You’ve been drinking kombucha for years. You love the fizzy, zingy experience of drinking it. It gives you a nice caffeine boost, and you’ve heard that it’s great for your gut health. Or maybe you’ve heard about the many purported health benefits of kombucha and you’re wondering if it might be a good idea to start drinking it now. Perhaps kombucha is one of your weird pregnancy cravings, and you are wondering if it’s okay to satisfy that urge....
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Ryan Holiday Ryan Holiday is a number one New York Times bestselling author and media strategist. He’s written more than a dozen books, including “Ego Is the Enemy,” “The Daily Stoic,” “The Obstacle Is the Way,” and “Stillness Is the Key....
A recent study published in Appetite finds that family meal structure can impact a child’s health and wellbeing, and the effects can be both positive and negative. Key Takeaways Family mealtimes have a great impact on children, yet food insecurity can affect a family’s meal planning abilities. Chaotic environments can be correlated to family meal success, and those with low food security are more likely to live in these environments Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences had over 500 families with elementary-age children respond to questions about food security....
What Is Feminist Therapy? Feminist therapy is a type of psychotherapy specializing in gender and examines the stressors that women experience due to biases, discrimination, and other areas that may affect one’s mental health. It was developed in response to the previously male-dominated field of psychology so that women could have a therapeutic environment free from the misogyny and sexism common in the field until then. Though it acknowledges societal causes and issues at play, feminist therapy holds individuals accountable for their own decisions and problems....
Before starting treatment with gonadotropins—sometimes referred to as injectables or GNDs—your doctor should explain the potential side effects and risks of treatment. Gonadotropins may be used during fertility treatment, for women donating their eggs, and for egg freezing procedures. Most gonadotropin side effects are mild, but in rare cases, some can be serious and even life-threatening. Important note: Not all possible side effects and risks are listed below. If you are experiencing severe side effects, unusual symptoms, or are concerned for any reason, contact your doctor....
If you have—or suspect you have—attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may wonder about the relationship between caffeine and ADHD. Caffeine is one of the world’s most popular drugs for a reason. Most people love that it helps them feel alert and focused and some people simply enjoy it for the taste. But if you have ADHD, you may be more drawn to it because caffeine and the medications used to treat ADHD all work on your dopamine system, the reward center in your brain....
There are many benefits of positive thinking, including stress reduction, improved immunity, and a lower risk for heart disease. But did you know that keeping a positive outlook can help you live longer, too? Here’s what research says about optimism and aging, and what you can do to reap the rewards. Add Years to Your Life Studies show that how you perceive aging and your life as a whole affects longevity....
Not all people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) experience thought-action fusion, but for those who do, it can feel like they’re buried under a mountain of fear. Understanding Thought-Action Fusion Thought-action fusion is when you believe that simply thinking about an action carries the same weight as actually carrying out that action. For example, if a thought randomly pops into your mind about something unacceptable, such as physically assaulting someone, you might believe this to be just as morally bad as actually harming them, thus making you feel like an immoral person....
Attachment is a deep, enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another. And most researchers believe it’s critical for kids to develop a secure attachment to a primary caregiver at a young age. Fortunately, most infants do successfully attach to a parent or another caregiver. But there are some children who don’t develop such an attachment. They instead become anxiously attached—which can set them up for lifelong problems. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory There are many different theories on attachment, the importance of attachment, and the ways in which humans develop attachments....
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Friday Fix: Episode 113 Whether you want to pay off your debt or you want to start hitting the gym five days a week, there’s a good chance you’ll make some mistakes along the way....
Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is being examined as another way to help people recover from PTSD. VRET is a type of exposure therapy that has increasingly been used to treat a variety of anxiety disorders, including specific phobias. Before learning how VRET treats PTSD symptoms, however, it’s important to have a handle on what exposure therapy is. Exposure Therapy Exposure therapy is considered to be a behavioral treatment for PTSD....
What Does Kai Mean? Kai is a strong name used most frequently for boys. The name appears to have roots in a great variety of cultures. In Hawaiian culture, it means “sea.” In Japanese culture, “shell.” In Europe, Kai is perceived as having Frisian roots, a short form of the name Kaimbe, meaning “warrior.” Kai is also considered to have Welsh, Scandinavian, and Greek roots; its meaning is “keeper of the keys; earth....
Whether or not you live in a wintry climate, kids’ figure skating is a year-round activity that can lead to several other competitive youth sports. Or it might be a hobby your child will enjoy their whole life! The basics: Skating starts with learning how to balance on skates and move from point A to point B, usually in a “Learn to Skate” or basic skills program. Age kids can start: Toddlers of two and three years old can begin to skate, sometimes with a metal bar to hold onto for balance....
A learning disability in expressive writing affects a person’s ability to write and organize thoughts on paper using appropriate detail, sequence, sentence structure, and literary form. People with learning disabilities in expressive writing skills often experience great difficulty completing schoolwork involving writing and using writing in everyday situations. They may not struggle with producing letters on paper, but they can’t seem to effectively use words to express organized and complete thoughts in writing....
Parents of kids with nut allergies find Halloween scarier than most. A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows allergic reactions spike more than 85% on Halloween. Key Takeaways A recent study says allergic reactions in children spike 85% on Halloween night.Parents of kids with nut allergies should exercise caution on Halloween, and carefully monitor the candy their kids receive.The Teal Pumpkin Project allows homes to designate themselves as allergy-friendly trick-or-treating locations....
Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. While explorations of these two subjects date back thousands of years, the formal science of psychology is actually quite young. During the late 1800s, Wilhelm Wundt formed the first experimental laboratory devoted to the study psychology, officially marking the beginning of psychology as a discipline separate from philosophy and physiology. If you are new to the study of psychology, then you probably have quite a few questions....
After selecting a practitioner, most people want to know what their prenatal care schedule will entail. There are some variances depending on the type of practitioner that you are seeing, where you are located, and the medical complexity that you need in your care. Generally, the first appointment will take place around 8 weeks, although some practitioners like to wait until 10 to 12 weeks. This is usually your longest appointment because of the prenatal and medical history that is taken....
Prozac (fluoxetine) is a type of medication used to treat depression and depressive symptoms. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). SSRIs are also used to treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other conditions. Prozac is also available in a generic formulation called fluoxetine HCL. It is available as a capsule, delayed-release capsule, tablet, and a solution. Uses The FDA approves Prozac for several mental illnesses and it is use off-label for several conditions....
Secondary infertility is when a couple has had at least one child, is trying to get pregnant again, but doesn’t conceive after at least one year of trying. This diagnosis can be confusing and mind-boggling. You had no trouble getting pregnant last time. So, why isn’t it happening now? Many people assume primary infertility is more common than secondary infertility. Primary infertility is when a couple has never had children and can’t conceive....
Selective mutism and social anxiety disorder share similar symptoms but are distinct conditions. However, researchers believe that the conditions are interrelated and they often occur together at the same time. Around 9.1% of adolescents experience social anxiety disorder at some point before the age of 18. Selective mutism is less common, affecting around 1% of children. Studies suggest that nearly 40% of children with selective mutism also have social anxiety disorder....
