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During the middle school and high school years, kids are developing closer friendships and trying to figure out where they belong. And as everyone struggles to find their place, cliques and bullying become more prominent. Consequently, identifying the differences between a close-knit group of friends and a clique is essential. Here is what you need to know about cliques including the risks and consequences as well as how to prevent them in your child’s life and cope with them should your child get involved in one....

For Alyza Berman, LCSW, RRT-P, founder and executive director of the Berman Center, social media is a common topic in her Atlanta-based practice that focuses on youth and young adults. She says the biggest indicator is how often clients are comparing their experiences to those they see online. Key Takeaways Suicidal ideation is rising among young people.The harms (and positives) of social media are both common topics in the waiting rooms of mental health professionals....

After giving birth at the hospital, breastfeeding can seem wonderful. You have just delivered a beautiful, perfect baby. Your baby sleeps like an angel in the nursery, in your room. You gloat to friends and family about your wonderful feeder and sleeper. A few days later, you are discharged and take your baby home. That’s when the honeymoon is over…Your baby is feeding frequently and for long periods of time. Their sleep patterns have miraculously changed and the baby is awake all night, crying more often....

Achieving inbox zero by 5 p.m. used to be the goal for many office workers. But that became mission impossible for many who switched to remote work during the pandemic and faced an onslaught of Zoom meetings, pings on Slack, old-school conference calls, text messages, and tags on shared documents—not to mention an inbox overflowing with emails that came in after hours. No wonder burnout is on the rise. Key Takeaways...

As you think about feeding your toddler, try to remember that you don’t want food and eating to become a power struggle, regardless of whether you have a picky eater or not. It’s normal for toddlers to eat only a few bites of their lunch and dinner and to cycle through periods of showing more or less interest in food. These periods of eating less or not opting for what adults may consider a “full meal” can make you nervous that your little one isn’t getting the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development....

Discussions about racism can often make folx uncomfortable. It can bring up feelings of guilt and defensiveness. For a long time, BIPOC folx have been implicitly expected to suffer both the harms of racism as well as the responsibility of not making White peers uncomfortable by talking about its impact on their communities. With growing awareness of health inequalities, police brutality, etc, there has been a greater willingness to confront this topic, including acknowledging your own racism....

Agitated depression (AD) is a relatively severe type of clinical depression that combines the persistent sadness, pessimism, low energy, and low or “empty” mood of typical depression with agitated symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, restlessness, excessive talking, fidgeting, and/or angry outbursts. This mental health condition may also be referred to as unipolar, mixed state, mixed features, mixed mania, depression with psychomotor agitation, or mixed episode depression. Overview There are many types of depression which, as a group of mental health disorders, affect over 264 million people of all ages worldwide....

If you’re looking for a way to relieve some of the discomforts of pregnancy, you might consider taking a nice, warm bath. Or perhaps you want to take a bath to get in some much-needed relaxation and self-care. Maybe regular baths were always part of your routine, and you’re wondering if this practice is safe to continue now that you’re pregnant. Thankfully, there’s good news: as long as the water isn’t too hot, there’s virtually no reason why you can’t luxuriate in a bath while you’re pregnant....

If you’re having a stressful pregnancy, my heart goes out to you. Dealing with the symptoms of pregnancy can be hard enough when life is going well. When life is stressful, it’s even more difficult to cope with all that comes with pregnancy. Although stress can be more challenging to manage during pregnancy, it’s important to try to relax. Stress, especially chronic stress, can increase your risk of having a small baby or going into premature labor (also known as preterm labor)....

The results of a recent study published in the journal PLOS Medicine suggest that community-wide flu vaccination events, such as those held in schools, can drastically reduce the spread of viruses. Could these events be the answer to the COVID crisis once a vaccine is available? Key Takeaways Holding a community-wide vaccination event in a school can encourage more people to get vaccinated for the flu.Locations where a SLIV has been held have seen lower hospitalization rates....

As you begin treatment for depression, it may take a bit of time for you to feel like you’re back to your normal self. If your progress is slow, it’s natural to question whether you’re really improving. Your doctor can help you set some goals to use as benchmarks and assess your progress. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Press Play for Advice On Coping With Depression...

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many changes upon our way of life in 2020. In the realm of outpatient mental health, one of the most sudden shifts was the abrupt change in the delivery of treatment, including that for individuals with eating disorders. Almost all outpatient psychotherapy and nutrition therapy office visits were replaced by telehealth sessions delivered virtually. This was really an acceleration of an existing trend—telehealth has been around for almost as long as the telephone, albeit not at its present level of popularity....

The pandemic resulted in irregular periods for people who menstruate. A study published in the Journal of Women’s Health found that COVID-19 has disproportionately limited women in early and mid-level academic roles. Key Takeaways Early and mid-career academics were limited by higher workloads and stress and reduced self-care.Women reported higher levels of stress regarding both academic duties, as well as caregiving responsibilities.Such research findings need to inform institutional practices to ensure equitable outcomes for faculty....

What Is Eclectic Therapy? Eclectic therapy is an approach that draws on multiple theoretical orientations and techniques. It is a flexible and multifaceted approach to therapy that allows the therapist to use the most effective methods available to address each individual client’s needs. It is also sometimes referred to as multi-modal or integrative therapy. In the early part of the 20th century, many therapists rigidly adhered to a single style of treatment....

As if the frustrations of air travel weren’t bad enough, airports have restrictions on how much liquid you can take with you through their security checkpoints and onto airplanes. Of course, this is for everyone’s safety as liquid explosives pose a serious threat to aircraft carriers. Here’s the good news, though. However annoyed you are that you have to toss your Poland Spring 16-ouncer, your breast milk is good to go....

An estimated 13% of Americans move every year. If you are one of them, you know what a pain it can be. Between packing, traveling, and sorting through the endless sea of boxes, moving to a new home is pretty stressful. The moving process also can cause a number of challenges for youngsters. Not only are they leaving behind their home, school, and friends, but they are also are forced outside of their comfort zone, causing them to become understandably stressed or scared....

A self-report inventory is a type of psychological test often used in personality assessment. This type of test is often presented in a paper-and-pencil format or may even be administered on a computer. A typical self-report inventory presents a number of questions or statements that may or may not describe certain qualities or characteristics of the test subject. Chances are good that you have taken a self-report inventory at some time in the past....

What Is Social Awkwardness? If you’re frequently the person who is literally tripping over themselves or sticking their foot in their mouth saying things they don’t mean to say, you might feel as though you’re socially awkward. And often you’ll make things even more awkward by drawing attention to how awkward you are. But, what does it actually mean to be socially awkward? Being socially awkward is not a diagnosis or disorder—and we will all be a little socially awkward at times....

While they are very convenient and work well for most children, once-a-day ADHD medicines can be rather expensive. Many families without insurance and prescription drug benefits cannot afford these medicines, which include Adderall XR, Daytrana, Concerta, Vyvanse, or Dyanavel XR. Even with insurance coverage, high prices can be very taxing on a family budget. Generic ADHD Medications Choosing a generic medicine over a name-brand one is often a good way to save money on prescription drugs....

As the nation wrestles with institutional racism and attempts to heal from the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Elijah McClain, Rayshard Brooks, and countless others, many Americans are left wondering what they can do to help. While tens of thousands have joined the protests in the streets, not everyone has the ability to participate in such a physically demanding and time-consuming way, especially with the coronavirus still posing a threat....