It has long been known by every scientist and autism specialist that autism strikes boys more often than girls. In fact, boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism. But when girls do get autism, they tend to be at the more severely affected end of the spectrum. What has never been clear is why. But now, a ...
Continue Reading →Many people get nervous or feel self-conscious now and then, especially before giving a speech, attending a job interview or meeting their significant other’s friends and family. But social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, involves intense fear of certain social situations—especially situations that are unfamiliar or in which you think you’ll be watched and judged by others. But even those with severe social anxiety disorder can learn to overcome it and be comfortable in social situations.
But is it just ...
Continue Reading →It’s one thing to take care of your own mental health and well-being. If you have healthy habits, stay away from addictive substances and see your Costa Mesa therapist, you’re probably feeling good about your overall health. Unfortunately, you can’t control the mental health of others, and you’re bound to come across some difficult people in your everyday life. Whether it’s a colleague, a family member or someone in your social circle, here are five tips for dealing with ...
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From smoking during pregnancy to additives lurking on food, there is quite a bit of speculation about what causes ADHD—but no one knows of a sure cause. All we can do is treat ADHD through proper diagnosis, sessions with a mental health therapist and medication, if necessary. But recently, scientists at Trinity College Dublin discovered that a mutation in a single ...
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Recently, researchers studied playground interactions between children with autism and their peers. They found that peer solicitation—specifically, a child inviting another child to play—can improve reciprocal social interaction among autistic children. The study was published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
While the children with autism did engage in less play than their typically developing peers, other children facilitated and increased their ...
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The beginning of a new year means fresh starts and focusing on our goals. And while it’s true that making resolutions can be stressful and lead to disappointment, setting realistic short-term and long-term goals can be very beneficial. Whether or not you’re in treatment at a counseling center, making mental health resolutions is just as important as setting goals ...
We are always advised to “pay it forward,” meaning commit random acts of kindness for strangers and friends. Not only does a random act of kindness make the recipient feel happy and grateful, but it has been said to make the givers feel better about themselves, too. The holiday season is a time when people are especially encouraged to pay it forward ...
Continue Reading →When a child is diagnosed with autism, certain traits are to be expected: sensory issues, language development delays and lack of social skills, for example. Unfortunately, there are also a number of other conditions that can accompany someone on the autism spectrum. While these conditions are rare, they are certainly worth mentioning to your child’s Orange County psychiatrist and pediatrician if you have any concerns.
Seizures. One in four children on the autism spectrum will develop seizures, often starting early ...
Continue Reading →The holiday season can be a wonderful time. Families are reunited, parties are thrown, meaningful gifts are exchanged and there is an abundance of delicious food available. But to someone prone to stress and anxiety, or anyone with a mental illness, the holidays can be terribly triggering and can lead to some unhealthy behaviors. It’s very important to form healthy habits, both for our physical and mental health, that carry us through the holiday season.
First, if you have an eating ...
Continue Reading →An innovative method of treating people on the autism spectrum is currently being studied, and it shows a lot of promise. The autism treatment, developed by Dr. Laurence Sugarman, will attempt to turn autistic children’s symptoms into strengths, leading to a productive adulthood and better quality of life. This method teaches affected children how to control their psychophysiology and behavior using computerized biofeedback and clinical hypnosis.
Dr. Sugarman developed his method in response to the recent increase in autism spectrum ...
Continue Reading →One of the most frustrating things about Alzheimer’s Disease is the inability to cure or prevent it. Until we find a way to stop it from happening, the best we can do is attempt to slow its progression. A new pilot study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggests that brain changes associated with meditation may play an important role in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
It is well known that meditating causes change ...
Continue Reading →Whether they’re going through a crisis or they have unresolved issues or erratic behavior, you probably have some friends who would benefit from therapy. And while it’s certainly not your place to solve your friends’ problems, if someone you love needs help, suggesting they see a mental health therapist could really improve their life. But since it may offend them or cause them to get defensive, approaching the topic can be scary and difficult.
The key is to be sensitive ...
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