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A surprising way families are coping with pandemic stress

2021-02-01T17:36:09

(BPT) – Due to the pandemic, everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. This is especially true for families coping with altered routines at school, learning from home or both. Children are stressed about their routines, and parents are anxious, too.

Emily Hanley, mother of 6-year-old Cameron, said this year became increasingly challenging for her family. “Bedtimes got later, meals were refused, and every little choice became a battle. We all put up a strong front for those first six months, until getting back into a school routine threw us off,” she said.

How children learn to cope

Research has shown that children often cope with stress by projecting their feelings and worries onto toys, stuffed animals and dolls. The Committee for Children, a global nonprofit leader in social-emotional learning, spent more than three years studying this concept, and then teamed up with Sproutel, a play-focused design studio, to bring their research to life. The result of their collaboration? Purrble — an interactive toy designed to help children learn to self-soothe during stressful times.

“When kids respond to stress with emotional outbursts, it can be hard on the whole family,” said Kate Gallo, product manager for Committee for Children’s Innovation Lab. “Purrble isn’t about getting rid of big feelings, but empowering kids to understand they’re in the driver’s seat when big feelings happen. Research has proven children can learn to calm themselves by helping someone else calm down.”

After trying everything from essential oils to meditation to calm her son, Hanley ordered a Purrble. “It hasn’t even been a full 24 hours, and my son is happily giving him a tour of our house and introducing him to his other stuffed animals. His job is to keep his Purrble calm and happy. I can already sense he is exuding calm to keep his little furry friend calm.”

An unlikely remedy

When the toy is first turned on or is startled (for example by being turned upside down), their heart beats quickly, inviting kids to calm them down. High-tech sensors allow Purrble to respond to touch and fidgeting, so when kids pet their companion, Purrble’s vibrational heartbeat slows into a gentle purr.

“As kids explore the toy, they learn to care for Purrble, interpreting the purrs, heartbeats and reactions,” said Aaron Horowitz, co-founder and CEO of Sproutel. “The discovery process helps kids to not only develop these self-calming skills but to take charge of how they learn.”

According to research, when taught at a young age, these coping and social skills can lead to better long-term emotional, social and academic outcomes into adulthood, not to mention the benefits of in-the-moment self-soothing.

In a preliminary study conducted with families earlier this year, parents found that when their child was heading for a meltdown or just having a bad day, Purrble could help transform tantrums into moments of calm. In fact, of the 73% of these parents who reported their child was experiencing challenges with emotions, concentration and behavior during the pandemic, 91% of these said the toy played a role in improving these struggles.

“With the coronavirus, being home is extra challenging for everybody,” said mom Stephanie Blanchard, whose family participated in the trial. “It’s hard for kids to understand what’s going on. When my 6-year-old, Sophie, was stressed or having a tantrum, I would say, ‘Hey, go get Purrble. Can you calm Purrble down?’”

A companion for all ages

From parents and children to 20-somethings and grandparents, people of all ages are discovering the calming effect — grandparents who ordered one for their grandchild and ended up loving Purrble so much they ordered another for themselves, young adults grappling with anxiety and even teachers using Purrble as a classroom management tool.

In a year when everyone — kids and adults alike — is having a challenging time finding calm, Purrble is lending a paw.

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The future of investing

2021-02-01T17:27:00

(BPT) – Robinhood was built for a new generation of investors. For millions of people who have felt left behind by America’s financial system. For people who felt turned away by the big Wall Street financial institutions. For those who are making their voices heard through the markets and showing the world that investing is for everyone.

Robinhood was founded to help more people build wealth — not just the 1%. Before Robinhood, investing required expensive commissions to place trades, making it impractical for people with smaller balances to participate. In addition, many were unable to satisfy minimum account balance requirements, or were otherwise uncomfortable walking into a financial institution to complete paperwork or answer jargon-filled questions they did not understand.

