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Although “smiling depression” isn’t a clinical diagnosis, for many people, it’s a real problem. Typically, smiling depression occurs when individuals who are experiencing depression mask their symptoms. They hide behind a smile to convince other people that they are happy. Consequently, this type of depression often goes undetected because when most people imagine a depressed individual, they think of someone who looks really sad or cries a lot. And while it’s true that sadness and unexplained bouts of crying are common characteristics of depression, not everyone looks sad when they’re depressed....

Therapeutic rapport is an essential part of a healthy therapist-client relationship. It contributes to a client feeling safe and respected so that therapy can succeed. Therapeutic rapport refers to the empathic (caring) and shared understanding of issues between a therapist and a client. It implies a team approach to the management of these issues in contrast to an adversarial approach. With good therapeutic rapport, a client feels their therapist “has their back” in a way that allows them to face difficult-to-face problems....

Can we be happy, motivated, or useful while on a seemingly burning planet? Is there any way to energetically take effective action to stop—or at the very least strongly delay—the destruction while simultaneously being overwhelmed by it? Key Takeaways A large study learned that 75% of participants found the future frightening and over 50% felt powerless or helpless due to climate change.In general, fighting a long-term, expansive issue such as climate change can be incredibly difficult to do without feeling overwhelmed....

It can be disconcerting when your child uses the potty at daycare but refuses to do so at home, but it’s actually a common phenomenon. There are several factors that can make potty training a breeze at daycare yet a hurricane at home. Once you know about these factors, you can use them to improve potty training at home. Schedules Make Potty Training Easier By the time your toddler arrives at their classroom, a potty training schedule is probably already in place....

The idea of packing your bags and traveling with your entire crew of kiddos may sound like an exercise in self-created chaos, but it’s entirely possible to enjoy a family vacation from beginning to end. The key is to sort as many details as possible in advance, to adopt a “go with the flow” mentality, and to not put too much pressure on yourselves to do and see everything. Below we’ve outlined seven essential travel tips for large families that will allow you to do exactly that....

Hosting a school carnival offers many benefits for the entire school community. For your event to be a success, it’s ideal to be clear on what you hope students, families, teachers, and staff will get out of hosting a carnival. Being intentional about your objectives and goals will help you organize and promote your event into a cohesive and targeted success. Once you have clearly defined goals, you can plan each piece of your event to enhance and accomplish your intended aims....

Everyone knows at least one: The mean mom. The monster trolling playgrounds, school hallways, soccer games, and even the online community group; and she is making everyone’s life miserable. She’s THAT MOM who feels it is fine to openly exclude others and then post the pictures online, to spread rumors, and to stab others in the back. She blasts people on her Facebook page, gossips about her neighbors, and makes thinly-veiled remarks about other moms that do not live up to her standards....

The struggle to balance family time with outside commitments and activities is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting, especially as your kids get older. You want to spend time as a family so that you can establish secure relationships, but sometimes trying to carve out family time is harder than expected with all your work commitments and your kids’ activities. If your nightly refrain is how tired you and the kids are, perhaps your family is struggling with balancing work, school, and everyone’s activities....

What Is the Blame Game? Picture a classroom where students are working on a group project. The deadline is approaching, but they’re far from finished and the teacher is enquiring about the status of the project. As the students start to explain themselves, “the blame game” begins. Everyone starts to point fingers at each other and the discussion goes round in circles as they try to avoid the blame and pin it on someone else....

It may not seem obvious at first that a psychiatric disorder would cause dental problems. However, some of the first telltale signs of bulimia nervosa are often spotted by dentists. Bulimia nervosa can cause serious medical problems as well as dental problems. It’s important for patients with bulimia nervosa to not neglect their oral health, but what exactly are the concerns? Tooth Erosion Studies show that between 47 and 93% of bulimia nervosa patients who vomit exhibit damage to tooth enamel....

Dealing with a cold or allergies while breastfeeding can be incredibly difficult. It’s even more challenging while simultaneously taking care of an infant or toddler. It can put a strain on both your physical and mental health. Luckily, there are medications that can help alleviate your systems that are safe to take. If you are suffering from seasonal allergies, and have symptoms like a runny nose, or scratchy throat, you might be wondering if it’s safe to take a medication like Zyrtec while breastfeeding....

Pregnancy undoubtedly causes a host of physical changes, and with your growing belly might come some new aches and pains in your back. If pregnancy has you complaining about a sore body, you might consider giving your chiropractor a call. Before you pick up the phone, you may stop and wonder whether those adjustments would be safe for your baby. You might be relieved to know that you can see your chiropractor while you are pregnant, but be sure to let them know you have a baby on the way....

If you have trouble getting your teen to clean his room or sweep the kitchen, you’re not alone. Most teens could find 101 things they’d rather do than chores. But chores are an important part of growing up. Kids who do chores grow up to become more responsible. There’s also a good chance he’ll live with a roommate or romantic partner someday. You don’t want him to be a slob that no one wants to live with....

Many women have heard of postpartum depression, but may not be as familiar with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, or postpartum OCD. Sometimes, OCD can start while you are still pregnant, just like depression, a condition called perinatal OCD. You may even have OCD prior to pregnancy as well, but the hormones, stress, and life changes of pregnancy and bringing a baby into the world may just make it more apparent, leading to an actual diagnosis....

Each baby has its own unique personality and individual preferences, so it’s not always possible to know in advance whether your little one will take to a particular piece of baby gear. However, most parents agree baby swings can be a lifesaver for soothing and calming their babies. Your to-do list can seem overwhelming when you have a baby, and freeing up your hands to complete household tasks is invaluable. Baby swings provide a safe, comfortable environment for your baby when they are awake and supervised....

Even moderate exercise during pregnancy may increase a compound in breast milk that’s been linked to lower health risks in babies, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Key Takeaways A recent study suggests exercising while pregnant can increase a compound that’s been linked to health benefits for infants.In addition to boosting breastfeeding benefits, exercising can help a woman ease pregnancy issues, get ready for delivery, and lighten postpartum anxiety.Not all exercise is recommended for pregnant women, especially if you have issues like gestational diabetes, so talk to your doctor before you start....

What happens to our blood pressure if we are constantly stressed? Research has shown that chronic stress can negatively affect your overall health and possibly contribute to high blood pressure. In this article, we dive into what blood pressure is, the causes and risks of high blood pressure, the relationship between stress and blood pressure and some stress-reducing activities to help manage high blood pressure. What Is Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is the amount of pressure or force the blood exerts against the walls of your blood vessels when the heart beats....

Childhood emotional abuse and neglect can result in permanent changes to the developing human brain. These changes in brain structure appear to be significant enough to potentially cause psychological and emotional problems in adulthood, such as psychological disorders and substance misuse. Around 14% of Americans report experiencing emotional abuse or neglect during their childhood. Emotional abuse can include: Insulting, name-calling, or swearing at a child Threatening to physically harm the child Terrorizing or otherwise making the child feel afraid Emotional neglect involves failing to meet a child’s emotional needs....

The other day my 8-year-old daughter was writing in her journal, listing the characteristics of each member of our family (including the cat and the dog, of course). She noted age, race, pronouns, and sexual orientation. Our favorite colors may have also made the cut. When it came to her sexual orientation, and that of her 12-year-old brother, she carefully penciled in big question marks, explaining, “Because we don’t know yet....

The cost of childcare is a hot topic for many parents. We all want the best care for our children, but many parents cannot afford the high prices associated with that. Childcare costs vary greatly, depending on factors such as where you live, what type of childcare you choose, the age of your child, and how many hours a week you are paying for childcare. What Is the Cost of Traditional Daycare?...