Is shopping always on your mind, whether you’re thinking about items you plan to buy or feeling guilty about previous purchases? Do you often feel a sense of euphoria after buying something, causing you to turn to shopping whenever you feel sad or stressed? Has shopping caused you to rack up credit card debt, or do you feel compelled to...[ read more ]

Autism spectrum disorder (commonly referred to as just “autism”) is a developmental and neurological disorder that can impact how someone behaves, communicates, interacts, and learns. Although the term “high-functioning autism” isn’t an official medical diagnosis, it’s commonly used in reference to autistic people who can speak, read, write, and perform life skills with minimal assistance. The medical community previously used...[ read more ]

Many new mothers experience the “baby blues” for a couple of weeks after giving birth—this often includes anxiety, crying, difficulty concentrating, irritability, mood swings, reduced appetite, sadness, and trouble sleeping. But if your symptoms are especially severe or persist for longer than two weeks, you might have what’s known as postpartum depression.Postpartum depression has numerous potential causes. With regard to...[ read more ]

You’ve no doubt heard the expression “men are from Mars, women from Venus.” And while we can all point out some major differences between the sexes, typically those differences all start in one major organ – the brain!One of the biggest complaints women tend to have about men is that they sometimes seem emotionally unavailable or distant. This distance stems...[ read more ]

You’ve probably heard of meditation, a practice that focuses on clearing your mind to improve your overall well-being. But how familiar are you with it? Here are three things you never knew about meditation.1. Meditation Has Been Around for Thousands of YearsWhile meditation has grown increasingly popular in the United States over the past few decades, it has a much...[ read more ]

Living with a disability brings with its daily challenges. Sometimes those challenges can feel overwhelming and even demoralizing.Because of this, it is common for people with disabilities to suffer from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. This is particularly true for children and teenagers who, according to researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, are five times...[ read more ]

The teenage years (ages 13 to 18) can present numerous challenges for parents, so if you’re struggling, just remember that you’re not alone. Below are some examples of issues that parents commonly face with their teens, as well as advice for how to handle these situations:Romantic relationships – It’s common for children to enter their first romantic relationships during their...[ read more ]

Are you the parent of a preteen (9 to 13 years of age)? If so, you’ve probably noticed many of their behaviors starting to shift over the past few months or years. Here are a few of the challenges that parents commonly face when their children are in their “tween” years:Friends vs. family – Younger children tend to gravitate toward...[ read more ]

Do you have a preschool- or school-aged child (3 to 9 years of age)? If so, you’re probably beginning to encounter challenges that you didn’t experience during their infant and toddler years. Below are some of the obstacles that parents commonly face with children this age, as well as tips for how to address them:Separation anxiety – It’s common for...[ read more ]

Perfectionism—the tendency to demand flawlessness from yourself or others—can often be a positive quality. Perfectionists tend to be highly motivated and ambitious, and thanks to their close attention to detail and their willingness to work long hours, they often excel at school and in the workplace.However, perfectionism also has a downside. In some cases, perfectionists can be overly critical, taking...[ read more ]