5 Things I Wish I Had Said More To My Children When They Were Young

Seeking specialized health care for your child can be a stressful experience, especially if it’s for a rare condition like Alagille syndrome (ALGS). You probably have a lot of questions about life for your child with ALGS and depending on where you live, you may have to travel outside of your city or state to get answers. This article will help you prepare for an appointment with a specialist for your child living with ALGS. 

“Be proud of who you are, not ashamed of how someone else sees you.” ~Unknown

Charles Barnard is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with him. He impressed us with his compassion and dedication. He has been educating and working with students who struggled finishing school for almost 30 years, fixing their mindset. He also worked as an athletic coach. But […]

Trisha and John Herrity had already raised their own four children when they assumed custody of their six-month-old grandson, Justin, and, later, his younger brother, Brian. Substance abuse prevented the boys’ parents from caring for them.

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder often characterized as “extreme picky eating.” Food avoidance or restriction in ARFID can be due to any of the following:1Unlike other eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, the eating behaviors seen in ARFID are not associated with concerns about body weight or shape. Children with ARFID may struggle to meet nutritional and/or energy needs, and they may be dependent on nutritional supplements for functioning.ARFID often co-occurs with autism, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).2 Some symptoms of autism, like rigid eating behaviors and sensory sensitivity, overlap with ARFID.If you suspect that your child has symptoms of ARFID, answer the questions below and share the results with your child’s pediatrician or a licensed mental health professional who is experienced in diagnosing and treating ARFID.If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, contact the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) for support, resources, and treatment options. Call or text NEDA at 800-931-2237 or visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org to reach a NEDA volunteer.This self-test was adapted in part from the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) and incorporates findings from research on ARFID.

Does this sound familiar? Instead of completing one task before starting another, you find yourself multitasking while fending off distractions and interruptions from coworkers, friends, or family members. This fragmented reality often leads you to lose your place in the task, procrastinate restarting the task, and/or forget to complete the task altogether.

A teacher’s negative comments about a student’s performance rarely motivate the child to do better. It’s quite likely, rather, that this criticism will anger and upset the child and the child’s parents.When this happens, how should parents communicate effectively without putting the teacher on the defensive? More broadly, how can we solve problems without others immediately disagreeing or rejecting what we have to say?First, ask yourself these two questions:Goals can be easily derailed if the words we use to communicate these goals elicit resistance rather than cooperation.

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Your newsfeed is overloaded with programs, apps, and interventions that claim to effectively treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some are complementary treatments designed to augment an existing medication regimen; others suggest they should replace medication.

It was the first week of Third Grade when I found my son, Owen, curled up under a tree in his school playground. We’d agreed to meet there during recess, a particularly overwhelming part of his day for him. From his ragged breathing, silent sobs, and shaky hands, I knew that my son was having a panic attack.The deck is stacked against Owen.

Everyone feels sadness from time to time. You can feel sad for many reasons, like receiving bad news, fighting with a friend or significant other, or just having a stressful day at work. Although sadness is a normal and common (and believe it or not, healthy) emotion, it’s not something you should constantly feel.Persistent sadness can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know why you’re unhappy.

Trauma dumping is defined as unloading traumatic experiences on others without warning or invitation. It’s often done to seek validation, attention, or sympathy.While some initial relief may come from dumping your trauma onto someone else, the habit actually does more harm than good.

Have you been feeling glum, unhappy, or out of sorts lately? Don’t worry – it’s normal to feel sad sometimes. When you’re down but don’t know why, it’s called feeling blue. It’s possible to feel blue without any obvious or apparent cause, but these low moods usually happen for a reason.

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED) typically begin in adolescence, but they are increasingly seen in younger children.Researchers have linked the rise of eating disorders in children and teens to the pandemic and the ongoing youth mental health crisis, among other stressors.12Social media may also play a role in driving body image dissatisfaction and negative comparison among teens.3 What’s more, children and teens with conditions like anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk for developing eating disorders.4 ,5Eating disorders are complex but treatable conditions. Early detection greatly improves recovery and health outcomes.If you are concerned that your child is showing signs of an eating disorder like AN, BN, or BED, answer the questions below and share the results with your child’s pediatrician or a licensed mental health professional who is experienced in diagnosing and treating eating disorders.If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, contact the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) for support, resources, and treatment options. Call or text NEDA at 800-931-2237 or visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org to reach a NEDA volunteer.This self-test was adapted from materials provided in “Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

January 10, 2023Psychiatrist, ADHD expert, and ADDitude contributor Joseph Biederman, M.D., passed away late last week, just days before he was scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD), which he co-founded, honoring his decades of groundbreaking ADHD research and advocacy.Biederman, age 75, served as Chief of the Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Director of the Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorders at MGH, and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.Considered the father of pediatric psychopharmacology, Biederman dedicated his career to examining the causes, diagnosis, and ADHD treatment across the lifespan.“He was truly a giant in our field with a brilliant mind and compelling personality,” wrote APSARD president Ann Childress, M.D., on the organization’s website. “As one of the most highly cited child and adolescent psychiatrists in the world, he changed the course of pediatric psychopharmacology.

When emotions are high, things can get ugly fast, especially when you are dealing with a tiny person who has HUGE emotions. During these moments, you may struggle to understand how to help your child move through their emotions and reach a sense of calm, but thankfully, we have some helpful tips that will help you tackle tough emotions like a boss.It’s important to remember that some adults even have problems dealing with big emotions, so we must understand that little one who hasn’t fully emotionally developed should be expected to have a difficult time doing so.

The first time my son lied to me, I took it personally. Even though I knew it would happen one day, I couldn’t help but be worried.Then, I began catching him in more lies and started to wonder, “Is there something wrong?” However, I had to remind myself that kids are humans, and sometimes, humans lie. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wanted to get to the bottom of it immediately, to avoid future lies and problems.

No parent sets out to play favorites with their children. However, because none of us are perfect, there may be a child you are showing favor to without even realizing it.It is normal for a parent to feel a stronger connection to one of their children, but that does not make you a bad parent. However, it’s important that you show your children the same amount of love and care, otherwise your children may become insecure and struggle with themselves.

People become estranged from their parents as adults is not an uncommon thing, but even despite that, this can be a tough subject. There are many reasons why one decides to pull away from their parents, and if you don’t understand what the situation is, discussing it with the estranged person can be tricky.Even with that being said, you also don’t want to pretend like there is nothing to talk about, so when the topic comes up, it’s important not to say the wrong thing.

Being a new mom is both an exciting experience and a daunting one. You want what is best for your child, but because you are new to everything, there is so much to learn.Everyone has an opinion, and it can be mind-boggling to know the right route to take. Thankfully, that is where good advice from real-life moms can come in handy.

Not available January 31? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.People with ADHD face an elevated risk for substance use disorder (SUD).

Tiny humans have big emotions, that much is true. As parents, we get to deal with a lot of feelings, and while approaching their feelings is of the utmost importance, the last thing you want to do is invalidate them.I grew up in a time in which my parents did not understand much about emotional invalidation.

Self-awareness is arguably the holy grail of inner peace, especially when you’re under pressure. But what is it? How do you achieve it?