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What Is Situational Depression? Situational depression involves symptoms of depression that are related to stress. It is not a recognized clinical disorder but is an informal term used to describe what may be more formally diagnosed as a type of adjustment disorder. These feelings of depression are usually triggered by a traumatic event, sudden stress, or major life change. Triggers can include events like a serious accident, divorce, job loss, or death of a loved one....

Sleep disorders, also known as sleep-wake disorders, are conditions that can affect the amount, timing, or quality of your sleep, causing you to feel tired in the daytime and have difficulty functioning as a result. Millions of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep and 50 to 70 million Americans have one or more sleep disorders. If you or a loved one haven’t been sleeping well, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider for an evaluation....

For several reasons, an overdue pregnancy can be risky both for the mother and the baby. In addition to higher odds of certain complications, there’s said to be an increased risk of stillbirth in pregnancies that have progressed beyond 42 weeks. But exactly how much increased risk is there? Stillbirth Risk Beyond 42 Weeks While the risk of stillbirth is increased in pregnancies that go beyond 42 weeks, it is still relatively small, at 4 to 7 deaths per 1000 deliveries, as opposed to 2 to 3 deaths per 1000 deliveries in women who deliver between 37 and 42 weeks....

Joint health should be top of mind for all adults but especially if you’re active. The repetitive motion when you workout can lead to cartilage breakdown which, over time, can wear down joints and lead to inflammation, loss of movement, and pain. Certain supplements may support your joint health and help you stay active for a long time. Supplements that reduce inflammation or that support the production of collagen—a protein that provides tendons and ligaments with support—may benefit your joints....

Losing a spouse can be devastating, whether the death is sudden or following a long illness. One day you are married; the next day you are single, alone, and grieving. Between the intense emotions, the lifestyle changes, and the many practical considerations that accompany the death of your spouse, you probably feel overwhelmed and anxious about your future. Over time, the grief will likely subside and you will build a new life for yourself....

Indigenous people make up an estimated 5% of the world’s population. While they have different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, they often have a shared history of being uprooted and forced from their ancestral lands. Along with this, many face marginalization and discrimination in various forms including being prevented or denied the ability to live their traditions, express their cultures, and even speak their language. In order to understand many of the unique issues that Indigenous populations face, it is essential to gain a better understanding and awareness of Indigenous peoples, their history, and their cultures....

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder in which a person experiences repeated thoughts (called obsessions) that drive them to perform certain actions (known as compulsions) to alleviate the anxiety the thoughts cause. In a given year, approximately 1% of adults in the United States have a diagnosis of OCD. Males often show symptoms of OCD in childhood, but females are affected at a higher rate by adulthood. 25% of people with OCD have symptoms by the time they’re 14 years old....

When a person gets sick, it’s natural to want to understand why. With eating disorders, which are associated with many myths and negative stereotypes, the question of causation can be especially confusing. The culture at large commonly blames eating disorders on oversimplified explanations, such as the media’s promotion of unrealistically slender models or on bad parenting. Even some health professionals buy into these explanations. This article explores some of the risk factors that may increase the likelihood that a person might develop an eating disorder, including the impact of both environmental and genetic variables....

What Is a Therapist? A therapist is a broad designation that refers to professionals who are trained to provide treatment and rehabilitation. The term is often applied to psychologists, but it can include others who provide a variety of services, including social workers, counselors, life coaches, and many others. The term therapist is not a protected occupational title, but there are many types of therapists who do need to be licensed in order to practice....

What Is Dissociation? You probably are familiar with the sensation of feeling “zoned out”—the world around you momentarily seems unreal or looks strange or unfamiliar. In these moments, you could be experiencing dissociation. In broad terms, dissociation is a psychological phenomenon that represents a disconnect between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, perceptions, memories, and identity. When it happens occasionally, dissociation is usually not a problem for most people. However, if it happens frequently or is intense, it could be a sign of a mental health condition, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD)....

