This article explores the challenges new couples face, how to deal with not knowing where things stand, what new couples argue about, why the gift-giving issue brings tension, and how new couples can manage stress during the holidays. What Challenges Do New Couples Face During the Holidays? Although it’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, for many it’s far from it. Based on a 2021 survey, three out of every five people feel their mental health is adversely affected by the holidays....

New research from Louisiana State University was presented at Experimental Biology 2021, an annual conference of the American Physiological Society. Findings show that some neurological symptoms—including changes in cognition, mobility, and sensory experiences—could be attributed to the virus’s presence in the brain and spinal cord, known together as the central nervous system, the body system responsible for processing and responding to sensory input. These new findings could inform preventative care and approaches to recovery and treatments, but those who have recovered from the illness could still have a long road ahead....

Generally, the first couple years of marriage are the hardest for most couples. Don’t assume because you are deeply in love your problems will just go away. Research suggests that couples who think their marriage will remain as happy as it was right after they wed are less happy in the long run. Taking steps to protect your relationship both now and in the future can ensure a healthier, happier relationship....

In today’s driven society, failure is often seen as unacceptable. We are encouraged to innovate but avoid “wasting” time or money. When we fail, we may be threatened or even punished by employers, spouses, and parents. This negative experience can lead to a fear of failure. A low level of fear can be inspiring, but a higher level of fear can become crippling to our progress.​ Is Hope for Success Related to Fear of Failure?...

Understanding Feared Outcomes Obsessions are unwanted private events that typically result in not only anxiety regarding the persistence of the obsession itself but also a feared catastrophic outcome. Feared outcomes commonly involve anticipatory anxiety regarding themes, such as being responsible for harm to oneself or to others, or being defined as unethical, immoral, or imperfect. For example, obsessions regarding dirt and contamination may result in an overwhelming fear that if the dirt and contamination aren’t mitigated, one may become ill or unintentionally cause others to become ill....

A panic attack is characterized by an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by other physical and mental symptoms. Panic attacks are episodic and typically peak within minutes or hours. Anxiety, on the other hand, is part of the emotional and protective responses hardwired into the human body. It becomes a problem when it’s longstanding, excessive, and disruptive to daily life—in which case, it’s termed an anxiety disorder....

Suicide is estimated to claim one life every eleven minutes in the U.S., according to the CDC. Unfortunately, the risk of death by suicide increases by about 100 times for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). These devastating statistics demonstrate the need for increased mental health support for PLWHA. Especially given high rates of suicidality among PLWHA in North America, this public health crisis deserves swift action. Understanding the Research This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed records from over 185,000 adults living with HIV/AIDS across the globe, to assess the risk factors and incidence of their attempted and completed suicides....

If you suffer from social anxiety disorder (SAD), you probably procrastinate out of fear of disapproval or failure. Perhaps you put off making phone calls, delay discussing difficult issues at work, or get behind scheduling health appointments, haircuts, or any other task that involves interacting with people. Unfortunately, the typical solutions for procrastination don’t work in these scenarios. Breaking big tasks down into smaller chunks doesn’t really apply when all you need to do is make a phone call....

What Causes Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? Researchers are still uncertain about how or why borderline personality disorder (BPD) occurs. Many people with BPD have common backgrounds, but these are certainly not universal among people with BPD. In addition to environmental factors like experiencing abuse as a child, scientists suggest that BPD could be linked to genetics or brain abnormalities. Some studies of people with BPD have shown that there are inherited traits that can predispose someone to developing BPD....

Mamie Phipps Clark’s Early Life Mamie Phipps Clark was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her father, Harold, was a doctor, and her mother, Katie, was active in helping her husband with his practice. Encouraged by her parents to pursue her education, she began college as a physics and math major. She met her husband, Kenneth Clark, at Howard, and he soon convinced her to switch majors to psychology. She graduated magna cum laude in 1938 and then spent some time working in a law office where she was able to witness first-hand the damaging effects of segregation, a rule of law that kept Blacks and whites separate....

How Parents May Help Increase Protective Factors in the Home If you have struggled with binge eating and dieting, you may be tempted to limit your children’s exposure to “fun” foods or to focus on your child being a “healthy” weight. You may feel unsure about how to promote health. This is not surprising given that we live in a world that is so weight-obsessed and makes us concerned about our children having larger bodies....

It can be grueling for kids and parents alike when it comes to the wait for college acceptance letters. If they are accepted, joy and excitement emerge. But if a kid is rejected, especially from their dream college, it is devastating. The entire experience can really cause a teen’s mental health to take a beating. “I know the disappointment of not getting into your first-choice school has a tremendous impact on student mental health....

Learn more about Freud’s complicated relationship with religion as well as some of his thoughts on religion and spirituality. Early Religious Influences Sigmund Freud was born to Jewish parents in the heavily Roman Catholic town of Freiburg, Moravia. Throughout his life, Freud endeavored to understand religion and spirituality and wrote several books devoted to the subject, including “Totem and Taboo” (1913), “The Future of an Illusion” (1927), “Civilization and Its Discontents” (1930), and “Moses and Monotheism” (1939)....

But for grandparents who smoked throughout their adult lives, and are now in their 60s, 70s, or older, many feel they do not need to quit. Some believe the risks of smoking and drinking are exaggerated, as they think because they have not been diagnosed with a serious illness, that they are in good health. Hard though it is to understand, even some of those who have been diagnosed with serious illnesses, including conditions directly related to smoking and drinking, refuse to change their behavior concerning these substances....

All of these scenarios can make you wonder whether you should tell your partner about what happens in therapy. Verywell Mind asked Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University, who specializes in issues related to relationships, to weigh in. This article explores some of the reasons why you may or may not want to tell your partner what happens in therapy, as well as some dos and don’ts that can help you have this conversation with your partner....

Keep in mind that the body benefits most from vitamins and minerals that come from whole foods rather than pills. In fact, even if you aren’t low in any particular nutrient, eating a balanced diet in general—one made up of fresh foods rather than processed ones—can help you feel better overall. B-Complex Vitamins B vitamins are essential for mental and emotional well-being. They’re water-soluble, meaning they can’t be stored in the body, so you need to get them through the foods you eat every day....

Also known as excoriation disorder or dermatillomania, this disorder is classified as an “obsessive-compulsive and related disorder" in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Symptoms of Skin Picking Disorder The main characteristic of pathologic skin picking also referred to as excoriation or dermatillomania, is repetitive or compulsive picking, or even digging, in the skin to the point of causing skin damage, scarring, and/or infection....