Robinhood pioneered commission-free trading with no account minimums. They built a modern financial services platform to serve everyone, regardless of their wealth, income or background. Because Robinhood believes that everyone should be welcome to participate in our financial system.

In late January, we witnessed something the stock market has never quite experienced before. Short squeezes on a small number of stocks triggered wild gyrations in prices, massive volatility that prompted clearinghouses to take swift action to protect the plumbing that handles stock trading every day.

In a matter of days, Robinhood’s clearinghouse-mandated deposit requirements related to stocks increased tenfold. These deposits are the collateral they post to ensure their access to clearinghouse services on behalf of their customers. They are what led Robinhood to put temporary buying restrictions in place on a small number of securities that the clearinghouses had raised their deposit requirements on. It was not because they wanted to stop people from buying these or any stocks — Robinhood was built to provide access to investing for all. And it certainly wasn’t because they were trying to help hedge funds.

It was a week that Wall Street and Main Street won’t soon forget. It is possible the unusual and dramatic market swings could occur again. Robinhood is committed to being a responsible partner and being there for its customers through any trading environment — and communicating about the rules their industry faces and how they’re living up to them so they can be here for customers for decades to come.

The world is witnessing a massive transformation taking place across financial markets, driven by the intersection of technology, democracy and finance, and one that is ushering in an entirely new era of financial participation and market dynamics. With a new generation of investors at the helm, the future looks a little brighter.

Robinhood Financial LLC is a registered broker dealer (member SIPC). Robinhood Securities, LLC provides brokerage clearing services (member SIPC). Robinhood Crypto, LLC provides crypto currency trading. All are subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc. (‘Robinhood’).

All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Commission-free trading means $0 commission trades placed on self-directed accounts via mobile devices or web. Keep in mind, other fees may still apply. Please see Robinhood Financial Fee Schedule at rbnhd.co/fees to learn more.

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Advocating at the doctor’s office – how to find treatment for psoriatic arthritis

2021-02-01T06:01:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company

Managing symptoms from an autoimmune disease is difficult. One condition in particular, psoriatic arthritis, is especially challenging. A progressive form of inflammatory arthritis, it can cause swelling, stiffness and pain in and around the joints and can be difficult to diagnose, leaving individuals feeling helpless at the doctor’s office. That’s why it is important to be an advocate for yourself when talking to your physician about treatment options.

Psoriatic arthritis affects approximately 600,000 Americans and more than 12 million people worldwide, including Julie, a wife, mother of three and physical therapist. In 2015, Julie began noticing swollen joints, joint pain and “sausage digits,” also known as dactylitis, which included painful swelling of the fingers and toes. It would later be revealed to her that these symptoms are characteristic of psoriatic arthritis, and she was eventually able to find treatment with Taltz® (ixekizumab) injection 80 mg/mL. Learn more about patients like Julie and their experience with Taltz.

Understanding the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis can occur when an overactive immune system sends out faulty signals that cause inflammation, leading to swollen and painful joints and tendons. Psoriatic arthritis affects joints in the arms and legs, such as the elbows, wrists, hands and feet. If left untreated, it can cause permanent joint damage.

“I had tried to deal with the symptoms on my own. At a certain point, I decided that I needed to see a doctor because my joint symptoms were so severe that I hadn’t jogged a step in several months, which was a big deal for me because jogging is such a big part of my life.”

For Julie, being able to move and exercise made her feel physically better and helped her to emotionally recharge and be able to connect with her loved ones. “My daily walk or jog was my time to think, collect myself and just have some ‘me time’ so I could return home to my family recharged and refreshed.”

Aside from the fear of losing part of her identity as a jogger, Julie also began to notice daily pain and discomfort due to her psoriatic arthritis. Prior to treatment, she found herself hesitant to even attend her children’s sporting events because it was painful and uncomfortable to stand for long periods of time, and her feet and toes were so swollen and painful that walking up and down bleachers became a challenge.

