During the perinatal period, which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, women undergo many physical, emotional, and social changes, which can lead to mental disturbances, including mood swings, depression, PTSD, and psychosis. Though it’s a rare perinatal disorder, postpartum psychosis occurs in one to two per one thousand women of childbearing age. The onset of postpartum psychosis typically occurs within days up to six weeks after giving birth. If it goes undiagnosed or untreated, it can cause serious deadly harm to the mother and/or baby....

When someone describes themself or another person as promiscuous, you can discern that multiple sexual partners are involved in their life. History of “Promiscuous” As a Label The word “promiscuity” has been in our vocabulary in relation to sex since the year 1834, and “promiscuous” has been in use since 1857. When the sexual revolution, which was also known as the “free love” movement, occurred in the 1960s, it changed our attitudes about sex and partnership....

What’s more, the movement has allowed survivors to feel supported while simultaneously initiating a national—and worldwide—conversation about the widespread issues surrounding harassment, assault, and the changes that need to be made. History Behind the Movement Tarana Burke, an advocate for women in New York, coined the #MeToo phrase in 2006. She aimed to empower women who had endured sexual violence by letting them know that they were not alone—that other women had suffered the same experience....

Symptoms There is a distinct difference between not wanting to get stung by a bee, and someone who is apiphobic. Those with apiphobia often significantly limit themselves, such as avoiding the outdoors in an effort to not come in contact with bees or refusing to go out during certain times when bees are more common. Bee Stings In most people, a bee sting is a mildly painful annoyance. Nonetheless, the experience can be frightening, especially for children....

Are you preparing for a big test in your psychology of learning class? Or are you just interested in a review of learning and behavioral psychology topics? This learning study guide offers a brief overview of some of the major learning issues including behaviorism, classical, and operant conditioning. Let’s learn a bit more about the psychology of learning. What Is Learning? Learning can be defined in many ways, but most psychologists would agree that it is a relatively permanent change in behavior that results from experience....

To discuss how couples in both long and short-term relationships can effectively face this issue, Verywell Mind spoke with Anita Chlipala, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Relationship Reality 312. “I’ve worked with clients where they didn’t have the conversations that went into the details about what it would look like to have a child,” says Chlipala. “Couples who are conflict avoidant can go years of dating each other without having significant talks, and sometimes time alone won’t help with clarity or answers....

Trying to bury your feelings, grit your teeth, and go it alone are never effective. In fact, your emotions and feelings are there whether you talk about them or not. Difficult emotions are not going to simply go away just because you ignore them. But if you make the effort to talk to another person, you may be able to release some of the tension and negativity that you’re experiencing and feel better....

This article further explores the connection between autism and lower life expectancy. The Connection Between Autism and Lower Life Expectancy One major contributor to life expectancy differences for autistic versus non-autistic people is comorbid genetic and medical conditions. Compared to non-autistic people, autistics are at higher risk for several genetic disorders that are linked to shorter life expectancy, including Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and Fragile X syndrome. Autistic people are additionally more likely to experience neurological disorders such as epilepsy and hydrocephalus, sleep disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders....

If this is the case, you might consider joining a depression support group. While a support group isn’t a substitute for medication and therapy, it can be a helpful addition to your treatment plan. Should You Join a Support Group? Support groups are usually free of charge. This means they can be accessed by people who lack insurance or those who want added support yet can’t afford to attend therapy....

This condition typically occurs in people living with existing neurological disorders. It is believed to affect between 1.8 and 7 million people in the United States. However, it is often misunderstood by loved ones, and under-recognized by medical experts. For anyone that experiences frequent and severe cases of uncontrollable laughter or crying, these events can be incredibly disruptive to daily functioning. Symptoms of Laughing Disorders When a person lives with pseudobulbar affect, it isn’t uncommon for them to burst into unexpected fits of laughter or crying....

A stepparent may inadvertently overstep boundaries, despite their best efforts to be considerate. Or, they may have a different parenting style, which may be inconsistent with what the child is used to. Either way, it can lead to conflict in the family and take a toll on everyone involved. This article discusses the importance of respecting a stepchild’s boundaries and outlines some scenarios where a stepparent may overstep. It also suggests some strategies that can be helpful for stepparents, to avoid overstepping a stepchild’s boundaries....

Addiction also plays a powerful role in keeping people smoking. When you smoke a cigarette, nicotine increases the production of dopamine (the “feel-good” hormone) in the brain. So every time you smoke, you receive positive reinforcement to smoke more. By learning healthy coping mechanisms to use instead of relying on cigarettes, you can face quitting feeling more prepared and less afraid. Fear of Stress If you’re relying on cigarettes to de-stress throughout the day, you may be afraid to lose the only thing that seems to relax you....

The joint statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association notes that children’s mental health has been worsening over the past decade. Rates of childhood depression and anxiety have steadily climbed, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between 10 and 24 years old. But with the stress of the pandemic continuing to exacerbate these problems, experts say children’s mental health is now in crisis....

When protests broke out across the United States in the spring of 2020, news outlets showed individuals breaking into retail stores and stealing items, lighting police cars on fire, and breaking glass. Many Americans quickly criticized the rioters, calling the protests unruly, but never asked: “why?” Why did these protests become violent? Why were buildings attacked and statues destroyed? The answer is more complicated than it seems. America’s History of Riots Martin Luther King Jr....

If you regularly drink more than the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption, you may be wondering what exactly are the risks. What’s the harm in heavy or binge drinking? Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines The recommended guidelines for low-risk drinking is four or fewer drinks a day for men and no more than 14 drinks a week. For women, it’s three or fewer drinks a day and no more than seven drinks per week....

“So much for that idea,” thought the mom in her 60s, who asked to remain anonymous, as she took the key out of the ignition. She bolted inside her front door, tossed her bag down, and yelled to her son, David, that she’d be staying home tonight. When she heard no answer from David, Levine knew in her gut that something was wrong. She ran to his room and saw the 30-year-old lying on the floor unconscious, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled back into his head....

The term “treatment” is used to describe the different levels of the independent variable, the variable that’s controlled by the experimenter. In other words, all of the subjects in the study are treated with the critical variable in question. This article discusses what a within-subjects design is, how this type of experimental design works, and how it compares to a between-subjects design. Within-Subjects Design vs. Between Subjects Let’s imagine that you are doing an experiment on exercise and memory....

If you are currently drinking more than the recommended guidelines, any change that you make—even small changes—can help you reduce the harm that alcohol can cause. The less you drink, the lower your risk of developing problems. It’s called harm reduction. Your goal is to improve your health and your life by reducing the effects of alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides tips that have helped others cut down on their drinking....

New jobs present many changes and challenges, and it’s natural to feel anxiety over this. There are several things you can do to both relieve anxiety and combat its effects. Here are some effective things you can do to deal with stress at a new job or in any other situation that requires change and adjustment. Find the Source of Your Anxiety In order to minimize anxiety about your new job, it can be helpful to start by trying to understand exactly what’s causing it....

What Are Green Flags? While it’s smart to notice any signs of toxic behavior in someone you are dating (like ghosting, gaslighting and love bombing behaviors), it’s also important to pay attention to the good quality aspects of the relationship. Your partner might be taking actions that demonstrate a maturity and commitment to the relationship. These green flags signal that this could be (or become in the near future) a stable, secure, long-term union....