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It is common for a pregnant woman to worry about miscarriage, at least in the beginning. This is understandable, considering the startling statistics floating around out there—that first-trimester miscarriages occur in approximately 10% of confirmed pregnancies and that 30% to 40% of all conceptions end in a miscarriage. The Risk of Miscarriage That all being said, if you have one or more living children, you may not need to worry quite that much, claims an older study in the British Medical Journal....

A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging is the first of its kind to show that maternal childhood trauma can impact certain aspects of offspring brain development regardless of circumstances during pregnancy. Key Takeaways Maternal childhood trauma can alter the neurodevelopment of her offspring.Providing a supportive and loving environment is important for all children.Support is available to help heal childhood trauma. The study found that babies born to mothers who had experienced neglect in childhood were more neurologically primed to detect threat than babies born to mothers who had little or no trauma in their lives....

Color has the ability to evoke or mirror emotions, but does this occur naturally, or have we been culturally conditioned to perceive color in a certain way? For instance, why do we view blue as sadness or red as anger? Key Takeaways Color-emotion associations are similar across most cultures, and the connections are stronger when countries are closest in proximity and language. Emotional ties to colors can be influenced by exposure to that color while feeling that emotion....

The emotional overexcitability is probably the most significant of Kazimierz Dabrowski’s five overexcitabilities (OEs). The other four are the intellectual, the imaginational, the sensual, and the psychomotor. Dabrowski was a Polish psychologist who saw how differently people behaved in Poland during World War II. Some could commit acts of unspeakable cruelty while others risked their own lives to save others. From his observations, he eventually developed his Theory of Positive Disintegration....

According to a Yale Medicine article, in 2009, only 475 women froze their eggs in the United States. Since then, the costs have gone down and the technology has improved. In 2016, 7,276 women had done it. A 2022 report from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine found more than 73,000 babies were born through assisted reproductive technology cycles completed in 2020. Egg-freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility strategy that is widely accepted and growing increasingly popular among people who would like to pursue childrearing in the future....

As a parent, you’ve probably heard a lot about sleep strategies since the day your first child was born. From sleep schedules for babies to tips on how to get little kids to sleep more, you’ve likely read it all. You may even believe that now that your kids are older, you don’t have to worry about sleep. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it’s not uncommon for older kids to experience a variety of sleep challenges like insomnia, sleep debt, and even sleep apnea....

If you’re interested in finding ways to improve your mood, you may have heard that increasing serotonin can be helpful. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mood and emotion. Many people think of serotonin as the “happy chemical” because it’s associated with feelings of well-being, happiness, and calmness. Strategies that can help you increase serotonin naturally include getting enough sunlight, eating foods that contain tryptophan, regulating your stress levels, exercising regularly, practicing self-care, expressing gratitude, and spending time with people you love....

Many people are surprised at how small and delicate their newborn is, making them worried that they (or another caregiver) will do something wrong that inadvertently hurts the baby. “Newborns” on TV are usually at least a few months old. Many people have never even seen a newborn, let alone held one, making them unfamiliar beings, to say the least. Parents may worry that they will accidentally “break” or drop their baby....

There are a number of reasons a couple might seek professional help for their relationship. Marriage counseling and couples therapy can be very effective, especially when started sooner rather than later. What Is Marriage Counseling? Marriage counseling is when couples receive guidance from a professional in order to navigate relationship troubles—such as shared responsibilities, infidelity, and more. Once you’ve decided to give therapy a try, the next step is finding a counselor who specializes in marriage or couples therapy....

Yes, it’s possible to overdose on antidepressants, which means you can overdose on prescription drugs like Lexapro (escitalopram) and Celexa (citalopram). When someone overdoses on antidepressants, they may experience nausea, rapid heartbeat, headache, and tremors; in some cases, they may have seizures or respiratory distress, or fall into a coma. While antidepressants can be an effective means of treating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders when used properly, they can have side effects and be dangerous if taken incorrectly or used with alcohol or drugs....