Along with her joint pain and swelling, she noticed areas of plaque psoriasis on her scalp and back – another common symptom for people with psoriatic arthritis. Eventually, determined to find a treatment, she went to see her doctor about her symptoms and received a diagnosis.

Julie’s experience going to see her rheumatologist

Julie emphasized the importance of being an advocate for yourself and being open and honest with your physician about the impact your condition is having on you and letting them know if your current treatment isn’t working for you.

At a crossroads in her treatment journey, Julie went to her rheumatologist and shared that her current treatment was no longer working for her and she wanted to try something different. Julie’s rheumatologist suggested Taltz, and she was excited to learn there was another treatment option out there.

“When you realize psoriatic arthritis is a chronic condition, at first it feels like a gut punch. I will have to be managing this situation forever. It is crucial to be open in your discussions with your physician to find the best treatment that will work for you,” said Julie. “I didn’t know anybody who had been on Taltz. My doctor did, though, and that made me more comfortable treating my psoriatic arthritis with Taltz.”

Julie’s experience with Taltz

Julie connected with Taltz TogetherTM, a program that offers numerous resources, ranging from helping you get started on Taltz to giving you the tools you need throughout your treatment journey. The program helped Julie navigate the approval process with her insurance, and she recommends it to anyone who is worried about affordability of their treatment.

With Taltz, Julie soon began to feel relief. “I started taking Taltz in October 2019. I was expecting to have a positive experience with it given my rheumatologist’s recommendation, and as it turns out, my experience exceeded my expectations! Taltz has been the only medication that has taken care of both my joints and my skin. I felt significant relief from my joint pain and swelling, and for me that was remarkable.”

If you’re living with debilitating joint pain and swelling caused by psoriatic arthritis, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and your treatment goals. As with all medications, individual results will vary and your doctor can help you find the treatment that is right for you.

Julie also shared a few tips on how those living with psoriatic arthritis or other chronic conditions can advocate for themselves at the doctor’s office:

  • Feel empowered to let your doctor know about all your symptoms that might be unusual, not just the one that brought you in
  • Ask for techniques on how to best manage your symptoms, including stress
  • Tell your doctor what is and isn’t working for you; be open and honest with them
  • Know that your feelings are validated – while it may be scary when you first receive a diagnosis, there are options that will help address your symptoms.

“I understand the feeling of being at a fork in the road with your treatment and not knowing how to proceed,” said Julie. “If the pain of psoriatic arthritis is causing you to miss out on things that are important to you, your doctor can be a great resource and partner to determine if Taltz is right for you.”

This article represents Julie’s personal experiences. Individual results may vary. In clinical trials more than half of people with active psoriatic arthritis taking Taltz experienced joint symptom improvement at 24 weeks. Some patients felt joint symptom relief as early as 1 week. And in a study of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, 90% of people saw significant improvement of their plaques at 12 weeks.

Julie was compensated for her time.

PURPOSE AND SAFETY SUMMARY

Important Facts About Taltz® (tol-ts). It is a prescription medicine also known as ixekizumab.

Taltz is an injectable medicine used to treat:

  • People six years of age and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet or UV light (phototherapy).
  • Adults with active psoriatic arthritis.
  • Adults with active ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation.

It is not known if Taltz is safe and effective in children for conditions other than plaque psoriasis or in children under 6 years of age.

Warnings

  • Taltz affects the immune system. It may increase your risk of infections, which can be serious. Do not use Taltz if you have any symptoms of infection, unless your doctor tells you to. If you have a symptom after starting Taltz, call your doctor right away.
  • Your doctor should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before you start Taltz, and watch you closely for signs of TB during and after treatment with Taltz.
  • If you have TB, or had it in the past, your doctor may treat you for it before you start Taltz.
  • Do not use Taltz if you have had a serious allergic reaction to ixekizumab or any other ingredient in Taltz, such as: swelling of your eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, feeling faint, throat or chest tightness, or skin rash. Get emergency help right away if you have any of these reactions. See the Medication Guide that comes with Taltz for a list of ingredients.
  • Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease) can start or get worse with Taltz use. Tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms or if they get worse: stomach pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.
  • You should not get live vaccines while taking Taltz. You should get the vaccines you need before you start Taltz.

