Cell Phones & Kids With ADHD

Management and overall well-being are crucial for children with ADHD. It is important to encourage them to participate in activities they enjoy, which can help them channel their energy in a positive way and improve their overall mental health. By engaging in activities they are passionate about, such as sports, art, or music, children with ADHD can find an outlet for their energy and focus their attention on something constructive. In addition to encouraging participation in enjoyable activities, it is also important to create a supportive and structured environment for children with ADHD. This can be achieved by establishing clear…

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Irritability In Children Can Be Something More Serious Than Just A Bad Mood!

Irritability, defined as a low threshold to experience anger in response to frustration, is one of the main reasons children are referred to a mental health evaluation. Irritability can appear as age-inappropriate temper outbursts and a sullen, grouchy mood.  It includes both mood and behavior components. All children (and adults) are irritable at some time, such as when they’re tired or not feeling well. The things that health care providers look for when considering irritability are how it impacts the child’s ability to function and whether it continues over time and in different settings, such as at school, at home…

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Peripartum Depression (formerly Postpartum)

Depression During Pregnancy and after Childbirth For most women, having a baby is a very exciting, joyous, and often anxious time. But for women with peripartum (formerly postpartum) depression it can become very distressing and difficult. Peripartum depression refers to depression occurring during pregnancy or after childbirth. The use of the term peripartum recognizes that depression associated with having a baby often begins during pregnancy. Peripartum depression is a serious, but treatable medical illness involving feelings of extreme sadness, indifference and/or anxiety, as well as changes in energy, sleep, and appetite. It carries risks for the mother and child. An estimated one in…

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?Seasonal affective disorder* is a form of depression also known as SAD, seasonal depression or winter depression. In the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this disorder is identified as a type of depression – Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern. People with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression. The symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improve with the arrival of spring. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the United States tend to be January and February. While it is…

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What Are Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders?

Most kids will act up or become disruptive or defiant sometimes. Disruptive and conduct disorders, however, involve much more severe and longer-lasting behaviors than typical, short-lived episodes. Disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders refer to a group of disorders that include oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania and pyromania. These disorders can cause people to behave angrily or aggressively toward people or property. They may have difficulty controlling their emotions and behavior and may break rules or laws. An estimated 6 percent of children are affected by oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder1. Each year, an estimated 2.7…

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ADHD: Online & in-person school during the pandemic.

When schools were closed in the spring, some students with ADHD may have had trouble adjusting to online learning without a teacher present to support them. Online learning often requires students to be self-guided, manage their time and motivation, and complete tasks, assignments, or projects in the required time. However, other students may find fewer distractions at home, making it easier to focus on tasks. Learning from home also gives students a way to develop independence. Overall, the AAP advises that students learn best in-person and encourage schools to reopen if they can do so safely in their communities. But…

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COVID-19 Schools Reopening. A Few Important Points.

As many of our patients get ready to return to school, parents have questions regarding safety and possibility of exposure and infection for their children, and also for the rest of the family. Parents are coming to us for guidance, and unfortunately, at this time there are no formal guidelines to follow. The following is to serve as general information that we can consider and share with our patient’s parents to help them with the decision to allow or not their children return to the classroom. Remember this is a changing situation and our advice will likely change once more…

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Oppositional Defiant Disorder

All children are oppositional from time to time, particularly when tired, hungry, stressed, or upset. They may argue, talk back, disobey, and defy parents, teachers, and other adults. Oppositional behavior is a normal part of development for two to three-year-olds and early adolescents. However, openly uncooperative and hostile behavior becomes a serious concern when it is so frequent and consistent that it stands out when compared with other children of the same age and developmental level and when it affects the child's social, family, and academic life. In children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), there is an ongoing pattern of…

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