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Sigmund Freud is most famous for his psychoanalytic school of thought, but he also took a keen interest in religion. As an adult, Freud considered himself an atheist, but his Jewish background and upbringing and background played an important role in the development of his ideas. He even wrote several books focused on the topic of religion. Learn more about Freud’s complicated relationship with religion as well as some of his thoughts on religion and spirituality....

Marriage can be a blessing, but it can also break your heart—especially if you think you’ve reached the end of the road. There’s no easy path to the decision to divorce, and the journey through uncoupling is different for everyone. If you’re contemplating this difficult decision, you need to determine if your relationship is so troubled that your marriage cannot be saved. Only you know whether you can or should repair your relationship....

Social media use is becoming more commonplace, even among those with social anxiety disorder (SAD). This begs the question—are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms helpful or not for those who live with social anxiety? Overview Whether or not social media is beneficial for people with social anxiety is a complex question. The answer depends on many factors, including how you use those channels of communication, what role they play in your life, and your tendency toward addiction....

Public speaking anxiety, also known as glossophobia, is one of the most commonly reported social fears. While some people may feel nervous about giving a speech or presentation, if you have social anxiety disorder (SAD), public speaking anxiety may take over your life. Speech Anxiety and SAD Public speaking anxiety may also be called speech anxiety or performance anxiety and is a type of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Social anxiety disorder, also sometimes referred to as social phobia, is one of the most common types of mental health conditions....

Gym towels are a must-have in your gym bag. When you’re sweating during a tough workout, a high-quality towel can keep you feeling clean and fresh so you can stay focused. They’re a safety essential, too—use them to absorb sweat or condensation from your water bottle that may make exercise machines slippery. Fleur Powell, fitness coach at Nordic Lifting, says absorbency is key when it comes to choosing your gym towel....

Whether you’re an experienced marathoner or a new runner, a running vest is indispensable. It keeps you warm and protected during cold weather running, while also allowing ample shoulder and arm movement and rotation. “Running vests can be beneficial because they keep your core warm so that your body doesn’t need to borrow blood flow from other areas,” says Lauren Sheu, certified running coach and owner and founder of Running for Wellness....

The first thing that many newly decided psychology majors might notice is that their university offers two different undergraduate degree options: the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS). The two degrees are often very similar, but there are a few key differences that students should understand. Universities have varying requirements, so it is important to start by taking a look at your school’s undergraduate catalog to see the differences between the two degrees....

Nausea and vomiting are two of the more common side effects of antidepressants, and it may take some time to get over these symptoms when first starting treatment. In fact, nausea is often cited as the number one side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat major depression and anxiety disorders. In some cases, nausea and vomiting can become so severe or persistent that a person has no other option but to stop treatment....

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral condition that usually starts during childhood. ADHD can affect adults as well, whether they were diagnosed in childhood or not. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for ADHD in adults to go untreated, either because people don’t recognize the need for treatment or don’t realize that they even have ADHD. This article explores the potential effects of untreated ADHD in adulthood, including how it can affect important areas of a person’s life....

Amniotic fluid surrounds the fetus in the womb during pregnancy. It is made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, urea, and fetal cells. The composition is also influenced by the parent’s nutrition and their exposure to any toxic substances. During pregnancy, the fetus is cushioned by amniotic fluid in the womb, and in the past healthcare providers thought that protecting the baby was the fluid’s only significant function. However, medical research has now shown that amniotic fluid plays many other roles that are essential for fetal development....

Online therapy sites like Talkspace and Betterhelp have helped make online therapy more visible and approachable. This ability to access mental health services from home is appealing—one of the big advantages of this medium is that it helps make mental health services more accessible, particularly in rural and underserved areas. You might be left wondering, however, just how effective such services are for various mental disorders. Is online therapy the same as traditional therapy and what kind of conditions can be treated online?...

While not many people are probably running around talking about it, sex dreams are super common. In fact, results from a survey that was published in the Psychology & Sexuality journal noted that 2,907 people in Germany between the ages of 16 and 92 said that about 1 in 5 dreams is erotic. And while this survey has flaws in that it was asking people to make estimates, it still shows that sex is definitely on the brain—even when we are sleeping....

Psychedelic parenting is a concept in which parents use psychedelics to help address mental health struggles with the intent of improving the role they play in their families and to create a positive impact for their children. There’s no sugarcoating it. Parenting isn’t an easy feat. Raising the next generation of humans that will inherit our world comes with an overwhelming responsibility. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented number of challenges for families....

Sharing our stress, anxiety, and worries with others can help process difficult feelings. And, no doubt, the pandemic has brought on a lot of reasons to vent. Key Takeaways There’s a difference between venting and trauma dumping.Oversharing traumatic or difficult experiences on others in a repeated or unsolicited way can push them away.Recognizing that you might be a trauma dumper can help you learn healthy ways to cope with trauma and maintain relationships....

The prospect of your teen starting to date is naturally unnerving. It’s easy to fear your child getting hurt, getting in over their head, being manipulated, or heartbroken, and especially, growing up and leaving the nest. But as uncomfortable or scary as it may feel to consider your child with a romantic life, remember that this is a normal, healthy, and necessary part of any young adult’s emotional development. How Teen Dating Has Changed But what exactly does teen dating even look like these days?...

Emotional affairs can wreak havoc on your marriage as well as your family. You only have a certain amount of “emotional energy.” If you are focusing your energy elsewhere, it can start to have a detrimental effect on your relationship and your family. This article discusses the signs that you or your partner might be having an emotional affair. It also explores the impact this may have on your relationship with your partner....

Excessive drinking over a period of years may lead to a condition commonly known as alcoholic dementia—but its official name is alcohol-related dementia (ARD). In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it is referred to as alcohol-induced major neurocognitive disorder. Alcohol-related dementia can cause problems with memory, learning, and other cognitive skills. Overview of Alcohol-Related Dementia Alcohol has a direct effect on brain cells, resulting in poor judgment, difficulty making decisions, and lack of insight....

Psychology students spend a fair amount of time learning about Freud’s theory. Even those outside the psychology field often have some awareness of Freudian psychoanalysis, the school of thought created by Sigmund Freud. Freudian Theory In simple terms, Sigmund Freud’s theory suggests that human behavior is influenced by unconscious memories, thoughts, and urges. This theory also proposes that the psyche comprises three aspects: the id, ego, and superego. The id is entirely unconscious, while the ego operates in the conscious mind....

Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve lost more than 620,000 Americans (and counting) to the COVID-19 virus. Many of us have returned to pre-pandemic activities and may no longer be fazed by the daily death count. While the deaths felt like tragedies at first, they have now become common occurrences. The frequency at which we experience something can lessen our sensitivity to it. When you’re exposed to death regularly, you can become desensitized to it, affecting the way you empathize, mourn, and grieve....

Catch-up growth, also called compensatory growth or compensatory gain, is rapid growth in infants or young children who were born prematurely, small for their gestational age, or who had a health problem severe enough to prevent normal growth for a period of time. Catch-up growth usually starts between the ages of 1 and 2 and goes up to 3 years of age. If you have witnessed your child go through an unusual growth spurt, it may be catch-up growth....