Like many things in life, getting rid of anxiety is not what we might expect. In fact, in order to reduce our overall experience of anxiety and stress we often have to do the opposite of what we think would make us feel better. It is for that reason that having a guide through the…
Having just returned from the International OCD Foundation conference in Washington, DC, I am inspired to share the experience and join the many OCD advocates in raising awareness and reducing the stigma that can keep many sufferers extremely isolated. Many people who have OCD say they have never met another person who has it. However,…
“You can’t walk me in. I’m really sorry, but it’s middle school, mom. I WILL get teased.” – Parting words from my 11-year old on the first day of school. The many unsettling changes that occur in and around our children as they enter Middle School provides them with the experiences that they need in…
Habits of mind are there to make things easier. For example, we don’t have to remember how to get to work each day or how to make the coffee – we habitually go through the motions to get the important things done. But those same habits can also be detrimental – providing a sort of…
Sometimes it seems like absolutely nobody really knows how to listen. I suppose it’s odd that I’m bringing this up since listening is one of the reasons that I have a job, but it just seems like the world would be a much more harmonious place if people were more aware of how often they…
7 easy to miss signs that your child or teen may have OCD. Most of us experience many different moods, states of minds, thoughts and feelings throughout the course of a day. And we deal with them very differently on a good day than on a bad day. For teens, this roller-coaster is much more…
Myth #1 Children will eventually outgrow their tics. This is sometimes the case, but it is not to be counted on, since two thirds of all individuals who have tics as children will still experience some tics as adults. Tics occur in 10-25% of school age children, although full Tourette’s syndrome will affect less than…
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition that seems simple on the surface, but that is actually quite confusing and counter-intuitive. We see stereotypical portrayals in movies and press, but they only serve to deepen the misunderstanding about the ways people with OCD suffer and how to help them. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Melissa…
Childhood OCD is a heartbreaking condition that is often missed or misdiagnosed because it can look like ADHD, and often results what appear to be impulse control or behavioral problems. People tend to suffer with OCD for an average of 8-9 years before receiving an accurate diagnosis and treatment. They good news about childhood OCD…
