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People who have a substance use disorder often find that overcoming it is more challenging than they expected. They may feel that addiction is a myth and they can quit any time they want or that they are an exception to the rule. This can also occur with behavioral addictions involving activities such as eating, sex, gambling, shopping, and exercise. Learning how to overcome an addiction is important for anyone experiencing a substance use disorder (SUD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), or behavioral addiction....

Therapy can be an invaluable resource to treat a variety of mental health conditions, but like many forms of medical care in the United States, many people cannot afford the cost of treatment. According to the electronic health record platform SimplePractice, the average cost of a session in the United States varies from $100 to $200. This article details ways to afford therapy, including getting reimbursed by your health insurance....

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Jon Acuff Jon Acuff is a NY Times bestselling author. He’s written seven books, including his newest one called Soundtracks. He’s also the host of a podcast called, “All It Takes Is a Goal....

Frustrated by trying to prove you’re the better parent in the eyes of the court? Understanding the ‘better parent’ standard and what the courts are really looking for will help you win child custody in court and put the stress of your current custody situation behind you. Winning Child Custody Parents who hope to win child custody should first become familiar with the child custody laws in their jurisdiction and prepare to show themselves in court to be the better parent....

Everything changes after pregnancy and childbirth—including your relationship with fitness. To ease back into this part of your life, you’ll need to adjust your expectations slowly. Every pregnancy and birth experience is unique, and returning to exercise will not look the same for every new mom. On top of all this, having patience with yourself and your new body is a must when it comes to postpartum exercise. “Pregnancy and motherhood arm us with a strength that only exists once you have traveled the path,” says Brooke Cates, a prenatal and postnatal exercise specialist and founder of the online fitness platform, Studio Bloom....

Whether at the playground or in your own yard, at some point your toddler will likely end up using an outdoor swing set. Knowing how to keep your toddler safe in a swing can help them have fun and also prevent injury. While swings are meant to be an enjoyable activity for your toddler, they can also pose certain safety risks if they’re not maintained or are used improperly, so it’s important to learn the ins and outs of swing safety....

You may have heard about kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), an herbal supplement used traditionally in Southeast Asia for energy and to help ease aches and pains. Derived from a type of evergreen tree, kratom contains alkaloid compounds called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. While kratom acts like a mild stimulant when taken in low doses, it can cause an opiate-like high when taken in high doses. Kratom is currently listed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a “drug of concern,” and has not been approved for any medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)....

Have you ever heard someone describe themselves as an INTJ or an ESTP and wondered what those cryptic-sounding letters could mean? What these people are referring to is their personality type based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator is a self-report inventory designed to identify a person’s personality type, strengths, and preferences. The questionnaire was developed by Isabel Myers and her mother Katherine Briggs based on their work with Carl Jung’s theory of personality types....

A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions such as a rapid heart rate and shortness of breath when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away. But if you’ve had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder....

With much still being discovered about COVID-19 and its short- and long-term effects, a breeding ground exists for misinformation and exploitation. The latest example comes from Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle site, Goop. In a recent article, Paltrow details her experience with long COVID-19 symptoms of brain fog and fatigue after having the virus early in the pandemic. Key Takeaways As scientists work to learn more about the long-term effects of COVID-19, misinformation about treatment continues to circulate....

2020 was challenging in several ways, including how we were forced to navigate and re-assess our relationships. Whether romantic, platonic, or otherwise, sheltering-in-place and living in an increasingly digital world put a severe strain on daily interactions for many of us. Key Takeaways Relationships of all types have been strained during this time.There are options to both stay connected to old relationships and form new ones in safe ways.Make sure that you are still making time for yourself....

Caring for your baby at home after they have been discharged from the NICU can be intimidating. Many parents have questions about their baby’s health and safety, including regulating their temperature. Is My Baby Too Warm or Too Cold? Your home should be a comfortable low to mid-70 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping in mind the season and how your baby is dressed. The best way to tell if your baby is warm enough is to look at and touch your baby’s skin....

Gender nonconforming means not adhering to society’s gender norms. People may describe themselves as gender nonconforming if they don’t conform to the gender expression, presentation, behaviors, roles, or expectations that society sees as the norm for their gender. People of any gender identity can be gender nonconforming. Sex is a group of biological traits linked to reproduction. This is different from gender. Gender is the set of roles, expectations, and scripts (generally called “norms”) that we ascribe to different sexes....

It’s normal and natural for romantic relationships to start out fiery and passionate, then slowly transition into warmth and stability. This is due to many factors, ranging from how attraction and bonding hormones in our bodies change over time, to the instinctive nesting habits that have kept us flourishing as a species. No long term relationships maintain the initial chemistry that brought two (or more) people together initially forever, and that’s OK....

Here’s something that may really surprise you: As much as we may want our babies to sleep through the night, our own subconscious emotions sometimes hold us back from encouraging change in our babies’ sleeping habits. You yourself may be the very obstacle preventing a change in a routine that disrupts your life. Examine Your Own Needs and Goals Today’s society leads us to believe that “normal babies” sleep through the night from about two months; however, this is more the exception than the rule....

You might have had someone say it to you before: “Oh, just take a mental health day.” Key Takeaways Often, when people are struggling with their mental health, they’re told by employers or friends to “take a mental health day,” but that is not a holistic solution to the worsening mental health crisis.Real investments in mental health include: better mental health education in K through 12 schools, more support in universities, and comprehensive healthcare reform....

Workplace bullying is persistent mistreatment that occurs in the workplace. It can include behaviors such as verbal criticism, personal attacks, humiliation, belittling, and exclusion. It’s important to note that anyone can be a bully or be bullied, regardless of the role they have in the workplace. According to a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 30% of workers have directly experienced bullying while at work. People who work remotely were more likely to report such bullying, with 43....

It’s common to have the thought, “I’m not good at anything,” at one time or another in life. This thought may come to you when you are young and still trying to figure out what career you want to pursue or what your greater life purpose might be. It can come later in life, too, as you are changing career paths, or when you are feeling like you aren’t living as meaningful or accomplished a life as some of your peers....

Naming your children within a theme is a unique and often fun way to show unity. There are plenty of ways you can go about this, whether it’s naming your children after literary characters, the season they were born, or historical lineage. Another idea is to choose a letter and run with it. Naming your children based on a letter can go a few ways. One option is to ensure your children’s initials spell something specific....

Choosing a baby name is a process that many families put a lot of thought and love into. For some families, names are handed down through generations. For other families, names are inspired by popular books and movies. And for some families, baby names have no rhyme or reason—they’re just names that parents like. If you’re on the hunt for a baby name that starts with a particular letter, say the letter “D,” there are so many names to choose from, both popular and unique....