When most people think of eating disorders, they think of teenagers and adults, and mostly among women and girls. More than 9% of Americans (28.8 million people) will have an eating disorder at least once in their lifetime. A new study from The Keck School of Medicine of USC shows not only are dangerous eating behaviors starting in younger children, but they are also affecting boys and girls equally. Key Takeaways...
I was only a day or two late. On a whim, I took an old pregnancy test that I had found deep inside my bathroom cabinet. I wasn’t supposed to pick it up and see two lines on it. When I did, I thought I might pass out. I screamed for my husband, who was changing our 2-year-old’s diaper across the hall. I showed him the stick, the two pink lines....
If you are like most parents, you worry about what technology is doing to your kids. Are they on their phones too much? Are they sharing too much on social media? Do they know how to have a face-to-face conversation? In fact, research indicates just how addicted to technology kids truly are and how it is impacting them. For instance, this generation’s technology use is increasing bullying, decreasing their ability to empathize, and robbing them of creativity....
Shopping for baby supplies can be a daunting task, and picking out baby bottles is no exception. The problem is that there are just so many choices. What size should you buy? Are plastic, glass, or stainless steel bottles the way to go? What about bottle nipples? Do you need a slim or wide nipple? What’s better—silicone or latex? What if you are planning to breastfeed: what’s the best bottle for breastfed babies?...
Every teen deserves to be surrounded by people that are healthy, supportive, and most importantly, safe. If your teen is in a relationship with someone who is hurting them emotionally or physically, it’s important that they know that they do not deserve to be treated that way, nor are they to blame. If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates....
There are times when cutting back on your drinking can be helpful, but there are times when quitting alcohol altogether is the best solution. If you want to stop drinking for good, don’t let past relapses discourage you from trying to quit. It is normal and even expected for people to try to quit at least once before achieving sobriety. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that 40% to 60% of people with substance use disorders experience a relapse at some point....
The concept of the mental health day is not new, but as with many aspects of self-care, its importance may have been misunderstood or under-appreciated until the last couple years. Whether from pandemic stress, burnout, financial insecurity, or any number of other stressors, many of us—kids included—feel the need for a mental health day every now and then. More and more, schools are recognizing this need and for the first time are allowing a set number of days for kids to stay home from school for mental health reasons....
Metaphors are figures of speech that state that one thing is actually another thing. They are a way of creating a comparison that while not literally true, provides a figurative meaning. Metaphors for life may help you think about your life and problems in a different way. Metaphors not only help people describe and make sense of their lives, but can serve as a source of encouragement, motivation, or gratitude....
Negative automatic thoughts are the conscious or subconscious thoughts that occur in response to everyday events. These thoughts are irrational, self-defeating, and may fuel social anxiety disorder (SAD). Role of Negative Thoughts Social anxiety has been shown to be related to increased negative thinking. Within cognitive behavioral therapy, it is believed that what you think can influence what you feel and do. For instance, if you experience negative automatic thoughts like “I’m stupid” or “They’ll make fun of me” when about to give a presentation, anxiety, and fear occurs....
Because substances like alcohol and drugs are often used to try to suppress thoughts and feelings, people affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are at greater risk for developing substance use disorders. Although alcohol and drug use may initially mask OCD symptoms, in the long run using substances can make symptoms worse, interfere with treatment and disrupt supportive relationships. What Is a Substance Use Disorder? Before examining the relationship between OCD and substance use disorders, we first need to outline what a substance use disorder is....
An oocyte is an immature egg (an immature ovum). Oocytes develop to maturity from within a follicle. These follicles are found in the outside layer of the ovaries. During each reproductive cycle, several follicles begin to develop. Typically, only one oocyte each cycle will become a mature egg and be ovulated from its follicle. This process is known as ovulation. A woman is born with all the oocytes she will ever have....
If you’ve ever been in a highly stressful situation, you’ve likely experienced the fight-or-flight response. Your pulse races, your breathing speeds up, your pupils dilate—all in response to a perceived danger. These symptoms serve an important purpose in some situations, but they can feel disruptive and uncomfortable in others. Someone with a mental health condition, for example, may have an overactive fight-or-flight response that can be triggered frequently, even when they’re not in danger....
Pfizer announced on Friday plans to delay its application to the FDA for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 5. The company was set to meet with the FDA on February 15 but postponed the meeting to gather more clinical trial data for a three-dose regimen as opposed to its previously proposed two-dose schedule. Based on the results of the trials involving two doses, Pfizer believes a third dose will provide a more robust immune response in young children....
What’s the secret to a happy relationship? The answer, it turns out, has to do with both partners having a high sense of personal power, according to a new study. Key Takeaways A new study found that the happiest couples included partners who both felt they had an influence on each other, as well as decisions in the relationship.Imbalances in income, education, or career achievements did not seem to make a difference in the quality of relationships....
It’s common for children to display behavior problems such as tantrums, being defiant, talking back, and not listening. There’s probably not a parent out there who’s not familiar with the challenging behaviors kids can sometimes engage in as they mature, learn how to control their impulses, and test boundaries. Overview But in some cases, children may display behavior that may fall under the category of “disruptive behavior.” As the term suggests, disruptive behaviors are just that—behaviors at home, school, and elsewhere that literally disrupt the normal flow of things....
For many, white privilege can be uncomfortable to consider and difficult for individuals to recognize in themselves. Certain circumstances, however, may make this process easier. A recently published study in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that white men were more likely to perceive their privilege following experiences of marginalization, as in the case of a physical disability. Key Takeaways White men who report an experience of disadvantage based on a social category, like a disability, perceive greater privilege....
As long as you have the right gear, running in the rain can be a great way to prepare for temperamental race day conditions. The best rain gear for running wicks away moisture and prevents chafing and blisters. It’s also important to look for lightweight and ventilated gear. As Whitney Heins, founder and certified running coach at The Mother Runners, tells Verywell Fit, “Look for a rain jacket that is lightweight, 100 percent waterproof, ventilated so you don’t overheat, and fitted so you don’t incur extra wind resistance....
Greek yogurt is a versatile, protein-rich dairy product that’s easy to eat at any time of day. You can enjoy it with fresh fruit at breakfast, as a smoothie base for a snack, or in a savory dinnertime dish as a mayo or sour cream replacement; the options are endless. The best greek yogurts are flavorful, made from organic or non-GMO milk, and have no added sugar. With so many Greek yogurt products on the market—sweetened, plain, full-fat, non-fat, 2%, skyr—it can be a challenge to pick the best option....
Allergies and asthma are among the most common health issues affecting kids in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey found that 5.2 million kids reported hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and 7.1 million kids reported respiratory allergies. Asthma affects approximately 6 million children. Key Takeaways Millions of children in the US are affected by allergies and/or asthma.Treating and monitoring allergy symptoms can help to prevent and treat asthma, doctors say....
An inferiority complex is when a person has feelings of inadequacy or inferiority, whether real or imagined. These feelings may result from a physical defect or surface in situations where we feel less intelligent than our peers. Other times, feelings of inferiority may be concocted from purely imagined shortcomings. Feeling inferior goes beyond unhappiness that a colleague got a promotion over you, or even feeling sad after achieving a low score on a class-wide test....
