This behavior is extremely dangerous and can result in serious health consequences or death. The goal of consuming cotton balls dipped in liquid is to trick the palate into believing that a person is consuming food. Because the filler causes the stomach to feel full, people may consume fewer calories. The “cotton ball diet” is not recognized as an eating disorder in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5)....

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Public Health found that people whose spouses had just died had a 66% increased chance of dying within the first three months following their spouse’s death. Prior studies had placed the increased chances of death for the surviving spouse even higher, at up to 90%. Who Is Affected? Although previous research had reported that men face a greater risk than women of dying soon after a spouse, the 2014 study found equal chances for men and women....

Approximately 60%-80% of all new mothers suffer from the postpartum blues, also known as “baby blues.” B definition, the baby blues self-resolve within two weeks, but up to 20% of these cases can turn into postpartum depression, so it’s important to understand the differences between the two and when to seek treatment. What to Expect With Baby Blues Having a baby is a major life change. You may have just returned home after the delivery and now you’re feeling moody, uncomfortable, and vulnerable, wondering if this is normal....

Loneliness is a subjective state of mind in which people desire more social contact but feel disconnected or isolated from other people. It’s more about how you feel about your connectedness to others. If you’ve ever felt lonely in a crowd, you can appreciate that being surrounded by other people isn’t necessarily a cure for feelings of isolation. You might be spending time with your spouse, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t feel lonely even in their presence....

This can also be a feeling that pops up if you’re dealing with lots of stressors and, in those moments, you notice that your friends were at an event without you. And oh yes, it’s certainly exacerbated by being able to see what everyone else is doing on social media. This article discusses why you might feel like everyone hates you, how to reframe negative thoughts, and how to seek help to address these feelings....

You might suspect that you are beginning to develop an alcohol dependence, or you simply think it’s a healthy decision to make at this point in your life. However, if you’ve decided to begin an alcohol detox, learn more about its risks and tips to do it safely at home. What to Expect From Alcohol Withdrawal Detoxing from alcohol at home is standard of care in many instances. This process is medically supervised and includes the use of medications and close communication with a physician....

Because it is stronger than caffeine but not as strong as amphetamines, methylphenidate can be abused by those who take it recreationally (usually by snorting it or injecting it into a vein). Students have been known to use methylphenidate to stay up late to study for exams. It is a practice that can lead to addiction, a problem which often requires treatment at a drug rehabilitation center. Excretion of Methylphenidate The length of time that methylphenidate is detectable in the body is dependent on several variables, including which type of drug test is being used and which formulation of the drug is being taken....

Don’t use emotional blackmail on your parents to get them to come around—even if there’s a pregnancy involved and/or you’re a minor who needs their legal consent to marry. Try to understand your folks’ willingness to be disliked by you as a sign of their love for you. Realize that if you and your partner are truly in love, waiting a few years to get married won’t destroy your love for one another....

Although coughing is not a common symptom of withdrawal from smoking cigarettes, some ex-smokers do develop a cough early on in smoking cessation for a short period of time. This can be distressing for some people and may make giving up cigarettes more difficult. But understanding why this symptom happens can help you find ways to cope with it. This article discusses how smoking affects the cilia of the lungs and why you might experience increased coughing after you quit smoking....

You’re paying these professionals for their expertise. They can’t help you if they don’t know the whole story. But as a therapist, I know a lot of people don’t tell me the truth. And as someone who sees a therapist, I also understand why it’s tempting to lie. How Many People Lie to Their Therapists? The idea that most people lie to their therapist isn’t just based on my anecdotal evidence....

But the reality is that taking time off work doesn’t always feel like an easy thing to do. “I’ve heard in my sessions ‘I haven’t taken a proper vacation for over a year and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to take one,’” says psychologist and executive coach Marie-Helene Pelletier, PhD, MBA. What’s happening, she says, is that we’ve come to define vacation in a specific way. And this past year’s restrictions have prevented us from replicating what we’ve become familiar with, whether that’s long flights, foreign countries, or bustling attractions....

What Is Thirdhand Smoke? Have you ever stood in a check-out line and could tell that someone in line had been smoking, even though you didn’t see them do it? Or maybe you walked into a room thick with the unmistakable smell of stale cigarette smoke, even though there was no visible smoke in the room? Or, if someone smokes in your house or car, how about that yellow gunk you clean off the windows?...

Why would you still miss someone you don’t want to be with anymore? You might feel this way because of a sense of nostalgia. Or you might miss certain things about the person. You might even miss the person you were in that relationship. This article explores what it feels like to miss someone and how it can be challenging to let go of them, even if you don’t want them in your life anymore....

While challenging, there are steps you can take to improve your well-being during treatment. The following are tips to consider as you work to recover from your eating disorder.​ Know What to Expect Reading up on the latest treatments for your eating disorder can help defuse any anxiety, uncertainty, or fear you feel as you recover. These might include any combination of: Nutritional therapy: This involves working with a registered dietitian to learn more about nutrition and food preferences and create a personalized meal plan....

This article discusses what 5-HTP is, how it is uses, and research on its potential effects. It also covers some of the potential side effects and drug interactions that may occur. What Is 5-HTP? 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a compound produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. 5-HTP is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia....

There are strategic ways to deal with this. In the end, a diet plan should not be founded on drastic exercise programs or severely cutting back on food intake. It’s more about viewing nutrition as part of an overall effort to improve your health. Body and mind play a part in how you manage your bipolar disorder and, by looking at treatment holistically, you lose weight and feel better without compromising your health....

Withdrawal from some drugs, such as heavy alcohol use, benzodiazepines and, in some cases, meth or opiates, can be risky without medical help. See your doctor or check into a detox facility if this applies to you. Getting outside and taking in some of the world around you, with no particular purpose other than to feel better, really works. The gentle, bilateral stimulation of walking is great for calming down an agitated mind....

Early intervention has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms before some mental health conditions become too severe. During childhood years, the brain is still at its most malleable, so earlier treatment may help academic, social, and emotional development throughout a child’s life. But getting treatment can be difficult—nationally, the average is one child psychiatrist for every 1800 youths under the age of 18 who need these services. The following organizations help fill in the gaps through advocacy, links to low-cost services as well as providing free resources in the meantime....

Tips for Chatting With a Socially Anxious Person There are a number of steps that you can take to encourage someone with SAD to talk more and participate in the conversation. Share Things About Yourself First Many people who are shy or socially anxious may enjoy listening to others more than talking about themselves, since they often fear being humiliated and judged. Tell stories and share things about yourself before asking too much of the person with SAD....