How to Prevent Learned Helplessness in Children

A painting of a sad young girl sitting in a room, representing learned helplessness in children

Does your child see themself as a victim? How can you avoid instilling learned helplessness in children? As a parent, if you indulge in your child’s self-pity then you’re instilling a victim mentality in them. Instead, help your child acknowledge their failures and work through them. Here’s a look at how to raise self-confident children, from 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do by Amy Morin.

What Is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

A doctor holding chalkboard that says "ADHD 101" as part of a lesson answering what is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? How is ADHD diagnosed? For many people, struggling with commitments and time management rises to the level of a clinical condition that significantly impairs how they live. That’s precisely what ADHD is—a neurological condition that inhibits how your brain processes information, regulates emotions, and predicts the consequences of your actions. Let’s discuss how ADHD is defined, where it comes from, and how it’s diagnosed.

Can Stress Cause Chronic Pain? Here’s How It Can

A woman holding her head surrounded by paperwork, showing how stress causes chronic pain

Can stress cause chronic pain? Why do patients with mindbody disorders think they should be in pain? Chronic pain can originate in your thoughts. Even if you sustain a minor injury, you may start to believe you’re more seriously injured, which only causes more pain because you’re more stressed. Discover how stress and other psychological conditions can influence how your body feels pain.

The Importance of Seeing People as Individuals vs. People

A man walking alone beside a crowd, representing individuals vs. people

Why do people deserve to be seen as individuals? How can you stop relying on stereotypes to judge someone? David Brooks claims that to really know another person, you first have to see them as an individual. Unlike a collective group of people, individuals have a unique set of life experiences, characteristics, motivations, and goals. Here’s why you should start looking at people as individuals vs. people you can’t tell apart.

Why Is Technology Addictive? 4 Ways Developers Hook You

A man staring at his computer screen, showing why technology is addictive

Is technology like gambling? Why is technology addictive? Adam Alter says mobile devices and wearable technology amplify the addictive potential of technology since they make it possible to engage in addictive behaviors no matter where you are. He identifies four common strategies technology developers use to capture and keep your time, attention, and money. Let’s explore those strategies that keep you hooked on technology.

How a Psychosomatic Disorder Diagnosis Is Made

A doctor giving a psychosomatic disorder diagnosis in a hospital room

How are psychosomatic disorders diagnosed? Why do these types of disorders exist on a spectrum? Douglas Hoffman is an orthopedist with decades of experience in sports medicine. He takes a particular interest in how psychological and social factors lead to mindbody disorders, and diagnosing them with a thorough exam.  Check out how Hoffman conducts a psychosomatic disorder diagnosis to help struggling patients.

Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal: Book Overview

A woman sitting on a floral couch and reading a book

What does it mean to be “normal”? What role does trauma play in your health? What is the biopsychosocial model of health? In The Myth of Normal, physician and trauma expert Gabor Maté writes that much of what society labels as abnormal behavior, mental illness, or dysfunction actually represents normal responses to adverse life experiences. He advocates a trauma-informed perspective that addresses the root psychological and social causes of what we label as illness. Continue reading for an overview of Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal.

Why Gambling Is Addictive (and Why Technology Is Just Like It)

A woman in a casino with slot machines, showing why gambling is addictive

Why is gambling addictive? What features does technology share with gambling? Adam Alter explains that some technology is designed to exploit the same psychological vulnerabilities as gambling, another behavioral addiction, to keep users engaged and coming back for more. He names four such design features: exciting audiovisual design, early hooks, variable rewards, and deceptive superiority to real life. Check out the similarities between gambling and technology that make these addictions hard to quit.