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Shelley Flannery

Experienced writer and content marketer specializing in health and wellness, higher education and nonprofit

My Vanderbilt Health •

The real signs of autism in adults

Misinformation on TikTok could lead thousands of young adults to believe they have autism spectrum disorder when they really don’t. Here’s what to know about autism symptoms in adults.

On the one hand, social media has brought important and much-needed attention to mental health disorders. On the other hand, it’s circulating misinformation about a number of conditions, namely autism spectrum disorder. So much was detected, in fact, that researchers decided to analyze just how much of the autism
Cosmopolitan •

Your Most Pressing Questions About Bipolar 1 Disorder, Answered By People Who Know

Upon being diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder at the age of 24, Charlotte, a budding singer-songwriter, wasn't particularly angry, upset, or surprised. Her first thought after hearing the news?

That makes sense.

After three years of intense mood swings, severe insomnia, impulsivity, reckless behavior, fights with her family, and bouts of depression, Charlotte now had an explanation for the way she had been feeling and acting.
Prevention •

What It’s Like to Have RSV as an Older Adult

Like many adults over 60, Tom was unfamiliar with RSV when he tested positive for the contagious respiratory virus in fall 2022.

“I drove my 5-year-old grandson to school one morning and noticed he had a cough. A couple of days later, I started coughing too.” Then, his grandson tested positive for RSV. “But while he got better, my cough just kept getting worse.” When he couldn’t catch his breath, Tom went to the hospital.
My Vanderbilt Health •

New parents: Here's when to start tummy time

The practice of putting awake infants on their bellies has come under scrutiny on social media. Here’s what to know about the dos and don’ts of tummy time.

To tummy time or not to tummy time? That is the question on many new parents’ minds these days. We talked to Dr. DeOnna Johnson, a pediatrician at Vanderbilt Children’s Primary Care, to learn all about it.

For those who aren’t familiar, tummy time is exactly what it sounds like: When awake babies spend time lying on their tummies rather tha
Oprah Daily •

Your Age Does Not Define Your Menopause Stage

You’ve probably heard that women in the U.S. reach menopause at the average age of 52. But if you’re thinking that means you can wait until the big 5-0 to start prepping for the change, we’ve got news for you: Menopause doesn’t have as much to do with age as we’ve been led to believe.

In fact, it can naturally occur much earlier or much later than 52—anytime between ages 40 and 58, to be exact. And perimenopause—the period around menopause in which symptoms are most likely to occur—can last any
Women's Health •

I’m Not Having Hot Flashes. Could It Still Be Menopause?

I could not wait to get to middle school the Monday after my 13th birthday, because it also happened to be the very day I got my first period. I was the second of my friend group to men-stru-ate (as our sex-ed teacher put it), and I was excited to regale my gal pals with my oh-so-dramatic tale of getting my first period: After my party! On my birthday! While my mom was asleep!

And yet I have no such plans to announce to my current besties the intimate details of entering perimenopause. Few of u
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