General Articles

Mental health has changed in the past ten years, but not for the better. More youth are struggling with their mental health. Anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, once rare or extreme, are now heartbreakingly common. Ask any teacher, parent, coach, or school counselor. Today's youth are under pressure like never before, and many are barely holding it together.

I should state this openly. Listening is a real challenge for teens. Not because they don't want to listen or have no value for their parents, but because as teens they are engineered to become independent, create their own point of view, and push the limits. At this stage of development, their brains are just beginning to develop. Their brains are changing rapidly and there are many factors..

Daily life feels louder than it used to. Schedules are tighter, expectations higher, and the space to recover from stress keeps shrinking. Adults feel it in their bodies and moods, but children live inside...

A wave of mixed emotions often accompanies the holidays. There’s the glow of twinkling lights, beloved traditions, and precious time with people we love. But right beside all that beauty, there’s often stress, fatigue, and the creeping pressure...

Parents imagine there will be a clear moment when their child is finally ready for a phone, some tidy milestone that signals the rules can ease up. But no such moment arrives. A new study in Pediatrics makes that uncertainty...

Sarah looked at her overflowing closet, feeling unsatisfied even though she had more clothes than she could wear in a month. Across town, Marcus refreshed his investment portfolio for the hundredth time that day, his modest gains somehow failing to satisfy his hunger for more...

Over the past few decades, I've devoted my professional life to studying and applying resilience, not as an abstract concept, but as something real and deeply human. In my work with Dr. Bob Brooks, we've asked the same core question repeatedly: What helps...

Picture this: you’re standing in line at a coffee shop, barely awake, already regretting that extra Netflix episode last night. You need caffeine. Suddenly, someone elbows past you, grabs a croissant with their bare hand, and barks...

When children struggle—whether through tantrums, withdrawal, aggression, or inattention—adults often rush to interpret their behavior. We label it, diagnose it, or call it disrespect. We say it’s ADHD, defiance, laziness, or trauma. We draw lines between the...

Happiness is one of the most sought-after states of being, yet it remains elusive for many. We pursue success, wealth, and grand achievements, believing these will bring us joy. But do they? Research indicates that while significant accomplishments...

At first glance, the idea of universal sameness might seem idyllic. If everyone thought, looked, and acted the same, we would surely avoid conflict, simplify communication, and streamline decision-making. A homogeneous...

The complexities of human higher cognitive functioning—reasoning, problem-solving, and creativity—have long captivated researchers and clinicians. A growing body of evidence suggests that...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been characterized by three core behavioral challenges: attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. These are the hallmarks clinicians often cite when diagnosing...

Imagine you are tasked with designing an intelligence test—not for the modern era, but for humans who lived 100,000 years ago. What questions would you ask? What abilities would you measure? In a world where survival depended on...

This month's article has been co-authored with my friend, co-author and colleague, Dr. Robert Brooks. It was prompted by our next scheduled appearance on the parent webinar...

As President Joe Biden approaches the twilight of his presidency, he faces a defining crossroads that will shape his legacy and the public perception of his leadership in the years to come. A storied career spanning ...

In a world teeming with life, from the smallest microorganisms to the most majestic creatures roaming land and sea, one species stands apart: humans. Our existence on Earth is a remarkable anomaly, a convergence of intellect, emotion, and creativity that defines what it means to be human. While we share the planet ...

As President Biden's term nears its conclusion, one can't help but wonder how a leader might make their final days in office genuinely unforgettable. While most outgoing presidents focus on ensuring a smooth transition ...

After nearly fifty years of working with children, I've learned more than I could have imagined when I began my journey as a neuropsychologist. Children have been my most outstanding teachers, showing me the world through their eyes, full of wonder, resilience, and unfiltered honesty...

For centuries, intelligence has been considered the hallmark of human capability, traditionally measured in logical reasoning, problem-solving, and the ability to memorize and process information. From standardized IQ tests to educational systems built...

The concept of "microaggressions" has gained significant attention recently, especially within social, academic, and professional discourse. Initially introduced in the 1970s...