Common side effects

The most common side effects of Taltz include:

  • Injection site reactions
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Nausea
  • Fungal skin infections

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before using

Before you use Taltz, review these questions with your doctor:

  • Are you being treated for an infection?
  • Do you have an infection that does not go away or keeps coming back?
  • Do you have TB or have you been in close contact with someone with TB?
  • Do you have possible symptoms of an infection such as fever, cough, sores, diarrhea, or other

symptoms? Ask your doctor about other possible symptoms.

  • Do you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis?

Tell your doctor if:

  • You need any vaccines or have had one recently.
  • You take prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
  • You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Taltz can harm an unborn baby.
  • You are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if Taltz passes into breastmilk.

How to take

See the instructions for use that come with Taltz. There you will find information about how to store, prepare, and inject Taltz. Adults may self-inject after receiving training from a healthcare provider.

For people under 18 years of age:

  • Weighing less than 50 kg (i.e., 110 lb): Taltz must be given by a healthcare provider.
  • Weighing more than 50 kg (i.e., 110 lb): If your healthcare provider decides that your caregiver may give your injections of Taltz at home, your caregiver should ask and receive training from a healthcare provider on the right way to prepare and inject Taltz.

Learn more

For more information, call 1-800-545-5979 or go to taltz.com.

This summary provides basic information about Taltz and is not comprehensive. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about Taltz and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if Taltz is right for you.

IX CON BS 29MAY2020

Taltz® is a registered trademark owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. Taltz Together™ is a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.

PP-IX-US-4559 12/2020 ©Lilly USA, LLC 2021. All rights reserved.

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From amore to l’amour: This Valentine’s Day, discover your language of love

2021-02-01T07:01:00

(BPT) – No topic gets the heart pumping like love. And despite plenty of advice from experts, not everyone shows affection in the same way. This Valentine’s Day, why not try to communicate with your paramour like you never have before? Instead of saying “I love you,” say “je t’aime” or “ich liebe dich” instead — show your special someone that you love them in another language!

If you’re not too savvy with languages, but you still want to do something amazing this Feb. 14, there are still plenty of ways to express your feelings. Here are fun, creative tips on showing your passion this holiday.

1. Celebrate your loved one’s travel dream

Maybe your sweetheart has been saving up to visit Machu Picchu in Peru. Perhaps they can’t wait to float down the Danube River in Europe or climb Mount Fuji in Japan. While you may not be able to make these dream trips a reality right now, you can take time to learn more about the places your loved one wants to visit — and how you’d get there if you had the chance.

Plan out an imaginary trip with the object of your affection, all the way down to what sites you’d visit after arriving at your destination. Take things a step further by gifting your loved one with an immersive language program. This will help them prepare for future international adventures!

Rosetta Stone is a convenient language-learning software that allows you to see, hear, speak, read and write while learning new words and phrases, right on your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. Rosetta Stone uses a Dynamic Immersion approach that ensures you’ll be immersed in your new language from the start, with reading, writing, listening and speaking exercises that work with your brain’s natural language processing ability to help you learn any of their 25 languages fast.

With Rosetta Stone, you and your loved one will intuitively learn through a series of photos, spoken words and written words. Just download the Rosetta Stone app and begin learning a new language!

2. Explore a new activity or skill together

To express your love beyond words, why not give your special someone the gift of a shared experience? Way more engaging and longer lasting than a pricey dinner or a bouquet of roses, choosing something you and your loved one can do together will not just deepen your bond, but open the door to more fun and meaningful interactions in years to come.

Take up a new instrument, enroll in an art class or tackle a foreign language as part of your Valentine’s Day celebration. The great news is there are plenty of online classes, programs and tutorials for just about any hobby, game or life skill you’d like to explore with your partner.

