Category Archives: Mental Health

Articles relating to mental health are in this category. Typically they will fall into one of two categories. Yours, or your child’s. Yes, your mental health is important.

Symptoms v. Behaviors

Symptoms. Behaviors. What is the difference when you are speaking about a child? Since, I like to be clear what I am talking about, let’s go to the dictionary site merriam-webster.com to see what they say about the word symptom. Definition of symptom 1 a : subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance; broadly : something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder b : an evident reaction by a plant to a pathogen 2 a : something that indicates the existence of something else symptoms of an inner turmoil b : a slight indication : trace Then we look to meriam-webster.com to see what they also have to say about the word behavior. Definition of behavior 1 : the way in which someone conducts oneself or behaves (see behave 1) We were grateful for the gracious behavior of our hostess. The children were rewarded for good behavior. Be on

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On Suffering Childhood Abuse

Suffering childhood abuse, it’s a topic that is in the news every day. Especially now with all of the celebrities that are speaking out about the events that happened in their lives when they were first starting out. On social media, people are asking, “why wait 20, 25, or 30 years to talk about it?”  It’s simple really.  For most, it boils down to shame.  For others, fear.  I think, for celebrities, it would include their desire to continue to work in their chosen field. How do I know? I was abused for a period as a child.  I don’t broadcast it from the roof tops, in fact, I rarely speak about it.  When it happened, I disavowed anything happening to me at all.  Talking about such a thing as a child is rarely done until the person is into adulthood and trying to figure out why their life is

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Where is the failure? Thoughts on FASD

A year ago, David was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). It’s a developmental disorder he was born with because of the birth mom’s drug and alcohol usage during the pregnancy. If he had been diagnosed before age 3, he would have DD services. Right now, because he didn’t have that diagnosis, he doesn’t qualify. It is their belief that he is capable of being entirely self-sufficient. and he isn’t. He may be 16 physically, but he is about 6 or 7 in most ways, and 8 or 9 in others. In every other way, he qualifies for DD services.  Except, depending on the day and his affect, his IQ scores too high.  I make the argument that an IQ score alone doesn’t indicate self-sufficiency. FASD   Initially, for the first 9 years, we fought to keep things “normal” for him, which meant that while we saw doctors, we

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