Posts

Children aged 6 months to 18 years are eligible to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The good news is that in the U.S., more than 222 million people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and over 106 million have received a booster dose. Update In October 2022, the FDA authorized the updated bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna for everyone ages 5 and older. These boosters provide protection against both the Omicron variant and the original strain of the virus....

If you’ve ever noticed that the more stressed you get, the more difficult everyday tasks become, then you’ve experienced the difference between learning brain and survival brain. On the whole, the subject is a bit more complex than how easily you can or can’t tie your shoes or remember where your keys are, but those little things are more based on our state of being than many people realize. At any given moment while we’re awake, our brain is existing in learning mode or survival mode....

Personalization is nothing new — but it’s not what it is today. Likely, when we were kids, our parents wrote our names with Sharpies on the inside of our backpacks and called it a day. Now, everything can be engraved, lasered, stitched, and bedazzled, allowing your child to show off their unique personality. The personalized gift market is estimated to grow by 2 billion dollars, just between 2020 to 2025. It’s rapidly expanding, especially for kid’s items....

Human behavior, in all its complexity, is partly the product of interactions between two key physical components: the nervous and endocrine systems. These two systems help regulate the electrical and chemical processes that relay information throughout and between the brain and body. These functions include metabolism, reproduction, emotion, and homeostasis. The Body’s Communication System Neurons—bundles of which make up nerves—are the building blocks of the body’s communication system. They’re organized into networks that allow signals to move between the brain and body....

What Are Neurobehavioral Disorders? Neurobehavioral disorders are a group of conditions associated with brain impairments, injuries, or diseases such as dementia or multiple sclerosis. ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette’s Syndrome are considered neurobehavioral disorders. In some instances, these disorders overlap. For example, this means that a child with one disorder, let’s say autism, could also be diagnosed with another neurobehavioral condition such as Tourette’s syndrome. Damage to the brain could be caused by an external force like a blow to the head, referred to as a traumatic brain injury, or by an illness, known as a non-traumatic brain injury....

If you are going to work after having a baby, you have probably thought about how you will integrate pumping during work hours into your schedule. Maybe you know other employees who have already been successful at making this work, or maybe you will be a trailblazer at your job. Either way, there are things that you can do to make your life a bit simpler when it comes to pumping....

Identifying mental health issues in children can be tricky. It can be difficult to determine whether your child’s behaviors are normal or signs of a mental health condition. However, it’s important to identify and treat mental health issues in children because they can affect the child’s behavior, ability to learn, and emotional development, to the point where the child may have difficulty getting through the day. This article lists some signs of mental health issues in young children and teenagers, as well as some steps you can take if you suspect your child has a mental health condition....

One of the most eagerly awaited days of the year for many music fans is the first day of December when Spotify Wrapped comes out. Though it started as an email, it has evolved into an interactive experience modeled on graphically attractive social media layouts that users can in turn share on their personal accounts. Key Takeaways Every December Spotify Wrapped shows users who they listened to the most that year....

If you’ve heard the terms “substance use” and “substance abuse,” you may wonder whether they mean the same thing or whether there’s any difference between them. Both terms refer to the act of utilizing substances, such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine, cannabis, or prescription medications. However, one refers specifically to problematic use, whereas the other is a broader term that refers to all substance use, problematic or otherwise: Substance Use: “Substance use” is the act of using any legal or illegal substances, says Maeve O’Neill, MEd, LPC-S, CHC, CDTLF, the Executive Vice President of Addiction and Recovery at All Sober....

Yoga isn’t just about fitness–it’s also about keeping the mind and body focused on positivity and calm. Purchasing a yoga gift for your loved one who can’t get enough time on the mat is a great way to show that you support their efforts to stay healthy, strong, and centered. The best yoga gifts are high-quality, long-lasting, and provide a sense of encouragement. We talked to yoga instructors across the country to compile the 29 best yoga gifts on the market today....

Underpronation is a foot movement in which the heel leans outward, causing a runner to put more weight on the outer edge of the foot which can cause severe injury and pain. Fortunately, there are many running shoes on the market that can help accommodate underpronation and prevent injury. The best running shoes for underpronation are well-fitted, provide ample support, and fit within your budget. If you are an underpronator, look for shoes labeled “neutral” that offer foam cushioning and a good range of motion....

Parents can take action to help children excel as they transition the from kindergarten to first grade. How will this year differ from the previous one? From how to spot early signs of a reading problem to grocery store, kitchen, and road trip math, this parent’s guide to first grade breaks it down. First Grade Basics What You Can Expect in First Grade: Here’s an overview of what you can anticipate as your child navigates their way through first grade....

The study of stress and infertility is important and controversial. Any time a new study on stress and fertility comes out, you’ll see headlines that tell you stress is the reason you can’t get pregnant, even if the study didn’t truly indicate that stress causes infertility. Many couples that experience fertility challenges are worried about stress. Infertility itself causes distress and emotional turmoil. Could the stress of infertility make your situation even worse?...

Natural childbirth is certainly a hotly debated topic. There are those who wonder why with the advent of epidural anesthesia someone would choose not to have pain-relieving medications in labor. There are others who aren’t sure what they want and go in and try to have an unmedicated birth. And then there are women who know exactly what they don’t want—pain relief in labor. Here are just a handful of the reasons a woman might choose to avoid pain medications in labor....

If you tend to give your child multiple warnings, even though you say things like, “I’m not going to tell you this again!” your child will learn to tune you out. But, it can be hard to know what to do when your child doesn’t pick up his toys or doesn’t turn off his video game the first time you tell him. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to gain compliance and get your child to listen the first time you speak....

When used correctly, Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a medication that can help to manage ADHD symptoms. This drug acts as a stimulant, increasing the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine in the brain. This effect can help to boost focus and attentiveness while helping to reduce impulsive behaviors. However, these outcomes are the exact reason Vyvanse is often misused for recreational purposes. The stimulating properties of this drug make it attractive for improving performance at work and school....

Hallucinations occur when a person experiences seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting something that isn’t really there. Hallucinations may also occur in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, or medical illnesses like eye disease and neurodegenerative conditions. This break from reality may result for a number of reasons. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies this phenomenon as one of the main symptoms of psychotic disorders....

A person with dismissive avoidant attachment usually doesn’t pursue romantic relationships, and may actively avoid them. A dismissive attachment style is the opposite of an anxious attachment style. Dismissive-avoidant attachment is a term for when someone tries to avoid emotional connection, attachment, and closeness to other people. The History of Attachment Theory Attachment styles are based on attachment theory, which is an idea that breaks down the different ways that people connect with others into an assortment of attachment styles....

What Is Pathologizing? Pathologization can be in reference to medical or psychological symptoms. It can also be in reference to someone’s physical appearance or social standing. It often happens as a result of stigma or stereotypes, because people tend to lump individuals in with their preconceived notions. Pathologizing happens when people treat others differently or mentally categorize someone as abnormal. Allan Horwitz, PhD, a distinguished professor of sociology at Rutgers, explained a bit about what it means to pathologize someone, as well as the impacts it can have on individuals and society as a whole....

COVID-19 has normalized the use of masks as a preventative measure all across the US, but mask mandates are increasingly ending in most states. Key Takeaways Mask mandates are expected to end in the US by March 2022. Given that some have been wearing masks regularly for years, these updates may bring up a variety of thoughts and emotions. If the end of mask mandates is causing stress, it may help to consider some recommendations from mental health experts....