How To Get Back With An Ex Who Has ASD

Getting back with an ex is a major life decision. Because of this, it is essential to think twice before you move back in with a former lover. Take note that there was a reason why the breakup took place in the relationship. Here are some of the issues or matters that you must take into consideration in deciding whether reconnecting with your ex-husband is a good idea:

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Your Husband Has ADD: What Happens Next? 

Living with someone who has attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a complete struggle, especially if you have no idea or clue on how to handle this kind of mental condition. Take note that the symptoms of ADD can hurt your marriage and cause it to go down the drain. This is why you need to act fast if you want to stay in the relationship with your husband. It is essential for you to be aware of what ADHD means. Once you have a full understanding of this disorder, the next thing to do is to work hard in encouraging your partner to change. 

 

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Considering Child Therapy For Your Children?

Do you need child therapy? Discovering that a kid needs child therapy can be terrifying. For sure, you will have lots of questions and worries, including the cost of child therapy services for the kid.

 Two kids in long sleeves painting on a white canvas during sessions
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Embarking on the journey of pediatric psychotherapy can be both daunting and filled with uncertainties. As a caring parent or guardian, you’ll naturally find yourself overwhelmed with questions and concerns, especially when it comes to the financial aspect of child therapy in supporting your child’s emotional well-being. Fear not! By addressing these topics head-on, you’re already taking significant strides toward ensuring a brighter future for your child. So prepare to embark on this transformative adventure with full knowledge, confidence, and an unwavering dedication to your child’s mental health through child therapy!

At the same time, you will hesitate about entrusting your child to another person during parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). What you are thinking and feeling right now is only typical of a parent whose child needs therapy. To ease your concerns, here are the things you need to prepare and keep in mind about child therapy.

Unlock Potential: Importance Of Mental Health For Effective Communication Skills

Child therapy is crucial, particularly if your child is going through a mental health disorder. Your child must undergo child therapy to have good coping communication skills and improve their mental welfare. But what’s the best therapy for many children? How can child therapy work for your child? Will your child really benefit from child therapy?

Parental involvement as well as family involvement is important, and below are some of the essential things families need to remember when it comes to this treatment:

An illustration
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The Right Child Therapy And Therapist For Your Kid

Parents know that behavioral therapy, evidence-based therapy for their child, is crucial, so when they discover that their child needs evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavior therapy, family therapy, art therapy, online therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, or other mental health services, they act on it right away.

Pediatric therapy is a vital component in the field of adolescent psychiatry, specifically for addressing disruptive behavior disorders. This type of therapy emphasizes behavior management techniques supported by scientific evidence to teach new skills for disease control. The ultimate goal is to help children build mental and emotional resilience to cope with their struggles, leading to improved overall well-being.

The most common method of healing for children is cognitive behavior therapy (an evidence-based therapy) which helps improve a child’s disruptive behaviors, feelings, and moods. It is also widely used for depression, anxiety, stress management, and other behavioral problems of adolescents and adults.

Unfortunately, most parents are unaware of some differences between a child’s therapist and a psychiatrist.

  • A psychiatrist is a medical practitioner or doctor who has completed a specialization in diagnosing and treating prolonged grief disorder, borderline personality disorder, behavioral disorders, and other mental health problems.
  • A therapist is someone who studies and deals with a child’s behavior, child’s life, or attitude of a person to help children deal with a mental health condition.

Before deciding to get therapy for children and adolescents, visit your healthcare provider to know about other health problems so you would know the right therapy to go to. Therapy, either for a child and adolescent, older children, or an adult, must be understood.

Get A Proper Diagnosis First

The standard practice is for a mental health professional or child therapist to get a proper diagnosis of your child’s mental illness. It’s vital to that your therapist be licensed by the American Psychological Association to ensure that their methods are up to date. He will also determine whether a referral for child-centered play therapy or clinical child therapy services is necessary. So, you must get your child to meet a mental health professional first for a consultation. There are also various treatment techniques for children and teens to choose from, so it is important that this is discussed with a clinical child and adolescent psychologist.

