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Recently, I witnessed several examples of bad behavior in three different preteen kids, just in one weekend. These were all different kids of different genders and backgrounds from different families, and in different settings. The only thing they had in common was that they seemed to be between 10 years old and 12 years old, and were behaving abominably. In the first incident, a girl spoke to me in a rude way when I asked her parents and her a simple question....

In the “Ask a Therapist” series, I’ll be answering your questions about all things mental health and psychology. Whether you are struggling with a mental health condition, coping with anxiety about a life situation, or simply looking for a therapist’s insight, submit a question. Look out for my answers to your questions every Friday in the Healthy Mind newsletter. Consider Your Mother’s Intentions While it’s okay to say no to your mom regardless of her reasons for asking you to do things, understanding her behavior could help you decide how to support her without enabling her....

Although you may equate braces with adolescence, these dental devices can help align the teeth and improve their functioning at any age. Whether you’ve been dying to straighten your teeth since you were in middle school or it’s something you’d suddenly like to check off your list before your baby arrives, you don’t have to put off braces while you’re pregnant. Here’s what else you need to get straight before settling into an orthodontist’s chair....

It’s estimated that 1.6% of American women suffer from bulimia in their lifetime. While it’s more common for women to live with the disorder, men can also be diagnosed with it. When you are a caregiver for someone with bulimia, it’s important to be supportive and understanding. While it can be difficult to watch someone you love suffer from an eating disorder, there are things you can do to help....

Ask a young person what they’re most concerned about for the future, and there’s a good chance they’ll point to climate change. In fact, 75% of people say “the future is frightening,” according to a recent survey that asked 10,000 individuals aged 16 to 25 about their feelings on climate change. Key Takeaways A recent survey found that 75% of teens and young adults feel frightened about the future due to climate change....

Growing up isn’t easy. It’s no wonder that many adolescents face some pretty difficult challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood, and they may respond by acting out. Parents, teachers, and other adults can help teens by being supportive and setting fair limits. Of course, it’s also important to identify the types of issues teens often face. These teen troubles are common, but not inevitable. If you are worried about your child, start by observing their behavior and seeking to identify what’s happening....

A core symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is obsessions, which are unwanted, distressing, and uncontrollable thoughts. The content and themes of these intrusive thoughts vary but are often of a disturbing nature. Typical OCD Thoughts Each person with OCD will have a different experience with obsessions, but common thoughts or thought patterns include: Aggressive or disturbing ideas (e.g. thoughts of murdering a spouse or child) Concerns about unwittingly causing injury (e....

The holiday season (the period of time from Thanksgiving until the New Year) is supposed to be a joyous time full of celebrations with family and friends. But for many people, “the most wonderful time of year” brings nothing but holiday anxiety and stress. While many people become overwhelmed and stressed during the holiday season, if you have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), this time of year can feel downright triggering....

Depression is a common mental health condition, that causes changes in mood, persistent feelings of sadness, lack of interest or pleasure and can affect the way you think and act. The World Health Organization estimates that 264 million people of all ages are living with depression across the globe. Depression can interfere with your day to day life and negatively affect your physical health, relationships with other people, and your work....

Almost all of us have had moments where we thought we were pregnant when we actually weren’t. Maybe your period was a few days late, and you just had “that feeling” that a pregnancy was underway. Maybe you did in fact skip a period and thought you were experiencing some signs of pregnancy. You may have even had some signs of early pregnancy, such as nausea or sore breasts. Usually, though, your suspicions (or hopes) are easily answered by the coming of your period or a negative pregnancy test....

Complaining about your partner’s behavior is common in any long-term relationship. For instance, she complains to him that he doesn’t spend enough time with her. He complains to her about her over-spending. This song plays over and over, and the one on the receiving end has gotten quite adept at tuning it out. It can be incredibly frustrating when your complaints fall on deaf ears. What if there was a way to both express and hear each other’s complaints more effectively?...

Mothers who are pregnant with multiples are at extremely high risk for preeclampsia, also known as toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). This condition is associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy and it affects up to a third of moms of multiples. Research is helping doctors understand and diagnose the causes of preeclampsia, which may make it easier to predict and perhaps treat the disorder. Overview It is estimated that 5% of singleton pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia....

Getting children to eat vegetables is notoriously challenging. But new research suggests that garden, nutrition, and cooking programs in schools can positively influence children’s vegetable intake. Key Takeaways Gardening programs at school can increase children’s vegetable exposure and consumption.Exposure can mean reading, gardening, or trying new vegetables at home. The study follows up on previous research that implemented a garden, nutrition, and cooking program in an after-school care setting. In the after-school care study, children were provided intensive lessons over a 12-week period, which resulted in healthier body weight, BMI, and waist circumference and increased vegetable intake for participants....

Every child experiences moments where they feel inadequate, deficient, or not good enough when compared to others. Whether they score low on an exam or worry that they are not as skilled on the basketball court, it’s not uncommon for kids to compare themselves unfavorably to their peers. In fact, experiencing feelings of inadequacy from time to time is normal and sometimes could be the catalysts kids need to work harder or make improvements....

If you have a child just learning to write, you have been given this admonition by her teacher: Don’t correct the spelling! It’s part of a new understanding of how language is acquired and how children learn to read and write. You may be perplexed by some of the remarkable ways in which your child and her classmates spell, but that’s the point. What Is Inventive or Invented Spelling? Inventive spelling refers to the practice of children using incorrect and unusual spellings for words....

Many people don’t know what a bad trip is until they have one. So, it is helpful to know ahead of time what you could experience, and what you should do if you have a bad trip or if one of your friends does. A trip is a period of intoxication from a hallucinogenic drug such as lysergic acid (LSD) or magic mushrooms (psilocybin). An unpleasant experience of hallucinogen intoxication is known as a “bad trip....

Touch is one of the first languages we learn. As babies, our parents’ gentle and loving touch brings a sense of calm, and as adults we enjoy loving embraces and hugs from family and friends, as well as intimate touch from our significant others. At the end of the day, it’s one of the most effective ways we can demonstrate our love and compassion toward another human. Key Takeaways As states continue to enforce social distancing guidelines, studies suggest that the long-term effects of touch deprivation pose a real threat to emotional well-being....

Due to the health risks of consuming nicotine-containing products, and the high potential for addiction, many people are searching for ways to decrease their use of these products. Nicotine replacement therapy products are a popular choice for decreasing dependence on nicotine. Due to its ease of use and efficacy, the nicotine patch has become one of the most popular NRTs. What Is the Nicotine Patch? The nicotine patch is a popular and effective quit smoking aid....

A key symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is compulsions. Compulsions are behaviors done in response to an obsessive thought. A person with OCD may repeat these behaviors over and over again, possibly for hours on end, in order to try and relieve anxiety. In OCD, examples of compulsions include repeated handwashing or counting, but everyone with OCD is different and may display different behaviors. Even though people with OCD feel driven to engage in these behaviors, they probably don’t want to....

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders are both mental health conditions that can cause a lot of distress. Both OCD and eating disorders can involve obsessions, compulsions, and rigid rules around food and eating. However, there are some key differences between the two conditions. Learn more about the similarities and differences between OCD and eating disorders in this article. For instance, for those with eating disorders, their symptoms were most likely triggered by body image issues....