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Meet Nora McInerny Nora McInerny is an author from Minneapolis who freely shares her story of grief and loss. In 2014, she experienced a miscarriage and lost both her husband and her father all within a few weeks. She made headlines when her husband’s obituary was published. She and her husband had written it together during the final weeks of his cancer battle. It was filled with humor (he presented himself as Spider-Man and the ex-husband of Gwen Stefani)....

Stress dreams don’t just interfere with sleep; they can also contribute to increased anxiety the next day. Finding ways to manage stress effectively can help minimize the risk of having stress-related dreams. Learn more about how to recognize the signs of a stress dream and how to identify the cause. Also, explore some tips for how to treat and cope with stress dreams. Characteristics of Stress Dreams Some common signs of stress dreams include:...

It suggests that dysfunctional family relationships can create stress and mental health problems for members of that family. By addressing how members of the family relate to one another, the goal is to improve communication and relationships to create positive changes for both individual family members and the family unit as a whole. Techniques Structural family therapy relies on a technique known as family mapping to uncover and understand patterns of behavior and family interactions....

People who take the recreational drug ecstasy risk impairing their memory, according to an international study that surveyed 763 people, including 81 people who engaged in chronic use. The study found that those who regularly took ecstasy suffered from long-term memory difficulties and were 23% more likely to report problems with remembering things compared with non-users. The British research team, led by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, also questioned volunteers about their use of other drugs....

Unfortunately, the same drugs that many people use to try and boost their confidence, help them relax, and lower their inhibitions are the ones most prone to causing substance-induced anxiety disorder or panic attacks. In some cases, people don’t even realize that it is alcohol, drugs, or medications that are causing anxiety because they only associate those substances with feeling good. Diagnosis When your doctor gives a diagnosis of substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, they check to make sure that the anxiety wasn’t there before the use of alcohol, drugs or medications thought to be responsible....

In spite of the criticism, the theory has had a considerable impact on our understanding of child development. Support for the Theory Piaget’s focus on qualitative development had an important impact on education. While Piaget did not specifically apply his theory in this way, many educational programs are now built upon the belief that children should be taught at the level for which they are developmentally prepared. In addition to this, a number of instructional strategies have been derived from Piaget’s work....

In looking over our most-read articles and trending topics at Verywell Mind, we can see what issues were most important to you throughout the year. Our data science team identified which mental health topics had the biggest influx in visitors over the past 12 months to show us what our readers cared most about learning this year. Anxiety Remedies WHO declared COVID a pandemic on March 11. A national emergency was declared in the United States on March 13....

“Crossword puzzles stimulate and exercise neural pathways that may not be normally used as part of daily functioning,” says Dr. Spencer Kroll, a board-certified internal medicine physician practicing in Marlboro, New Jersey, and crossword puzzle enthusiast. “Most people perform the same routines from day to day, and the addition of crossword puzzles as well other word and number puzzles can help the mind with recall, cognition, and focus.” And while crossword puzzles are readily available online, there’s nothing like putting pen (or pencil) to paper and sitting down with an endless (or at least substantial) supply of crossword puzzles at your fingertips....

What Is Human Factors Psychology? Human factors is an interdisciplinary area of psychology that focuses on a range of different topics, including ergonomics, workplace safety, human error, product design, human capability, and human-computer interaction. In fact, the terms “human factors” and “ergonomics” are often used synonymously, with “human factors” being commonly used in the United States and “ergonomics” being the preferred term in Europe. Human factors work to apply principles of psychology to designing products and creating work environments that boost productivity while minimizing safety issues....

Why People With PTSD Exercise Less First, exercise can increase bodily arousal. Your heart might race. You may experience shortness of breath. Although most people don’t think twice about these symptoms, if you have PTSD, you may be particularly hesitant to experience this arousal. Many people with PTSD fear bodily symptoms that are associated with anxiety, such as increased heart rate and shortness of breath. As a result, they may try to avoid exercise or any other activity that increases bodily arousal....

The good news is there are plenty of resources available to help you navigate our social world. An ideal self-help book is tailored to your specific situation and fits into your schedule. Also consider the style of the book, from workbook style with writing prompts to more narrative approaches. Here are the best self-help books for social anxiety on the market, according to a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. The book is meant to be a self-help journey as it provides guidance, self-diagnostic questionnaires and techniques, case studies, and worksheets to cater to many different kinds of learning styles....

Color psychology suggests that certain colors are capable of evoking certain moods and may even have an influence over behavior and well-being. While color associations can be influenced by a number of different factors, including past experiences and cultural associations, some colors do tend to evoke certain moods or feelings. Learn more about some of the emotions and moods that the color yellow creates. Color Psychology Characteristics of Yellow Some of the key characteristics that are often associated with the color yellow include: How does yellow make you feel?...

Overview Many people feel anxious from time to time, especially during times of stress. However, when you worry excessively, so much so that it interferes with day-to-day activities, you might have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Some people develop GAD as a child while others do not see symptoms until they are an adult. Either way, living with GAD can last a long time. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders....

Researchers have found that alcohol takes a psychological and physiological toll on the body and may actually compound the effects of stress. Drinking alcohol may seem to provide some relief in the short term, but as stressful events continue long-term, heavy alcohol consumption can lead to medical and psychological problems and increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorders. What Is Stress? Physiologically, stress is defined as anything that challenges the body to function in its usual fashion....

In fact, millions of dollars are spent each year marketing both the beauty and diet industries. This results in a constant barrage of images and messages discouraging men and women from being satisfied with their bodies and encouraging them to change their appearance. How does this messaging affect us? Does it cause or influence eating disorders or other similar dangerous behaviors? The answer is complicated. It can certainly be harder to recover from an eating disorder when you’re faced with constant media images of very thin people or television shows putting people with larger bodies through intense and sometimes torturous routines in order to lose weight....

Here’s a closer look at how expressing the love language of quality time can not only improve your relationship, but also show your “quality time” partner that you are fluent in their love language. What Is Quality Time? When it comes to Gary Chapman’s five love languages, quality time is the one that centers around togetherness. It’s all about expressing your love and affection with your undivided attention. When you’re with your partner, you put down the cell phone, turn off the tablet, and focus on them....

This is often described as a “high,” and it can be a heady experience that causes people to want to continuously pursue this sensation. But this feeling is usually fleeting, leaving quickly. This leads to a comedown and a desire to try and reach that high again. What Is a Comedown? “Comedown” is a term used to describe what happens when the initial euphoric effects of a drug or other addictive behavior wears off....

Signs You May Be Struggling An increase in potential problem behaviors such as drinking, smoking, drug use, overeating, online gambling, or excessive shopping Being hyper-focused on tracking the news or social media, as indicated by sharp changes in mood depending upon what’s being viewed Exhibiting poor sleeping patterns (Consistent poor sleep, or too much sleep, are both red flags.) Not feeling motivated to return phone calls or messages from friends and family Losing all sense of your routine, which might include not keeping up with basic hygiene (showers, brushing your teeth, washing your hair) or home tasks such as laundry, dishes, and clutter Repetitive and uncontrollable negative thoughts Feeling helpless or hopeless, including thoughts of suicide...