A child having fun together with their helper or teacher. Discovering that your kid needs therapy can be quite terrifying.
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Let The Child Participate In Child Therapy Sessions

The therapy is effective only if the child is actively participating in the sessions with the therapist.

  • Their parents must encourage him to attend all his mental health therapy sessions with the therapist.
  • Parents must remind him of the significance of his participation in all his therapy sessions for a fast recovery.

The treatment is more effective if your child cooperates and participates, regardless of age. Also, do not insist on accompanying your child in their sessions with the therapist unless you are utilizing family therapy for your children. You can bring your child to the therapist but do not try to interfere during the encounter, especially if the child’s mental health provider is looking for the child’s behavior patterns. Children and adolescents will have different behavior around their parents which will interfere with the session. You could wait outside until the therapy sessions are over. Feel free to ask questions to your child after their therapy session.

Fostering Emotional Well-Being In Youth: The Impact Of Conversational Interventions On Developing Strong Mental Health

Pediatric therapy is an effective way to treat emotional problems in children, with talk therapy being a common approach. However, cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy are also viable treatment methods. Child therapists licensed by the American Psychological Association use talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral or play therapy, to help children learn how to manage their emotions and improve their emotional well-being. Research has shown that emotional learning is a critical component of pediatric therapy and can have long-lasting effects on a child’s mental health. With the help of a skilled child therapist, children can learn how to understand better and regulate their emotions, leading to improved overall emotional health.

Therapy Is Beneficial And Effective For A Child

Therapy for your child, or anyone, is beneficial and effective. As a parent, know that the best types of therapy for your child will vary depending on their behavioral needs. Some children might benefit more from behavioral therapy, while others might need a different type. Spend time with your child and let him/her feel that you and all the family members are there for him or her – whether it be in therapy sessions or at home.

“Therapy can remind you how to take care of yourself and plan a healthy development so you know your sources of support,” says Carmen Gehrke, LMHC. Searching for the right psychiatrist or therapist for your child is not an easy thing to do. You need to be patient in researching the best professional in town.

However, it’s all worth it in the end, as it’s for your child’s health and well-being. Children learn self-control through behavior therapy which helps your child improve their skills, school behaviors, and communication abilities. It also reduces symptoms of kids’ anxiety, stress, and depression in a healthy way.

Giving The Best Treatment Options For Child Support

Your child is precious – you and the whole family should strive to give him the best remedy and support. Choose a type of therapy for your children that encourages them to be better – a treatment that helps improve their feelings, behaviors, and mental health. Make sure that the therapist you choose is licensed by the American Psychological Association so that your child receives the best care they can.

Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

What Questions Should I Ask My Child?

As a parent, engaging with your child in meaningful conversations can promote emotional and intellectual growth while strengthening your bond. Here are some thought-provoking questions to ask your child:

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
If you could travel back in time, which era would you visit and why?
How do you show kindness to others around you?

Remember that communicating well with children entails active listening and allowing them to express their thoughts independently.

What therapy is best for my child?

Why do therapists focus on childhood?

Is therapy effective for children?

How long does therapy take for childhood trauma?

What are the main goals of pediatric therapy?

What type of therapy is best for children?

How do you therapy a child?

How do I know if my child needs therapy?

At what age should kids go to therapy?

ADHD And Psychiatry

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There are several kinds of mental disorders or illnesses that affect children all over the world, one of which is ADHD or attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder. While this may be common in young individuals, there have been reported cases of adults having the same mental condition. In this write-up, we are going to discuss the different symptoms and diagnoses of ADHD. At the same time, we will also look into the importance of psychiatry concerning handling this disorder.

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Somatization Disorder: Causes And Management

 

In the previous article, Somatization Disorders: Understanding Psychosomatic Illness, we examined the four types of somatization illnesses. In this article, the etiologic factors and overview of the management will be tackled.

 

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Etiologic Factors

“Somatization disorder, characterized by a history of at least eight unexplained symptoms in four or more bodily systems, represents the extreme end of a continuum of somatoform severity.” –Richard J. Brown, Ph.D., Clin.Psy.D

Genetics and heredity play a crucial role in most mental illnesses. Research presented that ten to 20% of somatization disorders are common in families with a first-degree family member exhibiting the same condition. Also, children who are having complaints of functional abdominal discomfort, and changes in mood such as anxiety and depression, their mothers may have a history of chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and somatoform disorder in their lifetime.

