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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 198 There are many ways to treat depression—medication, individual therapy, group therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation to name a few. But, there are also lifestyle changes that can sometimes provide effective relief from symptoms....

Gambling addiction is a term that is sometimes used to described a psychological condition that is formally known as gambling disorder. Once referred to as compulsive or pathological gambling, gambling disorder is currently the only behavioral addiction included in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition” (DSM-5). Previously, pathological gambling was classified as an “impulse control disorder.” In the DSM-5, pathological gambling was renamed to gambling disorder and moved to a new category, “addiction and related disorders....

As early as kindergarten, kids are introduced to math. As they progress in grade school, children will learn math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more. While math can be fun and challenging for some children, it can be a very different experience for others. They can feel anxiety about not getting the answers right and not understanding what is being taught. They may feel frustrated and upset about not doing well in math and may develop a dislike for the subject, making the development of math skills even more difficult....

What Is Modafinil? Modafinil is sometimes called a “wakefulness-promoting agent.” This medication works to reduce sleepiness caused by conditions including narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. It is available as a tablet taken by mouth, usually once a day. Most people who work during the day take the drug in the morning. However, shift workers who take the drug to promote wakefulness take the drug before their shifts begin....

There are pros and cons to relying on self-report in the process of gathering data. Now, a recently published study in Archives of Sexual Behaviour found that the need to respond in a culturally appropriate manner may skew sexual behavior research. Key Takeaways Social desirability bias refers to the urge to respond in a societally acceptable way. Individuals tend to over-report societally acceptable behaviors and under-report societally unacceptable behaviors in sexual behavior research....

What Is the Vagus Nerve? However, chronic stress can impact the vagus nerve in a negative way. This can lead to problems such as anxiety and depression. It can also make the body more susceptible to infections and diseases. Therefore, it is important to manage stress in order to maintain a healthy vagus nerve. The Vagus Nerve The vagus nerve is a long nerve that runs from your brainstem all the way down to your abdomen....

You have a friend who has been struggling to get pregnant, and they need a surrogate or gestational carrier to have a baby. Or, maybe you have a gay male friend who wants to have a baby and is considering surrogacy. You’d like to offer to carry their baby for them. Before you make that offer, you must stop and carefully consider whether this is truly right for you. There is a lot of testing, emotional investment, and physical considerations to think about before you suggest the idea to your loved one....

Subcutaneous injections are commonly required for hormonal fertility drugs. Subcutaneous means just below the skin, into the fatty tissue that lies between your skin and the muscle underneath. You may need to give yourself injections of fertility drugs if you are: Being treated with gonadotropins Going through IVF treatment Having IUI treatment Giving yourself a subcutaneous injection is easier than you may think. The first couple of times you may be nervous....

The fear of conflict is common, especially among those with social anxiety. You might worry about saying something that others will disagree with or have general fears about doing things that will annoy or bother other people. Although avoiding conflict alleviates your anxiety in the short term, in the long term it perpetuates your fear that you can’t handle situations involving conflict. Exposure Therapy One way to gradually overcome your fear of conflict is to face the situations that cause you anxiety....

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts 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 Mallory Ervin Mallory Ervin held the title of Miss Kentucky in 2009. In 2010, she was fourth runner-up to Miss America. She also competed on the reality show, “The Amazing Race,” three separate times....

Before Hurricane Ian swept through Florida, residents scrambled to prepare. Jenna, a stay-at-home mom to two young girls in the Tampa area, stocked up on water, batteries, and flashlights. As she and her husband lugged outdoor furniture and everything else from their yard into the house, their daughters became concerned. Key Takeaways Hurricane Ian has left a wake of destruction from Florida to North Carolina with many families displaced and lives lost....

Softball and baseball for kids may lag behind some other youth sports in popularity. But this all-American classic could still be a home-run hit for your child. The Basics of Softball and Baseball In these sports, two teams of nine players alternate between offense and defense. Offensive players try to score runs by hitting the baseball with a bat, then running around the bases on the diamond while the defensive players try to field the ball....

Methergine is a type of medication used to stop uterine bleeding after childbirth. It belongs to a class of drugs called ergot alkaloids. The active ingredient in Methergine is methylergonovine—its generic name. This medication is available as an oral tablet or an injection which is given intravenously. Uses Methergine is used to help control uterine bleeding and other uterine problems just after childbirth. It works by improving the strength of the uterus and the timing of uterine contractions to help control bleeding and also assist in the delivery of the placenta....

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Driver inexperience is one of the biggest reasons young people are more likely to get into crashes. The only way to reduce that risk is for them to gain more experience behind the wheel. However, not all experience is created equal. Most states have strict rules about how many hours teens need to practice driving with a parent or other licensed driver prior to obtaining a driver’s license....

One important aspect of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder is phone coaching. What is phone coaching, and how can it help you cope with symptoms? Phone coaching is one of the essential elements of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a very effective form of psychotherapy that is used for borderline personality disorder (BPD). While there is no cure for BPD, DBT has been proven to decrease the occurrence and severity of symptoms....

Breastfeeding looks different for everyone—and whether you breastfeed for one week, one year, or more, it’s an accomplishment you should feel proud of. Yet many mothers are unprepared for what happens after they successfully wean their child. Some are even surprised by the intensity of their emotions. The fact is, it’s common to experience a bout of depression or mood swings after you’ve weaned from breastfeeding. The problem is that so few women talk about this experience, which can make it all the more confusing and isolating....

Not getting enough sleep can make you tired, irritable, and forgetful. But for parents who have just delivered a baby, sleep deprivation may also accelerate the aging process. Research out of UCLA found that a year after giving birth, women who slept less than seven hours per night showed a biological age that was three to seven years older than their chronological age. Key Takeaways A new study shows that postpartum sleep deprivation can accelerate a mother’s biological age....

More than 85% of adults in the United States report spending more time reading news on their mobile devices over conventional print media. This isn’t that surprising, considering how easily accessible news stories are via our smartphones, as well as the higher level of exposure to news, in general, via social media. Key Takeaways Smartphones today are used for all levels of reading, from checking emails to consuming novels.A new study suggests that this medium for reading actually reduces reading comprehension....

Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and poor function of the liver and kidneys. Preeclampsia often leads to premature birth, and if left untreated poses serious harm to the fetus and the pregnant person or even death. Key Takeaways Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition that affects at least 2% to 8% of pregnant people.Researchers believe that the elusive condition is a result of many mutated genes rather than one....

When the federal guidelines for the National School Lunch Program were overhauled, growing concern about childhood obesity was factored in. Outlined in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), part of the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, the guidelines include several requirements for schools receiving federal funds for their school lunch programs. The changes were rolled out over a few years to give schools and communities time to understand the guidelines and make changes as needed....