Tag Archives: guns

Differentiating ADHD from Bipolar in Children

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There are many similarities between these two disorders. I’d like to address their differences to give a better perspective between the two (generally speaking): • A child with ADHD is more likely to stumble accidentally into a fight, as opposed to a child with bipolar who may pick the fight, enjoying the feeling of control and feeling invincible. • Children with bipolar are more likely to exhibit danger-seeking behavior and hyperawareness of sexuality even at a very young age persisting into older years, where as a child with ADHD may not. • Continuous effects of bipolar without treatment can worsen, … Continue reading →

Parental Concern: Does my Toddler have ADD?

With so much published information out there on attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it’s understandable that parents will have concerns when nothing seems to hold their toddler’s interest for more than a few moments. In fact, when their toddler never seems to sit still and goes from toy to toy, activity to activity without seeming to slow down – concerns may grow and when your helpful co-worker or friend suggests that your toddler is ADD or ADHD – you may panic. It’s Okay It’s very normal for typical toddlers to have short attention spans. In … Continue reading →

Six Ways to Deal With a Hyperactive Child

Children with ADHD, Autism, or various neurological disorders often have frustrating bouts of hyperactivity. Some children have such high energy levels mixed with defiance or impulsivity that they can’t focus properly at school or maintain friendships. I’m convinced that these kids can benefit enormously from medication. (Read my blog, “ADHD and the Maddening Missing Meds.” ) But some children may not require medication, and only need some parental guidance to regain control. Here are six ways you can help a hyperactive child: 1. Channel the energy. A child with endless amounts of energy, who is bounding up and down the … Continue reading →

“You’re not my BOSS!” Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Our family was on vacation, and my nine-year-old stepdaughter was up to her usual antics. It started with teasing her brother. As he screamed, I called her out of the room and made her sit at the kitchen table next to me. She began to get very mouthy and rude. I then had her sit on a chair, away from the activity of the family, for twenty minutes. That’s when she began a tirade of dramatic remarks, namely that I hated her, the whole family hated her, and that she was “always punished for no reason.” She screamed, stomped her … Continue reading →

Tales from a Sixth-Grade Graduation

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You can learn a lot from sitting in the back of an elementary school auditorium. If you pay attention, you can make a whole lot of interesting observations. Today was my stepdaughter’s graduation from 6th grade. Not a tremendous milestone, in the scheme of things, but very important to her. It was a rather long and drawn out ceremony, with numerous musical numbers by kids. But I sat back, relaxed, and made some mental notes. Invisibility The most significant observation I made was that my stepdaughter, Sunni, seemed invisible. Her tiny frame and wispy manner caused her to glide into … Continue reading →

Just How Open Should We Be with Our Special Needs Kids?

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Recently I took my two stepdaughters to the doctor for a dosage check on their ADHD medication. (They each take 30 mg. of adderall daily.) Before the physician entered the room, the nurse began entering information into the computer. Height, weight, blood pressure, etc. The girls, ages twelve and nine, gleefully teased each other and fought over the cushioned examination seat. When the pediatrician finally came into the room, he had a lot of questions. What were the behaviors I saw when the girls were off their medication? What behaviors did I see while they were on it? Was it … Continue reading →

ADHD and the Maddening Missing Meds

Yesterday was very rough. Over the weekend, my stepdaughters ran out of their Adderall, a medication that they take for ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It was my fault; they returned from spring break with their mother and I had miscalculated how many pills were left. I tried contacting the after-hours clinic to see if I could get a prescription written during the weekend, but my calls were not returned. It meant that both girls would attend school on Monday without the Adderall. I figured, one day… they can handle it. Sigh. It was a very bad day. Cassidy Without Meds … Continue reading →

Homeschooling Your ADHD Child

If you are homeschooling an ADHD child then you are presented with a list of special challenges. The following is a sample list of what some may be experiencing teaching their ADHD student. • Your child being distracted and not being able to stay on task. • Your child being frustrated when they do not understand an assignment. • Easily bored with anything repetitive like spelling, handwriting, etc. • Sloppy work and mistakes due to non-interest. • Unaware of time – taking an unnecessary amount of time to complete an assignment. Most ADHD children do not do well in a … Continue reading →

Your Mental Health: Its Possible Impact on Your Children

Do you ever worry that your own problems with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues may be affecting your children? If you do, you have good reason to. In 2004, a study was done of 822 children between the ages of three and 12 who lived with both parents. The researchers found that, when both parents reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, their children had more problems with behaviors like abrupt mood changes, cheating, lying, disobedience, bullying, stubbornness, impulsiveness and a bad temper. They also found that, if only the mother had anxiety and depression but the father didn’t, … Continue reading →

Life Coaching for Single Parents: An Interview with Kristi McClanahan, ACG

Kristi McClanahan, ACG (ADD Coach Academy Graduate), is a life coach who works with both parents and children, including children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Last week I interviewed Kristi about life coaching and how it can be beneficial to single parents. First, in case you’re wondering what I’m talking about: a life coach is a person who’s professionally trained to help people achieve balance and fulfillment in their lives in such areas as career, interpersonal relationships, health and fitness, and finances. Life coaching can help you take action to create the changes you want in your life. Q. … Continue reading →