The role of neurotransmitters was also attributed to the causation process stating that its sustained release in conjunction with the neuroendocrine hormones, when faced with extremely stressful situations, can deplete some areas in the brain that enable adaptations and coping behaviors.

“Your environment, both your social and natural surroundings, can greatly impact how you feel.” Marjie L. Roddick, MA, NCC, LMHC said. Therefore, A violent family environment resulting in abusive behaviors, be it physical, verbal, or sexual, can lead to somatization symptoms in children. Traumatic experiences can shatter the mind’s capacity to cope effectively, and the only thing that it can do is to transfer the mental anguish into physical complaints.

 

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Management

This can be very frustrating as the condition tends to be more psychological rather than medical. Sometimes, the caregiver resounds annoyance and weariness on the constant complaints of bodily pain, concern for well-being, and even verbalizing imminent death.

In the beginning, the medical doctor will explore and investigate the source of the physical complaints. Remember that these symptoms are real to the persons no matter what explanations you give them that “it’s all in mind.” For a person with pain disorder, a referral to a specialty pain clinic is the best alternative. Introduction to non-pharmacologic and alternative treatments may contribute to the alleviation of pain symptoms.

Insight-oriented psychotherapy is recommended for persons with illness anxiety disorder. The aim of this therapy to help the person understand the cause and relationship of their feelings to the physical symptoms that they have every time they encounter stress. The person is encouraged not to undergo several medical tests that will only result in more tests if they are not satisfied with a reasonable result. They will also be instructed with positive coping mechanisms to divert attention away from their body functioning to some more constructive activities. Anxiolytic medications like Xanax and Valium are prescribed to control and manage the severe effects of stress, but should not be taken in the long run because of its addictive tendencies.

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.” says Catherine Cleveland M.S., LMHC-P. These persons need emotional support but never say that their symptoms are unreal and controllable. This is a futile attempt to take knowing that for them their symptoms are real as a result of their emotional distress. Acknowledge the manifestation only to the point that you are aware of their difficulties. If the person continues to present a new complaint, this should be corrected instantly. Encourage to keep a journal of situations, events of stresses and the occurrence of symptoms and utilize this information to identify the relationship between anxiety and physical complaints. Introduce the person to several activities that will divert his/her attention from the stressful situation.

 

Gambling Addiction: Slowly Rotting Your Life Away

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As intelligent human beings, we are in control of our lives. Having the capacity and ability to decide for ourselves, we have our way of catharsis in dealing with the demands of life. When we feel like life is already consuming us, diversion activities become our go-to hideaway. Giving oneself a break is not bad at all. It helps in maintaining a balanced life. In modern times, this can be achieved by taking a vacation, buying new clothes, a car or an expensive phone, and going out with your friends occasionally can give you a pleasurable feeling and these can even inspire you more to go on with life.

“Addiction is a non-medical term that refers to a wide range of mental disorders called Substance Use Disorders. There are a variety of different types of Substance Use Disorders, including Alcohol Use Disorder, Stimulant Use Disorder, and Cannabis Use Disorder, just to name a few.” –Hailey Shafir, LPCS, LCAS, CCS-I

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Unconventional Treatments In Mental Health Care

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Despite numerous research and studies were done to understand the etiology and cure of mental health further, there are still unanswered questions about how the mind functions. Mental illnesses are their all-time high. The increase in statistics may be attributed to the decreasing level of stigma associated with having a psychological disorder rather than the actual numbers. More and more people are seeking help and submitting themselves to the therapy session to manage their emotions or handle the stresses of everyday life which can further aggravate the person’s problem. People are familiar with the pharmacological approach and the importance of behavioral and talk therapy, but beyond this traditional accepted Western psychiatric management, unconventional and controversial procedures are often dealt with caution and at times, apprehension.  There are alternative therapies available with a somewhat strange way of dealing with psychiatric disorders, but research and studies support its effectivity.

