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As much as you’ve listened to your partner’s deepest, darkest secrets and endured their most interesting smells over mornings in bed—the fact remains that you and your significant other remain two different people. This means that you live and experience life differently and may sometimes interpret situations in ways that don’t always agree with the other. In certain cases, these differences can lead to squabbles in the relationship. And while it is hardly ever enjoyable to spend possible cuddle time hashing out an argument, these fights may sometimes be a key element in strengthening the bond you and your partner share....

In the cold, dark days of winter, many of us may wake up later, leave our houses less, and struggle to stay motivated. These months are likely to feel longer and more stressful than sunnier seasons, which is why prioritizing mental health and turning to meditation for its mood-boosting benefits may help. “Meditation provides an island of sanity in an otherwise chaotic and tumultuous reality,” says Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD, co-founder and chief learning officer of the Happiness Studies Academy....

After delivering a baby, you might feel pretty relieved that you’re not pregnant anymore. But even so, it’ll take your body some time to recover. Your uterus will begin to shrink down from its expanded state and return to its normal size. As part of that recovery, you’ll experience some postpartum bleeding and discharge for a few weeks. For most people, the bleeding is heavy right after childbirth and eventually lightens up before disappearing altogether....

If you’re experiencing severe depression symptoms, having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or your current treatment just isn’t helping, you may consider checking yourself into a hospital. Although this can be a frightening thought, you may find it less intimidating if you know what to expect from the process. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor....

Finding out you are expecting can be a happy and joyous time, but then reality sets in. You’ll likely need a lot of new things, especially if this is your first baby. Although the number of items marketed towards new parents seems endless, you won’t need everything. There are so many brands, products, and choices, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’re here to help you with the ultimate guide on putting a registry together so you can get exactly what you need and nothing you don’t....

How to Deal With Emotions at Work If you have ever dealt with emotions at work—congratulations, you’re a human! Acknowledge that emotions at work are valid and normal, whether they be about something at work or at home. Although there is a time and a place for how you may express these emotions at work, you would be a robot if you never had any feelings about work. You likely care a lot about your job and doing well, and disappointing yourself or others may bring up feelings....

With both the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines now widely available for children ages 6 months and older, you may be thinking ahead to that moment in the doctor’s office when your little one looks to you for comfort and reassurance. Key Takeaways A new study found that how parents talk to their chid immediately after a vaccination can affect their distress levels.Physical strategies such as hugging, cuddling, or hand-holding may be more effective than saying things like, “it will be over soon....

Though it’s usually not the intended outcome of giving unsolicited advice, many who receive it often feel stressed, offended, or simply annoyed by unwanted suggestions. Setting a boundary in this regard, if you feel you need one, is perfectly reasonable and something that can bring you increased emotional safety. It’s best to set boundaries in a way that takes into account the individual’s underlying reasons for doing what they’re doing to avoid unnecessary conflict and more stress....

The mention of hypnosis often calls to mind visions of swaying pocket watches or live shows where everyone ends up doing embarrassing things on stage. But historically, the hypnotic state has been a heavily debated playing field for treating a number of conditions. Key Takeaways Hypnotherapy has proven effective in treating conditions like PTSD, anxiety, overeating and addiction.A recent study suggests that, under hypnosis, the brain processes information differently. Hypnotherapy has been gaining popularity as a legitimate method for changing behavior and dealing with stress and trauma....

Most people feel a certain amount of stress and anxiety in their lives. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In many situations, feeling a certain level of stress and anxiety can actually help boost your performance in specific contexts. For example, a person may experience a level of anxiety the days leading up to a public speech, marriage, or another big life event. In many situations, a bit of stress and worry can be expected and is considered a perfectly normal reaction....

You may have put weightlifting on hold during your pregnancy, or at least reduce the amount you’re lifting. If you’re anxious to get back into it after your baby arrives, know that you’ll need to wait a little bit longer to pick up this activity again. Your body needs to heal itself before you put any excessive strain on it, but this usually only takes about a month or two....

When doctors write prescriptions for medications, they don’t just jot down the name of a drug and send their patients off to the pharmacy. Included on the prescription are details about how much of the medication to take at one time (the dose) and at what intervals. These instructions, which are very important for making certain the drug is effective and safe, are based in part on the half-life of the medication being prescribed....

In high school, everything feels like the end of the world—and it doesn’t help that most adults around you act like it is. There are so many things to balance. Each feels monumentally important, from how you do on your SATs to making your chosen sports team. These stressors can impact any high school student. But for girls, in particular, the mental health impact can be immense and long-lasting, as they may face pressure to be popular, look a certain way, and excel after school in a world that still chooses (and pays them) less....

When you arrive at the hospital in labor, your doctor or midwife will get you prepared for delivery. Many events in the process are experienced by nearly all women who give birth in a hospital. Even when an intervention is considered routine or “the norm,” you should still learn about it and understand what your rights as a patient are. One such intervention you may encounter is the placement of a saline or heparin lock....

In addition to his own psychoanalytic practice, Sigmund Freud was also a prolific writer. Works such as “The Interpretation of Dreams” (1900) and “The Psychopathology of Everyday Life” (1901) helped establish Freud’s psychoanalytic theories and made him a dominating force in psychology during the early 20th century. Over 100 years later, his research and findings continue to influence our studies on the human mind. Below are just a few quotes from Freud’s writings....

Self-modification programs focus on helping people manage unwanted or dysfunctional behavioral responses when dealing with their problems. For example, if you have panic attacks as a result of panic disorder (PD), a common dysfunctional behavioral response is avoidance. Unfortunately, avoiding fearful situations does nothing to help in your recovery from PD. In order for a self-modification program to be successful, you must first take a careful inventory of your current behavior patterns to discover how you deal with anxiety and panic....

When you teach your child to write, you’re developing his fine motor skills. You’re also preparing him for school because most kids know how to write at least a few letters by the time they are ready for kindergarten. Make handwriting a fun activity when you teach your child to write his name in five easy steps that are educational and frustration free. 1. Print His Name as an Outline Learning to write his name is a proud accomplishment and a skill he’ll use throughout his lifetime....

The protein needs of active individuals are higher than the general population. Adequately refueling with enough protein and carbohydrates after exercise is critical if you want to optimize your training and recover quickly. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, protein needs can usually be met through diet alone, without the use of supplements. Protein can be found in foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, tofu, tempeh, and in varying amounts in grains and legumes....

Whether you’re stressed about your financial situation or you’re struggling to help your kids do their school work from home, the coronavirus pandemic has likely caused some upheaval in your life. If you’re not careful, the stress of the situation can take a serious toll on your psychological well-being. Key Takeaways Mental health experts across the United States are raising concerns about the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic could have on the population’s mental health—both in the short- and long-term....

January 20, 2023 To our readers— It’s important to us that we’re providing you with accurate, reliable health information, and that you feel welcome no matter what your background is. To do that, we rededicate ourselves to a diversity pledge we first made in June 2020—a detailed promise to all who visit Verywell, so they may see themselves reflected in the voices and content we share. As a health website that reaches more than 38 million readers per month, we are uniquely positioned to create positive change....