A recent report by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta released Monday (8/22/2011) suggests that the incidence of ADHD has increased from 6 to 9% over the past several years. Explanations offered include improved evaluation and detection as well as increased access to qualified mental health providers. At Holtz Psychological Services we pride ourselves in using the latest state of the art tests and evaluation tools to assess and diagnosis attention disorders, and to develop and implement sucessful treatment plans. If you need assistance with the evaluation or treatment of adult or childhood attention disorders call us NOW!
Author Archive
ADHD Incidence on the Rise
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011Helping people to “Flourish”
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011Groundbreaking new research from Martin Seligman, PhD suggests that we can help our clients, communities, loved ones, and society at large to flourish not merely alleviate suffering. Positive psychological models focus upon helping human beings to not merely overcome adversity and lessen suffering but to truly thrive and live fuller, more meanigful lives. The pillars of this model are positive emotion, life/community engagement, development of relationships/relatedness, development of meaning, and accomplishment (personally defined) can become the “new” focus in our work with clients. Application of such a model within therapy can help not only to alleviate suffering but more importantly help our clients thrive!
Boost Your Self-Image for Summer
Monday, May 16th, 2011Whenever something goes wrong in life, we berate ourselves saying, “I’m an idiot. What was I thinking?” We can forgive others for their wrongdoings but why are we so judgemental on ourselves?
When we first heard the word “No” as a child it began a long string of events that continued through childhood as we learned new skills, into adulthood when all of our actions are judged by our bosses, family and friends. Studies have shown that children involved in authority-child interactions have reported 70% more negative feelings with only 30% being a mix of positive and neutral. How do we overcome this destructive self image?
- Become aware of your inner voice- when a mistake is made; realize that you are only human. Separate that one events from every other positive action that you have accomplished
- Analyze what you are telling yourself- don’t use “I never..” or “I always..”. Absolute terms are irrational and illogical. They do not reflect reality.
- Write down your thoughts- it will increase your mental processes so you can understand what your own mind is doing in shaping your vision of the world and yourself
Extinguishing Burnout
Monday, May 2nd, 2011Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demandsIt is more common than depressing but less severe, more temporary in duration, and caused by a situational stressor.
Major Symptoms:
Fatigue is one of the major symptoms of burnout. You feel emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed, drained and unmanageable.
Depersonalization occurs when you don’t want to engage with anyone and you lose empathy. Its hard to relate to other people and even yourself
Loss of confidence and competence is the third symptom of burnout. You feel like your life is slipping out of control.
Revival of your life:
Set boundaries. Don’t overextend yourself. Learn how to say “no” to requests on your time. If you find this difficult, remind yourself that saying “no” allows you to say “yes” to the things that you truly want to do.
Take a daily break from technology. Set a time each day when you completely disconnect. Put away your laptop, turn off your phone, and stop checking email.
Learn how to manage stress. When you’re on the road to burnout, you may feel helpless. But you have a lot more control over stress than you may think. Learning how to manage stress can help you regain your balance.
Success over Stress
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011Everyone suffers from some sort of stress. Worrying about school, finding a job, financing the bills, whatever it is there’s ways to alleviate it.
STOP thinking negatively: negative, pessimistic thinking will tighten muscles in your body, causing rapid breathing and high blood pressure. Try deep breathing, relaxing, unclench your fists and whenever a negative thought comes to mind, turn it positive.
TRICK your mind: your subconscious does not understand the difference between something real and imagined. So tell it something positive! Make a list of seven to ten things each day and pick one to repeat to yourself every morning and night. Imagine yourself accomplishing it as you recite it.
FIND the silver lining: instead of viewing an unfortunate event in your life as permanent, think of it as a temporary solution. Maintaining optimistic interpretations of events leads to the generation of T-cells which are imperative for sustaining your immune system.
LAUGH: it is well known that laughter is the best remedy. But did you know that children laugh more than 100 times a day while adults only laugh around 15?. Laughter induces the release of endorphins which in turn over ride our stress hormones creating a sense of tranquility in our lives. So watch a funny movie, read a joke book, and surround yourself with positive fun-loving people.
HPS April Newsletter
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011STRESS LESS AND SIMPLIFY
(Even More Items From Our Endless List of “Ways To Relax”)
• Give yourself at least five positive affirmations each day
• Stay close to positive people and positive influences
• Get rid of negative or “toxic” people in your life. Yes, even relatives
• Set realistic goals, but be sure to set them! A goal is a written statement
• Realize that 95 percent of things we worry about never actually happen
• Most choices are not between “right” and “Wrong”, but rather between options
• Find healthy ways to diffuse anger and frustration
• Spend a few minutes each day removing clutter from your home or office
• Simplify your life by reducing obligations. Learn to say “No” or “Not now”
• Screen your calls. Always use an answering machine or voicemail to screen your calls.
• Spend ten minutes each evening planning your next day. Make a list.
TO NAP OR NOT TO NAP?
Research does indicate that an afternoon nap can increase your mental abilities, learning and memory even better than a cup of coffee or an energy drink. After lunch is a time when the human brain is naturally at a low point and in need of rest. An afternoon nap not only helps restore alertness but also improves neurocognitive functioning to a higher level than before the nap. Sleep, especially stage 2 sleep, seems to be the time when certain types of information are integrated into the brains existing fund of knowledge, clearing the way for new information. Midday naps, particularly if they are 45 minutes or shorter consist primarily of stage 2 sleep. As executives and high tech workers have discovered, the short afternoon or “power” nap can have a dramatic effect on improving alertness and learning ability. Obtain your bosses permission when conducting your own nap experiments.
