As August comes around, our thoughts tend to turn away from summer fun and drift more toward the start of yet another school year. I certainly remember the days when the school year basically went from Labor Day to Memorial Day and that schedule still exists in certain parts of the country. However, more and more schools are beginning earlier and earlier in August. This gives students a better chance to complete a semester before the winter break and not have to return for a short time period before taking finals. Also, with all of the days the kids have off for everything from teacher workdays to holidays to mid-winter breaks, it's no wonder why classes begin earlier to factor in those off days. These "Back to School" days can be very trying for students, parents, and even teachers. [Read More]

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of being a regular guest on a cable morning television show. We usually discuss sports during one segment and an issue related to psychiatry in the second segment. Most recently, we talked about the issues of self-confidence, self-esteem, and social anxiety as there had been requests from viewers and listeners of the show to take a look at these subjects. [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]