The so-called "blended family" is no longer an aberration in American society: It's a norm. A marriage that brings with it children from a previous marriage presents many challenges. Such families should consider three key issues as they plan for remarriage… View the rest of this article on the American Psychological Association website.
Ending a marriage or a long-term relationship brings many adjustments, and former partners can find themselves in the middle of confusing and overwhelming conflict. When children are involved, finding ways to manage and keep conflict at a minimum are essential. Whether their parents are married, separating, divorcing, or divorced, children react negatively to poorly managed [...]
Divorce is stressful for the entire family. Your child might feel as if his or her world has turned upside down. But there's good news. You can ease your child's adjustment to the divorce by interacting responsibly with your spouse. Consider these practical tips for children and divorce. How to break the news… View the [...]
People who become addicted to drugs or alcohol typically go through predictable stages of abuse. Understanding these stages can help you recognize a problem and seek help before substance use becomes a dependence. Experimentation Alcohol or drug use starts with experimentation or voluntary use. In this stage, the use is infrequent and, in the case [...]
Some people can drink liquor for hours on end and stay sober, while others become tipsy after just one drink. So how can you tell if you or someone else is a problem drinker? "If a person drinks repeatedly and the drinking causes personal, professional or family problems, they may have the disease of alcoholism," [...]
You may not realize that common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can cause serious side effects. These side effects can put your health at risk and interfere with your everyday activities. Some of these side effects can be felt or sensed by you, but others can't. Side effects you can usually feel are dizziness, drowsiness, double vision, [...]
If substance abuse is contributing to an employee’s poor performance, ignoring or avoiding the issue will not help the situation. An employee’s use of alcohol or drugs may be the root of the performance problem; however, substance abuse on the part of someone close to the employee also could be the source. Regardless, abuse of [...]
"Sexting" usually refers to the sharing of nude photos via cellphone, but it can happen on other devices and the Web too. The practice is far from normative among young people, but when it does come up, great care is needed. Sexting can have serious psychological or even legal consequences if teens or kids are [...]
If you’re like many parents, your first reaction is “How will I ever handle this?” Most parents aren’t prepared for the words, “Mom, Dad. I’m gay.” Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is here for you. We hope this will help you understand your child’s sexuality and its meaning to you and [...]
Someone getting curious about sex, dirty words or the meaning of life? Here's how to answer all those tough questions. Early on in parenthood, our jobs are clear: We protect, we provide, we cuddle, we change diapers, and we subconsciously coax our runts to inherit our inherited appreciation of Mr. Marvin Gaye. But soon—namely, the minute [...]