Some signs and symptoms linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) actually can be a sign that your preschooler is developing exactly as they should. Your child’s behavior can be especially challenging at this age, and that’s perfectly normal as they start to gain some independence. Consistent check ups with your pediatrician in the preschool years are…
Every child deserves to grow up happy and healthy, and to lead a successful life. Yet, 1 in 5 kids ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. could be diagnosed with a mental, emotional, behavioral or development disorder, according to the American Psychological Association. Many more are at risk of developing a disorder due to…
Expressive art therapy can help patients with eating disorders make sense of their condition, as well as give providers a glimpse into where their patients are along their paths to recovery. Sculpting “creatures” can help patients separate themselves from the harm caused by their eating disorders, and it can help unburden them of any guilt,…
Eating disorders have increased around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdowns and other changes. Eating disorders thrive in isolation and are fueled in part by social media, according to Andrea L. Krause, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist with Norton Children’s Inpatient Care, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. The pandemic supplied plenty of both….
The number of medications prescribed for children for many behavioral and mental health conditions has increased over the years, prompting concerns about overmedication of children. Medication successfully can treat behavioral and emotional conditions such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and insomnia. These drugs, which affect the central nervous system, are also known as psychotropics….
There are three types of bullying: Verbal bullying, social bullying and physical bullying. Bullies use these strategies to gain control over a child emotionally or even sexually. It can happen anywhere – at school, out of school, on the bus, on the internet. At that root of bullying is aggressive behavior that takes advantage of…
Even though anorexia nervosa can be life-threatening, adolescents with an eating disorder often feel being skinny makes them healthy, according to Brittany K. Badal, M.D., an adolescent medicine physician with Norton Children’s Medical Group – Novak Center. We live in a society where there is social stigma around weight, with teasing and bullying, and social media…
Knowing the signs of anxiety and depression in children has become even more important as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and more families have sought help for their children’s mental health over the past two years. Although most kids are now back in school and have returned to many of their pre-pandemic routines, with vaccinations more…
Complex trauma occurs when children are exposed to multiple, severe and pervasive traumatic events or experiences. Complex trauma includes profound abuse, neglect or ongoing exposure to violence, typically involving a primary caregiver. Traumatic experiences often overwhelm a child’s ability to cope. Children exposed to complex trauma can react in a number of ways, including lack…
The suicide rate among Black youth had been rising faster than other groups for years before Black communities disproportionately were affected by COVID-19, and news of police violence increased awareness that youth of color may be living in fear. Add the social isolation from COVID-19 restrictions, and mental health professionals are raising the alarm about…
There are ways to help children and teens with anxiety, stress and fear resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids may feel anxious even if they or their families haven’t had any direct exposure to the virus — they’ve had their school experience disrupted, and even the holidays were different. “The pandemic is impacting nearly every…
Counseling children with cancer has become more important in recent years for a simple reason. It used to be that not many kids with cancer got to grow up. Now they do. That is great news, but it is not an easy path. Most families cope relatively well, but some families experience difficulty with depression or anxiety….