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The pandemic shed some serious light on mental health over the past 14 months. As our world was flipped upside down, most people realized how important it is to care for our psychological well-being. Many people talked openly about their mental health struggles. Celebrities, influencers, professionals, and everyday people shared their feelings and their coping skills much more openly than usual. And all the conversations and stories about mental health seemed to reduce a lot of the stigma surrounding mental illness and therapy....

Mobile phones have become a ubiquitous part of modern life. Not only do they serve as a way to communicate, but they also act as a social network tool, personal organizer, online shopping tool, calendar, alarm clock, and mobile bank. While they are without a doubt beneficial devices, some suggest that overreliance on digital devices may be a form of behavioral addiction. In fact, the term nomophobia was coined fairly recently to describe the fear of being without your phone....

When a person becomes pregnant, a placenta develops inside their uterus. The main functions of the organ are to provide oxygen and nutrition to the growing baby. In most cases, the placenta does its job without any issues, but sometimes there are problems with the placenta that can result in a variety of complications, including preterm birth and pregnancy loss. What Is the Placenta? The placenta is a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy and is shed after the pregnancy ends....

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anger are common in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. In fact, Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans are at risk for a number of mental health problems. Studies have consistently shown that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars exhibit high rates of PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. Anger Problems in Veterans A group of researchers looked at rates of PTSD and anger problems among a group of 117 Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans....

There’s a reason why time outs are used by so many parents—when it works, it really works. But that doesn’t mean it works every time, even for those parents who see time-outs making a difference in their kids’ behavior. The fact is that for some families, time-outs simply may not be effective for their kids, or may work for one child but not his sibling. In other words, time out isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to correct kids’ bad behavior....

Although no parent wants to think about tough topics, like teen suicide, teen pregnancy, and teen violence, those issues are real among many of today’s teenagers. It’s important for parents to be informed about the issues many teenagers are facing. Even if your teen never experiences any serious problems first-hand, they’ll likely have friends and classmates who do. In the next 24 hours in the United States: 1,439 teens will attempt suicide....

Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA, which support overall health. Omega-3s help to reduce inflammation and support brain, eye, blood vessel and heart health. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients, meaning they can’t be produced by the body, and therefore need to come from the diet in the form of food or supplements. If you are healthy and are not at increased risk of heart disease, consuming a balanced diet that includes fish can provide you with adequate amounts of omega-3s....

If you’re an athlete, coach, or sports parent, sometimes you’re looking for that extra piece of inspiration to optimize performance. Many psychological aspects of sports affect performance. Self-assurance, motivation, and concentration can determine whether an athlete wins or loses a game or achieves their desired results. To build these skills, sports psychology books can be a game-changer. While there are many that give classic advice, others explain the latest techniques for harnessing an athlete’s talent, motivation, and mindset....

The healthiest approach to self-improvement is the one that works best for you—but how can you know which one that will be? Truthfully, there is no one size fits all approach to self-improvement, so you may need to engage in a bit of trial and error to find what is most helpful for your situation. At the same time, effective self-improvement journeys usually have ten basic features that you should keep in mind....

Close your eyes and think of an apple. Imagine its round shape, the red color, the smooth shiny skin. Can you see it? Or does that type of visualization feel impossible? Some people can picture things more vividly than others, and new research published in the journal Cerebral Cortex Communications might explain why. Key Takeaways About 1–3% of people lack the ability to visualize.Study finds neurological reasons for why some people visualize better than others....

With the increased risk of complications associated with multiple births, many moms require some level of bed rest during their pregnancy. Bed rest could be prescribed to alleviate a potential health risk to the mother (such as pre-eclampsia) or for the babies (such as preterm labor). Some doctors routinely prescribe rest after 24 weeks, while others take a “wait and see” approach. Some lucky mothers will survive their entire pregnancy without much adjustment to their normal routine....

In operant conditioning, a variable-ratio schedule is a partial schedule of reinforcement in which a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses. This schedule creates a steady, high rate of response. Gambling and lottery games are good examples of a reward based on a variable-ratio schedule. Schedules of reinforcement play a central role in the operant conditioning process. The frequency with which a behavior is reinforced can help determine how quickly a response is learned as well as how strong the response might be....

There is a growing number of individuals who sometimes use marijuana as a self-treatment option for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They state cannabis usage is therapeutic and particularly helpful in limiting distractions, helping with focus, anxiety, and ADHD medication side effects. However, while it can be helpful for some individuals, much of the research online advise against its use as a primary treatment option. This is because the research into its utility as short-term relief has been mixed....

In intimate relationships, what starts as romantic love, which includes an intense desire for closeness and emotional intimacy, often transitions into compassionate love. People who are aromantic, however, don’t feel this way. This is because an aromantic person doesn’t feel a romantic attraction toward others. Learn more about aromanticism and how it affects relationships. If you identify as aromantic, we share a few tips for caring for your mental health. We also provide ways that you can help support a family member or friend who is aromantic....

White supremacy is not new, but months of Black Lives Matter protests that erupted as a result of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others have caused many BIPOC individuals to reflect on their rightful place in society. The impact reverberated throughout the world, sparking overlapping protests. What Is White Supremacy? Resmaa Menakem, in his seminal work, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, refers to it as “White Body Supremacy....

There’s no denying the allure of chocolate. Children and adults alike often love that smooth, creamy, and sometimes bittersweet flavor that you get from eating chocolate. Chocolate has even been lauded for having antioxidants and some heart-health benefits. But is it safe for babies and toddlers? Find out everything you need to know about chocolate and young children. Food Introductions and Allergies When it comes to allergies to chocolate and cocoa, scientists used to believe reactions to chocolate were related to other allergens in the chocolate, like nuts, peanuts, or milk....

Tickling your toddler can prompt some of the most adorable shrieks of laughter you’ll ever hear. But as fun as this common form of parent-child horseplay is on the surface, “tickle torture” can be just that: terribly uncomfortable for a child. Some child development experts also think it can send the wrong message to kids about body autonomy. When is tickling your toddler OK and when could it be unwelcome or confusing to a child?...

However small, there is always the risk of complications following birth. Some may be related to pre-existing conditions, while others occur at the time of delivery. Women who have undergone a cesarean section are faced with additional risks associated with the surgical procedure. Despite the fact that cesareans are considered relatively safe, it is still important to recognize the warning signs should the unexpected occur. Here are five red flags you should know if you have undergone or are scheduled to have a cesarean section....

Working eight (or more) hours a day can leave you feeling drained or downright exhausted. The demands of work—whether it’s dealing with co-workers, helping customers, or staring at a computer screen all day—can sap you of the energy you need to make dinner, care for your kids, or enjoy your leisure hours. In either case, getting to the bottom of your after-work fatigue is important in order to protect both your physical and mental well-being....

Chantix (varenicline) is a prescription medication that is commonly prescribed to help people quit smoking. It has shown to be rather beneficial for many people. However, it does have a number of well-known side effects. Whether or not it is right for you is a discussion you need to have with your doctor, but it is a good idea to learn how Chantix works and why it may help you break a nicotine addiction....