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Addiction is a complex, chronic brain condition influenced by genes and the environment that is characterized by substance use or compulsive actions that continue despite harmful consequences. For a long time, addiction meant an uncontrollable habit of using alcohol or other drugs. More recently, the concept of addiction has expanded to include behaviors, such as gambling, as well as substances, and even ordinary and necessary activities, such as exercise and eating....

Addictions can sometimes cause people to display behaviors that are problematic and extreme. These behaviors can create issues in the individual’s life and can be difficult for family and friends to understand. Learning more can help you better contextualize these behaviors, find supportive resources, and learn strategies for coping. Troubling Behaviors Related to Addiction According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, one of the defining features of addiction is that it leads people to engage in compulsive behaviors that persist even when they lead to negative and harmful consequences....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. When people have mental health conditions such as ADHD, there is a tendency to focus only on the negative. While ADHD can create challenges in a person’s life, it is also important to note that some of the characteristics associated with the condition can also have benefits. This article discusses the benefits of having ADHD and how you or a loved one can make the most of those benefits....

Azoospermia is a condition where there is no sperm found in the ejaculate (or semen) after orgasm. Affecting about 1 in 100 of the general population—and up to 1 in 10 of men with fertility problems—azoospermia is an uncommon but severe form of male infertility. The best course of treatment depends on the specific cause of the azoospermia, along with the fertility potential of the female partner. Overview You might assume that men with azoospermia can’t have genetic children, but this isn’t necessarily so....

A balanced or chromosomal translocation is a condition in which part of a chromosome has broken off and reattached in another location. In other words, it means that sections of two chromosomes have switched places. Translocations can be completely harmless or they can cause serious health problems, depending on the circumstances. In the case of the former, many people can have translocations without being aware of the condition. This is usually the case for reciprocal (or balanced) translocation, a type of chromosomal translocation that increases the risk of recurrent miscarriages....

Not everyone with borderline personality disorder (BPD) seeks individual help. When your significant other shows signs of BPD that is affecting your relationship but won’t seek help, what do you do? Some might consider couples counseling. Your partner may even agree to it. But can couples counseling be effective for treating borderline personality disorder? Could it save your marriage? Make the Commitment to Seek Help This scenario puts you as the spouse in a difficult position; you think that your partner may have BPD, but they won’t seek a formal evaluation or individual treatment....

Physicians traditionally advise against the use of tampons during miscarriage bleeding. The cervix may be more dilated after a miscarriage than during a typical menstrual period. This is thought to pose an increased risk of developing a uterine infection or toxic shock syndrome. Though there isn’t conclusive research supporting the recommendation to avoid tampons, to err on the side of caution, it’s best to choose pads for miscarriage-related bleeding.Here’s why it’s a good idea to follow your physician’s advice before inserting tampons after an early pregnancy loss....

What Is Cocaine? Consuming cocaine triggers the release of a chemical called dopamine in the brain, causing a high characterized by euphoria, alertness, excitement, and frenzied energy. This high can be addictive, causing cravings for more and more of the drug. Cocaine Cocaine is a compound extracted from the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca shrub, native to South America, where Indigenous communities used to drink coca tea or chew coca leaves for their energizing and stimulating benefits....

Cynophobia, or fear of dogs, is an extremely common specific phobia. Although snake and spider phobias are even more prevalent, the average person is far more likely to encounter dogs in daily life. A phobia of dogs can be devastating, limiting contact with dog-owning friends and relatives, and curtailing normal activities. Causes of Cynophobia Like most animal phobias, fear of dogs is most commonly caused by a negative experience with a dog, especially during childhood....

A covert narcissist is a person who has symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) but often hides the more obvious signs of the condition. While it can be more difficult to recognize, covert narcissism can be just as destructive as more overt narcissistic behaviors. In many cases, it is easy to spot the narcissist in the room. They are the ones who are working the crowd, loudly sharing fabulous stories that convey a sense of importance and accomplishment so that they can feel admired....

An FBA is a functional behavioral assessment. Like the name suggests, it is an evaluation of a student’s behavior. An FBA represents an attempt to look beyond the obvious interpretation of a behavior as “bad” to determine what function it may be serving for a child. Quite often, understanding why a child behaves the way they do is the first step to developing strategies to prevent, modify, or redirect the behavior....

Gender dysphoria occurs when a person feels that their biological sex inaccurately represents their true being. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) describes people that live with this dysphoria as having a “marked incongruence between their experienced or expressed gender and the one they were assigned at birth." Previously known as “gender identity disorder,” it’s hard to say just how many people live with this condition. What is widely accepted, however, is that a growing number of people—children, adolescents, and adults alike, are finding that they are unable to live within, and perform the traditional roles expected of their assigned sex at birth....

Respect is a vital component of a healthy relationship. Partners may argue and disagree, but they should still maintain respect for one another. When someone disregards or belittles their partner’s feelings, interests, opinions, or beliefs, then the relationship will suffer as a result. Early in your relationship, you should have an honest conversation about respect and what it means to you and your partner. Beyond the basic levels of respect, you may have different definitions of what it means and what respectful behavior looks like....

Have you ever gotten the feeling that someone is manipulating you for their benefit? Or that they care more about what you can offer them than they do about you? In these situations, it’s possible that you’re being used. “In some cases, the individual being used may not recognize the pattern until long after the behaviors first start. On other occasions, the individual is keenly aware they have been manipulated for another person’s gain right away,” says Marcum....

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 Nedra Glover Tawwab Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who specializes in relationships. She helps people manage anxiety and depression that often stem from challenging relationships, and she teaches people how to set boundaries with difficult family members....

How do you talk to your kids about depression? That will depend on a few different factors. First, you need to know the reason for the discussion. Are you looking to share information in general, tell them about your own struggle with depression, or talk to them about whether they have depression? This will guide what you do. Second, what age is your child? Whether your child is of preschool age, elementary school, or high school, will largely determine the discussion that you have....

Teaching teens about good hygiene tends to be one part teaching and many parts (gentle) reminders. While you’ve likely taught them many skills from early childhood on, some of these hygiene tasks are new, or need to be done independently for the first time. It’s also common for kids to grow less vigilant on personal hygiene when they hit middle and high school, especially once they’re no longer under their parent’s watchful eye while grooming....

Dark circles under your eyes aren’t the only thing that can come from a bad night’s rest. New research shows that a lack of sleep might actually lead to symptoms that resemble a concussion. Key Takeaways A study on more than 30,000 student athletes and cadets found that those who lacked sleep had symptoms similar to a concussion.People who had mental health conditions or high levels of stress also had symptoms that fit the criteria for post-concussion syndrome, even though they didn’t have a recent head injury....

There are many reasons to consider not having your baby bathed in the first hours after birth. Some hospitals have a policy of bathing the baby just after birth, but as parents, you may be able to decide when to bathe your baby and who is the one to do it. An exception: If a gestational parent has HIV or hepatitis, babies should be bathed after their first breastfeeding. There are several benefits to delaying the baby’s first bath, and you may reconsider when you would like it to happen after learning about the advantages of waiting....

Uterine fluid is an essential component of a healthy pregnancy. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers uncovered a way to examine uterine fluid in a laboratory setting. Key Takeaways A recent study was able to replicate uterine fluid, which may help in detecting pregnancy complications.The study findings may help lessen the need for invasive exploratory procedures.Doctors are optimistic, but note there is a long way to go....