The CDC just released new data that indicates ADHD prevalence rose from 7% in 1998-2000 to 9% in 2007-2009. In the south and midwest prevalence increased to 10%. Critics and skeptics will argue it’s over diagnosis and misdiagnosis due to our search for easy answers to behavioral or attention problems along with an increasingly pill happy society. I would argue that while some of that may be true most of the increase is due to better awareness and detection, less stigmatization and improved access to mental health care.
What happened to creativity?
Over the past 20 years creativity in American children has been on the decline according to a large study published in 2010. Blame the obsession with test taking in our schools, television, technology and our over scheduled lives which limits divergent thinking, novel ideas and imaginative and creative playtime for kids. Learn why time for play matters.
vacation
I appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience while I am on vacation with my family. If you need anything please do not hesitate to call my office mgr, Catherine, directly at 972.313.0505.
August resolutions
Kids and teens lamenting the end of summer often admit they look forward to a new school year. It’s their opportunity for a fresh start, new goals, organization and a blank slate. A “do-over” if need be. The new school year also presents an opportunity for us parents to do the same. Here are some habits I am going to work on. We don’t have to wait till New Year’s.
What not to say to your child
D Magazine
I was interviewed for articles in this month’s D Magazine along with their summer medical edition. The annual medical edition is print only and not available online but it’s a separate, longer article where I suggested they also talk with Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers. They contacted me in the spring looking for a mental health topic for the medical edition to come out this summer and I suggested ADHD in adults knowing their target audience. I diagnose, evaluate and counsel many children and teenagers with ADHD but adults with it rarely get a mention. I told them many famous and successful athletes such as Michael Phelps and our own Ian Kinsler have opened up about their condition…not to mention scores of successful business people and celebrities. They told me they were going to publish a photo of me to go with the stories but I guess after seeing the proofs they wised up. Hard to sell magazines using my mug.
Put down the phone
Building your child’s self-compassion
Self-Compassion may be the most important life skill
I am a big believer that the self esteem movement has caused much more harm than good over the past 30-40 years. Today’s college students according to researchers are more narcissistic than ever. Self-compassion is a new, budding area of psychological research. A focus on self esteem alone results in increasing neuroticism, emotional fragility and narcissism. Self-compassion may sound like your indulging yourself but it’s anything but that. “It is not this nimby, bimby stuff,” said Paul Gilbert, a researcher at
Kingsway Hospital in the United Kingdom. “Compassion is sensitivity to
the suffering of self and others and a commitment to do something about
it.” It involves mindfulness, common humanity and kindness. People high in self-compassion tend to have higher standards, work
harder and take more personal responsibility for their actions. That’s what I want for my children rather than becoming distracted by building their self esteem.