3. Explore your loved one’s background

It doesn’t really matter if you share a cultural background with your loved one — you can always make Valentine’s Day meaningful by exploring your partner’s heritage. Here are just a few ways to show your special someone that you’re extremely interested in what makes them unique:

  • Get them an ancestry kit so they can learn more about their own ethnic background.
  • Help them discover their family background by enlisting their older relatives into creating a family tree.
  • Find out how to make a dish (or where to order one) from your sweetheart’s culture and surprise them with a special meal.
  • Use a language learning app like Rosetta Stone to memorize ways to express your love to your partner in the language of their parents, grandparents or even great-great-grandparents.

This Valentine’s Day, choose a unique, easily downloadable gift with Rosetta Stone and reveal your new language skill as a surprise, or make your gift the experience of exploring a new vernacular. Whatever you choose, there’s nothing more romantic than saying “I love you” in a language that speaks to the heart.

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Tips for moving pets — to the White House or yours

2021-02-01T08:05:00

(BPT) – First families throughout history have welcomed pets into the White House. That’s no surprise, considering that more than 60 percent of all U.S. households live with dogs, cats and other pets. But moving can cause our pets anxiety, so it’s best to learn some coping strategies for your furry friends.

“Relocating is stressful for pets,” said Kurt Venator, D.V.M., Ph.D. and chief veterinary officer at Purina. “Planning ahead and making extra preparations can help your pet adjust to your new surroundings.”

For families moving across town or into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Purina experts offer tips to help prepare pets for a stress-free move.

1. Take a ‘practice-run’ ahead of time: If you’re moving with dogs, let them explore the new neighborhood before you move if possible. This helps them become familiar with the scents and sounds of the area.

For a cat, help him or her get used to their crate. Leave the carrier out with the door open for the cat to explore weeks ahead of time, making it an enticing place by putting favorite treats, toys or a blanket inside. Take a few short practice drives so the cat is used to traveling in the carrier. This will reduce the stress of travel on moving day.

2. Make a moving day plan: Consider your pets’ safety amidst the chaos of moving day. Keep cats in a space away from the moving process. A bathroom at your new home is an ideal spot to set up food, water and a litter box, so cats are out of the way and comfortable until the move is complete. If you’re moving into a home the size of the White House, just don’t forget which bathroom you put your feline friend in.

Dogs can be trickier. It’s best to assign a family member to care for them throughout the move or ask a trusted friend (or Secret Service agent) to pet-sit for the day.

3. Help curious cats settle in: It takes time for cats to become familiar with their new surroundings. Make sure doors and windows are closed, as they may try to escape to find their old home. Cats may “disappear” into a hiding place like a closet to calm their nerves. When in doubt, look under the desk in the Oval Office.

Introduce cats to one room at a time — beginning with the permanent location of their litter box, to avoid confusion. Set up one more litter box than you have cats to promote harmony in your household. Keep their things in this first room, so they become used to the new home with familiar scents, then move their “scent soakers” like bedding and scratching posts across the house to make other rooms feel more familiar.

4. Let dogs sniff out their space: Allow dogs to use their natural instincts to smell and explore by walking them on a leash for their first tour around the house. The sooner they get used to the scents of their new environment, whether it be the Lincoln Bedroom or the guest bedroom of a new apartment, the sooner they’ll feel at home. Maintain a regular routine and spend extra time with them at home to help them feel secure. Avoid leaving your pup outside unattended at first; a new environment may bring out new skills you didn’t know your dog had like jumping over or digging under fences as an attempt to return to familiar ground.

5. Going the distance? Locate needed services: If you’re moving far away, consider the different types of pet care services you’ll need to secure once you’re in your new city. You’ll have to find a new veterinarian, pet-sitting or walking services, plus pet-friendly parks. Ask for recommendations from neighbors or online neighborhood sites, search for pet tips online at PetFoodInstitute.org or HABRI.org, or join a local pet meet-up group.

