Author: Richard C. Trotter
Nobody told me it was going to be like this. I remember sitting in my doctor’s office saying those very words as I tried to explain how perimenopause was affecting my life in ways I’d never imagined. The physical symptoms brought on by my fluctuating hormones—hot flashes, trouble sleeping, body aches, and debilitating migraines—were bad enough, but I was totally unprepared for the emotional and mental changes I experienced alongside them. I went from being a fairly happy, well-functioning person to dealing with mood swings and brain fog that left me feeling like someone I didn’t recognize had taken over…
Have you ever stumbled (er, scrolled) upon an Instagram post and felt *totally* seen? Say what you will about the always-on digital world—at its core, social media is designed to connect people and help them feel less alone. And sometimes, it does a really solid job. That’s certainly true for Alexis Smith, an eczema advocate who’s no stranger to the loneliness, secrecy, and insecurity that can come from living with a chronic skin condition. “Constantly being aware of what I looked like and what other people thought of me consumed my mind,” she says, “and all of that added stress…
From age 12 to 30, I ran competitively—at my peak, I was running 65 miles per week and training to break three hours in the marathon. I only knew one running speed: fast. And suddenly, I had to stop running altogether. I was attacked and suffered severe injuries that made it impossible to run. My whole life had revolved around training and running—the friends I hung out, what I looked forward to, my daily routine—and it was inextricably tied to my career as a running coach, personal trainer, and fitness writer. I felt like I lost a huge part of my…
Ah, Pisces season: the time for Tarot pulls, psychic visions, and all manner of mystical meanderings. It often feels like relaxing in a flotation tank—but your monthly horoscope for March 2024 could feel more like white water rafting in a storm. For much of the month, we’re surging through the rapids, unsure of when the next drop will come… or if it will come at all. As March begins, love and passion planets Venus and Mars are still dancing close together in innovative Aquarius. The “love or lust” question could be LOUD (at least until March 11, when Venus enters…
There’s a reason the deadlift is considered the “king of all exercises.” “A deadlift is one of the most functional exercises you can perform at the gym and is extremely efficient in using a large number of muscle groups,” says Lauren Loberg, PT, DPT, sports physical therapist at TRIA Physical Therapy in Bloomington, Minnesota. However, the deadlift is also pretty complex. Many people struggle to get it right or come away with nagging back pain, leading them to avoid deadlifts altogether. In doing so, they miss out on the many benefits deadlifts have to offer. Here, experts share what makes…
Your pelvic floor doesn’t get enough praise. After all, it’s helped you through a lot so far. It stabilizes your spine, regulates your bowels, enriches your sex life, and has possibly even supported a pregnancy or two. You may think that once you enter menopause, the pelvic floor issues you once dealt with are behind you. But that’s not always the case. In menopause, pelvic floor symptoms from your childbearing years—like tightness, weakness, or pain—can actually resurface and worsen. Yet many people don’t bring up these issues to their doctor. “We have a lot of shame in our society surrounding…
If you’ve ever experienced eczema, or you know someone who has, you’re probably familiar with the physical effects of itchy, irritated skin. But the chronic condition can take a major mental toll, too—and while that mental load might not be as externally visible, it can still be heavy to hold. Larissa Cosgrove—a mother and self-proclaimed “skinfluencer” living with chronic eczema—knows a thing or two about that struggle. Her journey began as a toddler with dry, itchy patches around her knees and elbows and continued through high school. Her symptoms escalated in early adulthood, when proximity to her college’s large agricultural…
Caregivers know: You slather your baby with ointment, shield her from wintry weather, and dress her in only the most breathable (and totally adorable) cotton onesies… and yet a new skin flare-up seems to emerge every day. What gives? Baby care can feel like the wild, wild west, especially during the colder months. If you’re feeling totally overwhelmed by an ever-changing slew of skin woes, inundated by all the bath-and-body options out there, and unsure of what to try, take heart: There’s one ingredient that checks all the skin-soothing boxes—and it’s kid-tested, parent-approved, and doctor-recommended. Board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD,…
If you ask Raelle Brown where change begins, she’ll give you an honest answer: With candid discussion. As a Black woman living with eczema, Raelle has had a lot of candid discussions to get to where she is now—that is, confident in her skin. To continue to foster those honest conversations and inspire confidence among others living with eczema, she founded Woke Within, a blog with a mission of increasing online representation of eczema among people of color. “Using the term ‘woke’ was truly a play on our cultural saying of ‘being woke’ or ‘staying woke,’ or aware of the…
With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP To the uninitiated, anal beads may sound like a cutesy name for rabbit pellet-esque poops. But actually, anal beads are a type of pleasure product designed to make you moan, groan, or sigh one pop and plop at a time. Specifically, “anal beads are a series of…