Emotional abuse, which is sometimes called psychological abuse, is a pattern of behavior that damages a child’s sense of self-worth and negatively impacts their emotional development. In addition to withholding love and support, the person emotionally abusing the child also may reject, criticize, threaten, demean, and berate the child. They also may humiliate the child, engage in name-calling, and insult them. Emotional abuse can occur in conjunction with physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect and is one of the hardest forms of abuse to recognize....

When you think of trauma, you probably either think of one-time events like a car accident, or ongoing trauma, such as childhood abuse. You might not be as familiar with medical trauma. Medical trauma refers to a patient’s psychological and physiological response to a negative or traumatic experience in a medical setting. The experience may involve illness, injury, pain, invasive or frightening procedures, and/or distressing or dismissive medical treatment. Just like any other trauma, the effects of medical trauma can be far-reaching, showing up mentally and in other physical symptoms....

Getting enough sleep is essential for the healthy development of your child. On average a baby under 3 months old should be getting between 14 to 17 hours of sleep. A baby between 4 and 11 months old needs about 12 to 15 hours. As your child gets older, they’ll need a little less sleep; toddlers need 11 to 14 hours typically. Developing a sleep routine can help make sure your kids are getting enough sleep, but it can be difficult to figure out....

You will understandably be worried if you go in for a pregnancy ultrasound but are told that a gestational sac could not be seen. Unfortunately, you can have a positive pregnancy test but not see a baby on the ultrasound. The gestational sac encloses the developing baby and contains amniotic fluid. If it’s not visible by around 5 weeks gestation, it may mean that the pregnancy is not viable or a miscarriage has already happened....

As you approach your baby’s 6-month birthday, it is probably hard to believe it has been half a year since they entered the world. A lot has happened over the last several months and this rapid growth and development will culminate in some exciting milestones this month. In fact, many parents are often delighted when their babies reach 6 months because it brings so many exciting changes. Not only will your baby laugh and babble, but they also will likely be able to sit up without support and may show readiness for solid foods....

If you have bipolar disorder and are considering having children, one of the questions you are probably asking yourself is whether you would pass your bipolar disorder on to a child. Is bipolar disorder hereditary? What is the role of genetics in bipolar disorder? Is Bipolar Disorder Hereditary? We have known for some time that bipolar disorder can run in families, and now, with genomic sequencing, we are learning about the possible role of genetic factors in the disorder....

Denial is a type of defense mechanism that involves ignoring the reality of a situation to avoid anxiety. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. In the case of denial, it can involve not acknowledging reality or denying the consequences of that reality. If you are in denial, it often means that you are struggling to accept something that seems overwhelming or stressful. However, in the short term, this defense mechanism can have a useful purpose....

Best friendships are an often treasured part of childhood. Kids in these relationships spend a significant amount of time together and tend to forge very close bonds. They provide a consistent social outlet, help them build social skills, and offer a source of support that many kids rely on and enjoy. Often, these kids have other friends that they like to spend time with as well. While many kids do have a best friend (or several), some kids do not....

How is dyslexia diagnosed? What tests are needed and what should you know in order to have your child qualify for special education services? Overview Dyslexia is one of several types of reading problems. The broad term, specific learning disorder, includes Dyslexia and other specific reading problems. Signs Signs of dyslexia are varied and may include: It is possible for a student to have symptoms of dyslexia that are problematic but not disabling—or to have symptoms that make reading and writing virtually impossible....

Whether or not to list the father’s name on their baby’s birth certificate is a question moms, particularly single moms, need to consider. Sometimes, the answer is obvious, but it’s not always a simple decision. Overview For married parents, the husband is automatically assumed to be the father of the child. However, unwed mothers are asked in the hospital—but not required—to provide the name of the birth father. Just as the mom does not need to put down a name, the father also does not need to acknowledge paternity, unless required to do so by a court order....