no doubt that social media is a huge part of a young person’s life. In fact, most teens today live out their lives online. But can a child be too young for social media? According to a study done in the UK, the answer is, yes. Social Media Study Researchers at the University of Essex and UCL found an association between time spent on social media in the tween years (age 10) and reduced wellbeing later in adolescence (ages 10-15)....
Fluctuating hormones, iron supplementation, and the added pressure of your growing uterus on your intestines can all cause you to struggle with constipation—especially toward the end of your pregnancy. In fact, approximately 11% to 38% of pregnant people experience constipation. Consequently, you may be considering an over-the-counter (OTC) product like Colace to help ease your symptoms. “If a pregnant patient is experiencing constipation, they should consult with their doctor before self-medicating, as it’s important that the doctor assess the patient,” suggests Jennifer Bourgeois, PharmD, IHP, CFMS, FAIS, a clinical pharmacist and pharmacy expert at SingleCare as well as a functional medicine specialist and integrative health practitioner....
Whether you are craving a greek salad topped with feta cheese or grilled vegetables with melted feta, you are probably wondering if you can indulge your cravings, especially if you are a cheese lover. You may have even heard that soft cheeses, including feta, are not safe during pregnancy. But, it all depends on how the cheese is processed. If the feta cheese you select has been pasteurized, then it is generally safe to eat during pregnancy....
