Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) vs. autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? The question comes up when you notice your child struggling to pay attention to the teacher in school or your colleague at work fighting to stay focused on the project at hand. You know something’s not quite right, but what’s really wrong? The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that …
A friend turns down invitations to gatherings that will include more than three or four people she knows. A family member accepts invitations but always backs out at the last minute. You accept whatever reason they offer but wonder if there’s something more going on. Could they be struggling with social anxiety disorder? Social anxiety disorder. Social phobia. Different names….the …
Car accidents. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Things that are out of our control take us by surprise, leaving us shell-shocked for days, weeks, or longer. These traumatic events and others like them cause significant stress and stir up feelings of helplessness, fear, and prolonged anxiety. In the early 1990s, experts labeled those reactions “acute stress disorder” and put a time frame on …
“Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave. A mental illness, or mental health disorder, is defined as patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving that cause distress or disrupt a person’s ability to function.” (The Mayo Clinic) While the focus is often on teens and adults, preteens also experience mental health …
Nightmares… avoiding certain streets… becoming easily startled or feeling on edge… Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can manifest in many ways. The National Center for PTSD defines PTSD as “a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.” Precipitating events can also include sudden …
At any given moment, at least a third of us feel lonely. As we write this, the social distancing of the COVID-19 pandemic has probably pushed that figure higher. We can take comfort in knowing that loneliness is not a permanent state. There are many ways to address and alleviate / heal loneliness. But first, let’s explore loneliness itself. The …
How Therapy Actually Works and How it Can Help Seeking therapy is an individual choice, with patients choosing to come for many different reasons. Sometimes, they need help to deal with long-standing psychological issues or dealing with changes in anxiety disorders or depression. Other times, it’s to ask for help dealing with a divorce or other stressful transition. Working with …
