TRẦN THANH TÂM

Author:  Melissa Meszaros The author of the new book Heavy Metal Headbang shares some of how dating went for her while recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has a little advice for those with TBI who are dating, and those dating anyone with a TBI. Nine months ago, I was holed up in Santa Fe, in the rain.  I was on a workcation, trying to alleviate the stress and the surge of professional responsibilities, listening to Ice Age “Shelter Song” which I thought to share with my then-husband, hoping that he would heed the lyrics the same way I had. This was the day I realized my marriage was over. We’d been together less than three years. My psychologist warned me not to make any big life decisions while recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI)—a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain resulting in severe complications, coma, or in some cases, death. From mild to severe cases, the CDC reported about 61,000 TBI-related deaths in 2019, which i...

Author:  Leslie Massicotte, M.Ed. Some folks decide that during birth they want a partner to be present; others want a different family member – be they blood relative or chosen family – or someone else entirely to accompany them. Birth doulas can be a great option if you are looking for some additional support, especially around the emotional aspects of labor and childbirth. So, you’re pregnant. Maybe it was intended, maybe it wasn’t. You’ve considered your options , and you’ve decided you want to remain pregnant with the intent to give birth. Let’s do this! When it comes to pregnancy and giving birth, you have so many decisions to make–it can feel daunting! Take a deep breath, start reading and learning about pregnancy and birth , and begin sorting through your options. One important decision to make is selecting who you want to accompany you through the actual birth process. Depending on where you are giving birth, there might be restrictions about who is allowed...

Hey, hey, it’s National Condom Week! From February 14th through the 21st, we celebrate the amazing condom, which is the only form of contraception that prevents both unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). What do you know about the history of condoms? Where did they first show up? What materials have been used to make them? And why do they matter so much? A Condom for Everyone These days, there are a range of condoms available, including both internal and external. Internal (sometimes called “female,” although they are not just for people who identify as female) condoms can be inserted into the vagina or anus . External (sometimes called “male” although they are not just for those who identify as male) condoms fit over the penis . Condoms today are frequently made of latex (a type of rubber). For those who have a latex allergy, there are condoms made of plastic materials like polyurethane, polyisoprene or nitrile. Some condoms are made of lambskin (mo...

Author:  Leana O'Keefe The end of sex can feel sudden and shocking. It can set off other uncomfortable feelings that might be related to other issues or memories. But by incorporating aftercare into your sex practices, those feelings can be diminished or alleviated. Not only is aftercare beneficial to your overall pleasure, it’s an important aspect of ethical and respect-based sex. You’re with a partner , or maybe it’s a new person. Hot breath, emotions, blood pumping, fluids–it’s all happening, and it’s happening fast . Everything becomes a rapid blur. You can’t differentiate between your emotional feelings or physical ones, but then, just like that–the experience is over. You or your partner hastily leave, and you’re alone with your thoughts. Drop. Le Petit Mort. After- sex blues. Post-nut clarity. It goes by many names, but a lot of us know the sensation it describes: that sunken-pit feeling, indescribable and unexpected yet potent, choking you up moments after...

We’ve reached that time of year when chocolate sales skyrocket, Valentine’s Day. And with February 14th coming, the pressure to be in a relationship can feel stronger. For those of us who are single, Valentine’s Day can lead to some loneliness or anxiety. I wanted to hear how teens, often surrounded by peers and social media, feel about this. The Pressures Turns out, lots of teens have opinions on the holiday. “I do feel pressure to be in a relationship at times,” says Kendal, 15, of Barrington, RI. “Society has made it so it’s less acceptable to use the holiday solely to celebrate the other ( platonic , familial, etc.) types of love in your life, which makes it feel like I can’t participate in the holiday without a relationship.” Valentine’s Day can also confuse things when it comes to romance. “There’s this girl I kinda like,” says Joe, 17, of Raleigh, NC. “I’ve been toying with the idea of asking her out for a couple of months but I’ve been putting it off because I don’t want h...