WHERE TO LIVE IF YOU HAVE AUTISM
The greater New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Boston metropolitan areas are among the ten best places in America to live for people who have autism, according to the results of an online survey released today – the first day of Autism Awareness Month and the eve of World Autism Awareness Day. These locations have the best resources and seem to be more aware of the needs of individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Northern New Jersey, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle and Milwaukee are also among the top ten listed. Among the states faring worst in the survey, in terms of the percentage of negative responses from that state, were Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Michigan and California.
NEW, OLD RESEARCH ON FOOD COLORING AND HYPERACTIVITY
Artificial food coloring may worsen hyperactivity in some children. This connection was reported extensively during the 1980’s and 90’s, and the research is back in the news today. The effects on behavior are due to a unique intolerance to these substances in some children and not because the coloring is inherently toxic or dangerous in any way. The colorings do not cause hyperactivity. The FDA has not released any final conclusions as of this date, so don’t panic. For now, HPS suggests limiting the following colorings for children prone to hyperactivity: Blue #1 and #2, Green #3, Red #3 and #40, Orange B, and Yellow #5 and #6. Read labels!
RULES FOR DATING
• Make sure your date is emotionally available and can express personal feelings.
• Use the rule of threes for online dating: Three emails before the first call, three calls before the first date, three dates before making any commitments, three months before determining if you are in love.
• Relationships have a direction. If you don’t know where its going, it’s not going anywhere.
• Your date should know what they want and what they are looking for in a relationship. If you ask, “What are you looking for?” there should be an answer. “I don’t really know” is not acceptable.
• Nobody is perfect, but any three “red flags” and the relationship should be over. These include bitterness, excessive talking about previous relationships, lack of commitment, excessive drinking, drug use, anger problems, etc. (hostility or abuse counts as three red flags!)
• Never go back to a previous relationship to give them a “second chance”. It probably will not work.
• The inability to express emotions openly is a defect. It will likely not improve.
• What you see is what you get. People grow, but rarely change. You need to love the person for what they are right now, not some future possible potential.
• Pay close attention to the relationship your date has with their own friends, family, parents, business associates and even with their pets. All of these should be normal and warm. The way your date treats the waitress or waiter in a restaurant is a great indication of how you will be treated!
• Significant age differences can work in relationships, but they usually do not. Find someone within seven years of your own age.
• The expression, “I love you, but I am not IN love with you” is an excuse. Don’t accept it.
• If your date wants to “see other people”, tell them to watch a baseball game. The relationship is over.
HPS NEWS!
We are pleased to welcome our newest staff members: Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite, PhD and Karen Jason, PhD. Find out more about them by visiting our website: www.Therapy-Now.com.
Please have your friends and family members sign up for this free newsletter at our website: www.Therapy-Now.com.
We accept all major insurance plans. Call today for an appointment: (631) 427-6669.
Energy Drinks: Side Effects & Learning Problems….
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011Recent studies have consistently demonstrated that the consumption of energy drinks by children and adolescents are not only un healthy but dangerous with additional risks for those young people who take medications of have mental health conditions such as ADHD. A growing number of countries have banned them all together with another group putting in place age restrictions for their sale and consumption. Those with ADHD, cardiac problems, or other mental health issues can be adversly afffected by ingesting these highly caffeinated beverages. The average single serving of an energy drink contains over 100 mg of caffeine (per 8 oz. kids often consume upwards of 20 0z.) and over 12 teaspoons of sugar! Sugar and caffeine in this high a dose impedes attention, concentration, and our ability to learn…. In the words of Crosby, Stills, and Nash… “parents teach your children well!”
Tips for Coping with Adult ADD/ADHD
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011Manage Symptoms of Adult ADHD NOW
The daily hassles of life are enough to cause everyone stress. But if you are an adult struggling with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) everything from paying the bills, to grocery shopping, to social demands can feel overwhelming. By taking advantage of the self-help tips listed below you can begin to overcome even the most challenging symptoms and feelings of disorganization.
Get Organized. Create space in your house by throwing away or storing in bins or closets items you don’t need on a daily basis. Have a special space for items that get easily lost, like mail and keys. Use lists and notes to keep track of deadlines, appointments, tasks, etc. A daily planner can help you get and stay organized; avoid electronic organizers such as Blackberry’s unless you use them routinely and with some facility. Avoid forgetfulness by dealing with things NOW! For example, open the mail as it comes in and deal with it right then, file it, throw it away, or act on it.
Be Mindful of Time. Often adults with ADHD perceive time differently than others. Become a clock watcher. Get a wristwatch, computer, alarm clock, or timer; anything with the time on it that you can refer to will help keep you stay aware of the passage of time. Develop a routine for mundane tasks. Process the mail, pay bills, and complete other daily tasks for the same amount of time in the same order every day or on the same day each week; develop routines that you can stick too. A daily routine will help you remember everything that has to be done. Also, give yourself more time than you think you need. Add ten minutes on to every task to ensure you don’t run out of time. Write appointments down for fifteen minutes before the actual time. This will ensure that you’ll never be late.
Prioritize. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with impulse control and will jump from one thing to another. Big tasks often seem over whelming because of all the small steps involved. Before you begin a big task, prioritize what is the most important thing to do first and then list other less important tasks afterwards. This will help you to break down the large task into smaller tasks, so it will seem less over whelming.
Learn to say NO. Because of impulsiveness individuals with ADHD will often agree to take on more tasks, overloading their schedules. This leads to more distractions and feelings of being over whelmed. It often results in unfinished projects or tasks. By saying no, your performance will improve as you will have less to focus on and more time to accomplish tasks. Learn to check your schedule before you commit to additional projects or tasks.
If you or someone in your life thinks they have or has been diagnosed with an attention problem we can help. Our clinical director has over 15 years experience in the assessment of ADHD and our therapists excel at assisting adults, adolescents, and children in coping with and beating the symptoms of this challenging disorder. Call us NOW!
