These conditions, which have devastating effects on a community, can cause short- and long-term effects on people’s mental health. This article explores why this happens, which conditions are most frequently associated with weather-related events, and how you can protect your mental health amidst climate crises. Facing the Persistent Threat of Extreme Weather Conditions Knowing the grim effects of climate change, some people are experiencing climate change anxiety (CCA) or “eco-anxiety,” which is a negative cognitive, emotional, or behavioral response to climate change....

According to this model, your individual beliefs about health and health conditions play a role in determining your health-related behaviors. Key factors that affect your approach to health include: Any barriers you think might be standing in your wayExposure to information that prompts you to take actionHow much of a benefit you think you’ll get from engaging in healthy behaviorsHow susceptible you think you are to illnessWhat you think the consequences will be of becoming sickYour confidence in your ability to succeed...

Physical touch is just one of the five love languages, according to Dr. Gary Chapman’s “The 5 Love Languages.” The others are words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, and gift giving/receiving. All five are important, but since we all give and receive love differently, it’s important to know how you and your partner prefer to express your appreciation. Understand Physical Touch as a Love Language If your love language is physical touch, then that means you prefer physical expressions of love over all other expressions (such as verbal compliments or gifts)....

In the list of toxic behaviors, triangulation may be the most well-known. But what is triangulation exactly, why is it such a common manipulation tactic, and how can you recognize it? Keep reading to learn more. Signs of Triangulation Triangulation is an approach used by many different people who share one thing in common: insecurity. As a result, they’re willing to manipulate others in harmful ways to get what they want or feel a sense of security in a relationship....

The term has a long history but it has come into sharper focus due to events such as the murder of George Floyd and the resulting Black Lives Matter protests. Origin of the Term The phrase “white privilege” was first coined by activist and scholar Peggy McIntosh in 1988 in her paper “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.“ She described white privilege in terms of the unspoken advantage that the dominant culture has over people of color....

What Not to Say to Someone With Social Anxiety Below are 10 of the worst things that you can say to someone with social anxiety. You may recognize using some of these in the past. While you may have meant it innocently, be aware that these comments and questions can make someone with social anxiety very uncomfortable. Why Are You so Quiet? Although the question might seem innocent enough to you, it is one of the most unhelpful things that can be said to a person with SAD....

But in recent years, sober curiosity, which encourages a sober lifestyle without necessarily requiring alcohol to be cut out completely, has become increasingly popular. Brands like Cann Social Tonics, Kin Euphorics and Curious Elixirs that offer socially geared, alcohol-free beverages are becoming more prominent as people still seek connection and celebration without the harmful after-effects. Not only does alcohol negatively affect cognitive function and brain health, it can also wreak havoc on your mental health—several studies have linked alcohol use to depression....

It may a short-term problem related to stress at work or other issues that have driven your partner to distraction. Even more commonly, a sudden, hectic schedule—ranging from end-of-year exams to a do-or-die work deadline—can leave your partner exhausted and uninterested in anything more than sleep or a night in front of the TV. While dry spells like these are common and usually resolve on their own once things stabilize, a prolonged and unexplained disinterest in sex can be harmful to a relationship and the general well-being of both partners....

This article lists some reasons why you may not want to work and shares some tips that can help you cope when you really don’t feel like working. Reasons Why You May Not Want to Work These are some reasons why you may feel like you don’t want to work today: You’re tired: If you’re tired or haven’t slept well, it can be extremely difficult to summon the motivation to do anything, let alone work....

Meet Dr. Kelsey Crowe Kelsey Crowe, PhD, heads Empathy Bootcamp, a company that trains people to be more empathetic. She earned her doctorate in social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley and she has taught social work classes at California State University. She is also the author of “There Is No Good Card for This.” In it, she describes what to say to someone who is going through a difficult situation, like the loss of a loved one or a divorce....

Yet, while many people willingly buy tickets to the latest horror movie release, in our daily lives we try to avoid anything that frightens us. So why would we pay to watch a movie that induces fear and terror? Of course, not everyone likes horror films, so we’ll also discuss the individual differences that can account for who gravitates to horror films and who doesn’t. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a look at the therapeutic potential of consuming horror....

For some drugs, snorting is the preferred method for misuse. But the short- and long-term effects can lead to significant damage. The Dangers of Snorting Snorting drugs has a number of health consequences. Chief among them is damage to the respiratory system. Mucous membranes are extremely delicate and susceptible to damage from snorting. Compromised membranes can stop functioning normally, which makes normal breathing difficult. A person who snorts drugs might even lose their sense of smell....

Researchers surveyed nearly 200 people in the U.K. and Australia over a two-month period around the start of the new year, asking them to list their biggest resolution and how committed they were to sticking to that change. in a follow-up survey, that initial optimism had waned. Even those who predicted they would be tenacious in keeping their resolution abandoned the effort as much as those who had lower expectations for themselves....

Even healthcare workers are shamed for everything from entering a grocery store while still wearing their scrubs to taking off work when they’re sick. One report indicates that healthcare workers suffer symptom-shaming for calling out when they have symptoms of a respiratory infection because the healthcare system lacks the staffing to fill in the gaps when people get sick. But perhaps the most worrisome form of shaming is the potential criticism people receive when they get a COVID-19 diagnosis....

Online affairs can be difficult for both the injured partner to understand, as well as for the therapists who work with them (as they may be more accustomed to helping clients work through in-person affairs). Your first reaction may be to get full disclosure from your cheating spouse in the hope of understanding why it happened but be patient. Discovering and understanding your partner’s online affair is a process that takes time....

To get a better idea of why these are considered the best motivational podcasts out there, grab a set of headphones or turn up the volume in your car, and get ready to conquer the day. Personal Growth It comes as no surprise that the topic of personal growth tops the list of best motivational podcasts. Striving to become your best self takes time, practice, perseverance, and a whole lot of patience....

To find out what previous surveys said about the state of mental health in the U.S., check out our previous releases. According to the latest data from the Verywell Mind Mental Health Tracker, this slow return to normalcy has manifested in excitement and tension over one of the core components of our lives as human beings: family. Americans are excited to be together again, but the process won’t be stress-free....

Friday Fix: Episode 55 For most of us, our days revolve around screen time. We stare at our computers to work. We use our phones to socialize. We watch TV for entertainment. But too much screen time can cause added stress and drain our mental strength. Excessive screen time has been linked to everything from relationship issues to increased mental health problems. Screen time can also interfere with sleep, reduce productivity, and take a toll on our physical health....

This article details four of the most dangerous classes of prescription drugs in terms of side effects and the potential for misuse and addiction. The risk of death is also a concern with these drugs, with most of the overdose deaths annually being from prescription medications, whether prescribed to the person who overdosed or to someone else. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Opioids have the ability to convince both your brain and body that these drugs are needed for actual survival....

So, what is daydreaming? Daydreaming can be defined as the reverie you experience while you’re awake. During moments when we are in this state, our mind drifts. These interludes are brief diversions from our current world. Contrary to what you may have been taught, daydreaming about pleasant things is far from useless. Daydreaming Lessens Stress and Anxiety By tuning out the noisy “outside” world, you allow your thoughts to flow freely....