The entertainment world and the general public have been reeling over the deaths of three iconic figures in the past week. It has been rather remarkable to notice the recent press coverage related to the deaths of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon. At a time when patient after patient seems to come into my office with a tale of woe related to the current economic climate, the topics that really affect our financial and emotional well-being get put to the side. [Read More]

June may indeed be the month when the kids are out of school and the summer fun begins. To many, June is also the month when weddings are held and anniversaries eventually celebrated. Having now been married for thirty-two years, it is interesting to look back to the beginning of our marriage and how things have changed with the state of relationships during that time. [Read More]

Many parents look forward to the day when the school year is over, they can spend more time with their children and the challenges revolving around school take a respite for two to three months. Or, so it seems. It is tough getting up, and it is even tougher getting a child up and ready to take to school. But the structure of the school day would typically keep the kids on task and, barring some unforeseen circumstances, keep them out of contact for several hours. For many parents, the real fun only begins when the kids come home from school. [Read More]

Summertime is upon us. With it comes a variety of questions about how patients should take their medications during these months. Some patients ask about the necessity of taking ADHD medications when school is not in session. They wonder if it is alright to take time off from their medicine. I remind them that ADHD is a 24/7 condition. Just because school is out for the summer doesn't mean your ADHD will take the time off as well. Others ask about trying to taper down medications--often anti-depressants--during the summer. This is a strategy I am more willing to consider. For some, stress is lessened during the summer. The combination of less-structured time and longer days is more likely to make people feel good enough that they want to see how they might do off their medications. [Read More]

Another Memorial Day weekend has come and gone. For most students around the country, the school year has already concluded or it will be over fairly soon. For those who have been diagnosed and treated for ADHD, this time of the year has often marked the start of another holiday season--a "drug holiday" from the medication they have taken during the school year. There was a time when ADHD was thought of as a school condition that was only seen in the population under age 18. Just as schools had the policy of "no pass, no play" when it came to eligibility for sports, parents and some clinicians went by the policy of "no school, no meds" when it came to ADHD. [Read More]