Picture a jar full of marbles: Each marble represents a difficult feeling or emotion—grief, anger, or guilt, to name a few. Now, imagine the last person who upset or hurt you: They knock the jar over, the glass shatters, and the marbles spill out all over the floor. They quickly…
Hyperfixation is a unique state of mind that goes far beyond a simple hobby or interest. Unlike casual interests, hyperfixations are intense, obsessive, and persistent—often taking precedence over everyday tasks and responsibilities. While commonly linked to conditions like ADHD, hyperfixation can happen to both neurodivergent and neurotypical people, shaping how…
Dopamine detoxes are all over social media, with many influencers talking about doing a “five-day dopamine detox” in which they stay away from social media, podcasts, TV, processed food, and other things that feel unhealthy or take up too much of their free time. The practice, sometimes called dopamine fasting,…
You’re standing in the kitchen, making coffee as you scroll through your Instagram feed and reply to a quick work email. Then—ding!—a reminder about tomorrow’s dentist appointment pops up, immediately followed by a breaking news notification and two direct messages from your boss. Suddenly, the lights seem a little too…
If your provider discusses prescribing Wellbutrin, you might wonder how it compares with Adderall and if Wellbutrin gives you energy like Adderall. Although Wellbutrin and Adderall belong to different groups of medications, they do work in some similar ways. Both medications are considered norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRI)….
Procrastination is a common work habit that most everyone engages in from time to time. It’s a habit that’s easy to get into, as the pattern of procrastination can build on itself and make it harder and harder to do things when you need to. Whatever is causing you to…
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and its diagnosis often requires a thorough examination of the individual’s history, symptoms, and functioning in different areas of life. If you’re in therapy already (or are considering starting), you might be wondering: Can a therapist diagnose ADHD? In most cases, they can. Learn more…
“Laziness” is a term that is often placed on “unproductive,” undesirable behavior, though it’s relatively rare that someone doesn’t want to be active or productive solely because they prefer not to. Rather, when someone avoids tasks or has a hard time getting things done, they may be experiencing symptoms from…
Your 12-year-old son keeps getting in trouble at school — for picking on his classmates, lying to his teacher, and even stealing other kids’ things. You think he’s just “acting out.” Until you find out he’s been sneaking out at night for the last 6 months. It becomes apparent that…
It’s easy to want your children to thrive; it’s harder to know exactly how to help them achieve their full potential. Parents, grandparents, and other caregivers aren’t always given the resources to identify and find treatment for mental health issues in kids. The Covid-19 pandemic shone a much-needed spotlight on…
A toddler who gets overwhelmed when she hears a lawnmower. A kindergartner who can’t read your facial expressions. A grade-schooler who repeats the same phrase over and over. A teenager who will only wear one color. These can all be signs of neurodivergence: natural variations in the human brain. At…
Just because the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be over, doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. And if you’ve got children, you may be underestimating the ways in which virtual learning might’ve affected their social skills and sense of independence. The development of socialization skills, along with…