Have you ever been asked a question that you know the answer to, but found yourself struggling to think of the correct word? “Oh, I know this,” you might say. “I know that it starts with a B.” It’s a sensation that we are all familiar with, and it turns out that this common state actually has a name. It is known as lethologica or the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon. Psychologists define this phenomenon as a feeling that accompanies the temporary inability to retrieve information from memory....

If you’re taking opioids for chronic pain, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using the medication. Opiate drugs are extremely habit-forming; tolerance, physical dependence, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms are all possible. As a result, there is a high potential for misuse and addiction, even when use begins with a prescription. Prescription opioids include: Codeine Demerol (meperidine) Dilaudid (hydromorphone) Methadone Morphine Oxycontin (oxycodone) Percocet (acetaminophen/oxycodone) Vicodin (hydrocodone) Fentanyl The illicit drug heroin is also an opioid....

You may have heard of the Buckley Amendment. Here’s what this legislation does, as well as how it can be helpful to you as a parent. What the Buckley Amendment Means The Buckley Amendment is a federal law that was created in November 1974 as part of the Family Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Buckley Amendment also gives parents the possibility of changing information in their child’s educational records. Parents of all students under the age of 18 have the rights outlined in the amendment....

Tegretol, generic name carbamazepine, is an anticonvulsant that is sometimes prescribed as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder. In addition to seizures and bipolar disorder, it’s also prescribed for pain relief in trigeminal neuralgia. Most Common Tegretol Side Effects The most common side effects that occur while taking Tegretol, especially when a person initiates it, are dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness, nausea, and vomiting. Talk with your doctor if these side effects are persistent or bothersome....

If you have been intentionally trying to conceive, you are likely aware of the variety of early pregnancy tests currently available. These tests can sometimes detect pregnancy several days before your period is due. However, just because you can use an early pregnancy test, does that mean you should? It’s worth considering a few points before you proceed. Types of Pregnancy Tests There are two types of pregnancy tests you can take: urine or blood tests....

If you are interested in seeing a psychologist or even thinking of a career in psychology, you might find yourself wondering exactly what type of training these mental health professionals have. What kind of training do you need to be a psychologist? What sort of training do different mental health professionals possess? The answers to these questions vary quite a bit because there are several degree options that can ultimately lead to the title of “psychologist” as well as differing requirements for various states....

There is a very strong link between trauma (especially childhood abuse and/or neglect) and dissociative disorders, and the relationship is important in both directions. It’s thought that long-term trauma is a root cause of dissociative disorders, with dissociation occurring as a coping strategy that allows people to distance themselves from a trauma that may otherwise be unbearable. When dissociation continues when real danger no longer exists, however, it can prolong or even prevent recovery from abuse and neglect....

Being around caring grown-ups offers a number of psychological benefits for kids. Now new research has found evidence that adults who spend time with children may also experience some positive emotional changes that benefit not only the individual but potentially society at large. Key Takeaways A series of eight experiments found that thinking about children made adults more likely to demonstrate compassionate values.In a field study, researchers also found that adults were more likely to make a charitable donation on a busy street when children were present....

According to Division 47 of the American Psychological Association, sports psychology encompasses a range of topics including “motivation to persist and achieve, psychological considerations in sport injury and rehabilitation, counseling techniques with athletes, assessing talent, exercise adherence and well-being, self-perceptions related to achieving, expertise in sport, youth sport and performance enhancement and self-regulation techniques.“ While popular perceptions often presume that sports psychology is only concerned with professional athletics, this specialty area includes a broad range of scientific, clinical and applied topics involving sports and exercise....

Bronzing your baby’s shoes might not be as popular a practice as it once was, but parents are often still eager to put a cute tiny pair of shoes on their baby. However, according to experts, babies don’t need to wear shoes until they begin to walk. Once your little one has taken their first steps, your best bet for baby shoes is to make sure they’re comfortable and provide some grip on slippery surfaces....