Parenting is a roller-coaster ride, filled with its own unique blend of joys, challenges, heartache, and triumphs. As parents, we’re tasked with a mammoth responsibility, to shape the young minds of our children. When your child is diagnosed with ADHD and struggles with executive function disorder, the ride can feel somewhat steeper. But remember, it’s not about the steepness of the ride, but how we navigate it. ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and executive function disorder often…
read moreAttention Deficit-Hyperactive Disorder, typically referred to as “ADHD,” is a common mental health challenge that affects many children and adults. It is also one of the least understood. Most knowledge people have about ADHD comes from word of mouth and the way people talk about the condition, and that has led to many myths and confusions over what ADHD actually is and how it affects people. As therapists that help children that are struggling with…
read moreOne of the most common misconceptions about ADHD is that it is a condition that mostly – or only – affects boys. Girls are *equally* as prone to ADHD as boys are, but their ADHD diagnosis is often overlooked or mistaken for other issues. One of the many reasons for this is that ADHD in girls and young women may manifest itself differently, which means that the symptoms that people look for with their ADHD…
read moreWithin the field of psychotherapy, researchers and psychologists are often looking for ways to better categorize and explain both childhood and adult mental health struggles. Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, was once a common mental health condition along with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or ADHD. ADD used to be one of the most common neuroatypical childhood conditions. Now, it is hardly mentioned. What happened to ADD? The Recent History of ADD Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) had…
read moreOur brains have many “executive functions,” which are neurotypical ways that our brains process activities, events, emotions, time, etc. When a person has executive function disorder, they typically struggle with some or all of these executive functions. One executive function is known as “Cognitive Flexibility.” It is our ability to adapt our thinking and behaviors based on new information or experiences. It is our ability to adjust our strategies, ideas, thoughts, or beliefs based on…
read moreSleep is medically important. It is how your body repair your DNA. It improves glucose metabolism. It helps regulate blood pressure. If you’re not sleeping enough, it’s hurting your body. Sleep also plays a substantial role in psychological health. It plays a role in emotional response and regulation. It strengthens the part of the brain responsible for problem solving and decision making. It contributes to stress reduction and resilience. Individuals that do not get enough…
read moreDepression is a complex condition with psychological, social, genetic, and environmental factors. Some people develop depression as a response to a specific event. Some people develop depression over time. Still, others appear to develop it for no clear reason. Depression is treatable. But like many other mental health disorders, depression does cause physical changes that can affect the way a person’s neurochemicals operate. Some of the most significant ways that depression can change the brain…
read moreDepression is a complex condition. It is psychological, in that it develops in the brain. But it is also behavioral, genetic, and environmental. Scientists have studied depression for decades, but still do not fully understand why some people develop depression, why others do not, and the mechanisms that cause people to be able or unable to overcome it on their own. What makes depression even more complicated is how it develops. Depression can develop in…
read morePhobias are intense fears of a very specific “stimuli.” For example, a person might intensely fear snakes, public speaking, or flying on a plane. Encountering these leads to severe anxiety and distress that can be debilitating, so people will go out of their way to avoid those objects, animals, or experiences. Agoraphobia is a type of phobia where a person fears being in unfamiliar and/or public places. People with agoraphobia may either not be able…
read moreEvery day, multiple times a day, we request something from our partner. It may be a bit of attention, love, intimacy, support, or even just time. But during the day, sometimes dozens of times a day, we have these small or big requests that we make in order to maintain and grow our connection with our partner. But how our partner responds to these bids can have a substantial affect on our happiness levels and…
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