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Somatization Disorders: Understanding Psychosomatic Illness

 

Source: news-medical.net

 

James, 14 years old, was recently admitted for symptoms of sudden blindness. He was in the hospital for five days and underwent several diagnostic tests to determine the cause and extent of his loss of sight. On the third day, the doctors did not find any organic pathology from the tests wherein all returned with normal results. James was transferred to the adolescent psychiatric unit for further evaluation of conversion disorder. During the nursing assessment and interview, James demonstrated a matter-of-fact attitude when asked about his blindness experience. When the nurse interviewed the mother, she confided that James got reprimanded and hit by his father, told negative and other degrading words. This violent environment has been going on since James was five years old.

 

What is Somatization Disorder?

“Somatization disorder, characterized by a history of at least eight unexplained symptoms in four or more bodily systems, represents the extreme end of a continuum of somatoform severity.”  Richard J. Brown, Ph.D., Clin.Psy.D explains. As early as the 1800s, the idea of mind-body connection was well accepted in the causation of physical symptoms secondary to psychological conflicts. Experts believe that the mind is capable of transferring unwarranted feelings into physical manifestations when confronted with distress, anxiety and other forms of mental disturbances. This is where the word psychosomatic illnesses began.

Accurate enough, certain medical diseases are linked to stress and fatigue like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and some gastrointestinal conditions. However, if the person continues to experience severe and traumatic situations coupled with the maladaptive coping mechanism, these symptoms will prevail and can worsen in time. Some individuals would be reporting several pain symptoms all at once, unexplained pain in the different parts of the body, and appears to be anxious and restless to know every symptom there is. Sigmund Freud theorized that these persons are converting their psychological problems into physical symptoms, and is now called somatization.

 

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Types of Somatization Disorders

Somatic illnesses are seen in persons that have the following manifestations:

  • Physical symptoms that appear to be a significant medical illness, yet no organic basis as seen in diagnostic and laboratory tests.
  • Any stressful situations can almost trigger, aggravate, intensify, and maintains the symptoms.
  • Persons having these symptoms do not willfully cause them to happen, i.e., it’s beyond their conscious control.

Somatic symptom disorders are categorized into the following terms:

  1. Somatic Symptom Disorder. The condition is manifested as one or more physical complaints with no organic basis. Despite this assurance, the person is occupied with their current state and appears to be insignificant distress worrying about it.

 

  1. Conversion Disorder. In the case study presented in this article, James has a conversion disorder, and it’s being manifested as blindness. For an average individual to experience sudden illness, this can be an alarming situation. Nonetheless, those who have conversion disorder would display la belle indifference or lack of concern on the functional loss. The most common symptoms fall under sensory or motor deficits like loss of hearing and paralysis.

 

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  1. Pain Disorder. For persons with this type of somatoform condition, their major presentation is a pain in several locations of the body. They are not quickly relieved by analgesics and are much affected by problems and stressful situations. “Just like our feelings give us information about our needs, so do our bodies through physiological feedback,” says Eliza Chamblin, LCSW.

 

  1. Hypochondriasis, also known as illness anxiety disorder, is a combination of disease conviction and disease phobia. The person believes and would argue that he has a severe medical condition and will soon perish if not attended. These individuals would go into “doctor shopping” business and will get as many medical evaluations or professional opinions until they are satisfied with what they are hearing. The problem, nonetheless, is they seem not to be happy with any of the medical views and health assurances that are provided for them; thus, the condition persists. That is the reason why Sal Raichbach, PsyD states that “Sadly, only a small percentage of people actively seek professional help for their mental health problems.”

 

 

 

What You Need To Know About ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, popularly known as ADHD, is one of the most complicated and hard-to-understand conditions in the world. In fact, up to this day, a lot of people are still skeptical about it. Thankfully, an extensive scientific study already proved that this mental disorder is real and that it’s extremely common for kids and adults.  But as previously mentioned, ADHD is a very complicated condition; this is the main reason why it can be easily misunderstood and is quite hard to diagnose.

 

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