“After you move, give your pet extra attention,” advises Annie Valuska, Ph.D. and senior pet behavior scientist at Purina. “Your presence will have a calming effect and reassure them.”

Visit Purina.com/expertise for more tips on dog and cat health, nutrition, behavior and training.

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6 common tax myths, debunked

2021-01-31T23:01:00

(BPT) – As you look ahead to doing your taxes this year, there are a number of myths you may think are true for the 2020 tax year. If so, you are not alone — tax myths and misinformation are more common than you may think. And unfortunately, these myths can be costly if they lead to mistakes on your taxes.

Here are the top six tax myths this year:

Myth 1: Anyone working at home can deduct their home office expenses

Just because you’re working from home — as many taxpayers are now — doesn’t mean you can deduct the cost and expenses of the space used for your home office. In fact, this deduction only applies to people who are self-employed. But, some taxpayers may also be eligible if they are employed by someone else but use the space to engage in self-employment activities.

Myth 2: You can claim dependent exemptions for your children

In the past, dependent exemptions allowed taxpayers to claim deductions for dependents (such as children) on their federal tax return. Unfortunately, dependent exemptions are no longer a thing. However, dependents are still very important for tax benefit purposes, including increased credits, child tax credits, filings status determination and many more benefits. Just not a simple tax deduction as in the past.

Myth 3: You must itemize to deduct charitable donations

This was the rule in prior years, but it changed for the 2020 tax year — you don’t have to itemize deductions to take a charitable donation deduction this year. Under the CARES Act, you can deduct up to $300 in charitable donations made to IRS-approved organizations when you take the standard deduction. But if you do itemize, you still get to claim the deduction anyway.

Myth 4: You can file taxes on a postcard

This is not true. When the tax regulations were revised, you may have read in the press about a new “postcard” tax return, but it was never true. The “form” that was circulated to be like a “postcard” is in fact two pages long, plus three schedules!

Myth 5: You’ve already paid taxes on your retirement distribution

Just because you had taxes withheld on your retirement or IRA distributions doesn’t mean you’ve fully paid taxes on it. This is a very common misconception. The income and withholding are still reported on your tax return, along with any other sources of income you may have, including Social Security benefits if you receive them. It’s important to gather all that information together to discuss with your tax professional whether you may still have a tax obligation for 2020.

Myth 6: There’s no longer a tax penalty for not having healthcare coverage

While the tax law went into effect in 2020 to remove the federal penalty for not having health insurance as required under the Affordable Care Act, you still have a responsibility to reconcile your advanced premium tax credit when you have insurance through your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace. Plus, some states do charge penalties if you don’t have health insurance. If you get healthcare through a marketplace, you still may get credits and must report it on your taxes. Ask your tax professional if you need help understanding your healthcare coverage as it relates to your taxes.

“If you have questions or concerns about your taxes this year, don’t wait until the last minute to get professional help,” advises Mark Steber, Chief Tax Information Officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. “Making errors on your taxes can cost you both time and money — not to mention stress and anxiety! Work with a tax pro who is up-to-date on all the latest changes and can advise you on your situation.”

Health and safety protocols at Jackson Hewitt

If you have concerns about health and safety when making an appointment with a tax professional, know that Jackson Hewitt requires all staff to comply with local, state and federal laws and guidelines regarding face coverings and social distancing. Clients meeting with Tax Pros in-person can expect at least six feet of distance between themselves and employees, partitions between staff and clients, plus cleaning and disinfecting throughout the day.

Clients can also limit their time and contact by making an appointment ahead of time and uploading documents to their MyJH account or the company’s document Drop-Off prior to the appointment.

A completely contactless option is to file virtually using Jackson Hewitt Online or accessing Tax Pro from Home options. These are online, personalized tax services through which a dedicated Tax Pro will review tax documents that you upload, answer your tax-related questions and file your tax return without you having to leave your home.

Learn more about getting your taxes completed this year at JacksonHewitt.com.