In our modern world, where knowledge and technology have given us unprecedented control over many aspects of life, the notion that specific questions may forever remain unanswered is particularly disconcerting...

The principle that "no one is above the law" has long been heralded as a cornerstone of democratic societies, epitomizing fairness and justice. This hypothesis suggests that everyone, irrespective of their status, wealth, or influence, is subject to...

In an era of digital omnipresence and insatiable consumption of reality television, society's perception of personal values and morals has undergone a significant transformation. Gone are the days when individuals, shielded by...

Concerns have arisen regarding President Biden's physical, cognitive, and emotional presentation in recent months, particularly during the recent presidential debate. Observers noted instances where he struggled with concentration, to speak clearly and recall information promptly. These...

Alzheimer's disease, a relentless and progressive neurodegenerative disorder, affects millions worldwide and poses a significant public health challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 50 million people...

Family rituals—those repeated, meaningful activities that families engage in together—are crucial in promoting mental and physical health among family members. It's important to note that rituals are different from routines. While routines...

Two-year-old Emma decided it was time to showcase her independence by mastering the art of putting on her shoes at the precise moment her parents were rushing to leave the house. With the focus of a seasoned professional,...

Grasping the nuanced difference between fairness and equality, two pivotal concepts often discussed in the context of social justice and democracy, is a crucial first step...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century, parenting has become an increasingly complex journey akin to navigating uncharted waters. The relentless pace of technological advancements, significant shifts in societal norms, and the overwhelming ...

Children today, as they prepare for adulthood, are navigating a world that is drastically different from what previous generations experienced. The rapid pace of ...

In today's world, it seems that everyone has a burgeoning interest in entering the realm of politics. The allure of shaping societal direction, influencing public policy, and holding a position of power appears to captivate many, from young idealists ...

In a small town, a young boy named Leo, was known for his mischievous behavior. He would disrupt classes, play pranks on the adults, and never seemed to listen to anyone. His actions troubled his ...

After forty-five years of clinical practice evaluating and treating thousands of people of all ages, I have come to the realization that trauma of any sort, mental or physical steals away three, often difficult to quantify, fundamental human needs,: trust, safety, and control...

In today's fast-paced world, the pursuit of happiness more often than not, is the focal point of the human endeavor. Be it career choices, romantic relationships, or even buying a cup of coffee, the ultimate goal boils down to....

In the intricate web of human relations, few forces are as potent and transformative as belief. Rooted deep within the psyche, beliefs shape perceptions, mold behaviors, and ultimately dictate the trajectories of individuals and societies alike. Alarmingly, when....

Last month, my friend and co-writer, Dr. Bob Brooks and I wrote about five qualities that make us uniquely human. We offered these as an extension of the ideas we proposed in our recent book, Tenacity in Children. This prompted us to think about how these qualities might define....

What makes us human? A simple answer from a genetic perspective is our 23 pairs of chromosomes containing countless genes. However, as most of us realize, this definition falls far short of appreciating the complexity of....

In our recent book (Tenacity in Children; www.TenacityInChildren.com), Bob Brooks and I opined over-thousands and thousands of generations parents prepared their children for adult life. Children would learn by example....

Parenthood is not only a journey of nurturing and guiding our children, preparing them for adult life but also a path on which...

As with any complex issue, there has been a lot of talk lately about whether artificial intelligence will ultimately take over...

Whether designed by a higher Creator or the product of millions of years of evolution, our genes have but one primary goal. They seek to continue their existence. To do so successfully requires them to...

Last month I recorded and posted a short Tik Tok video on my page, @CommonSenseScience, about politicians. I started this page a few months ago to...

The addition of new diagnoses in psychiatry is not a rare event. Afterall the first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of the American Psychiatric Association, published in 1952 was 130 pages containing a 106 single listed-disorders. The Revised Fifth Edition of this manual is...

A parent I was consulting with recently expressed worry about her 7-year-old’s friendships. She asked: "He seems to enjoy school for the most part and...

If a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If you smile behind your N95 are you really smiling? Neurologist Debashish Mridha writes “A smile has a magical power; it makes everyone smile back.” But what if...

This month’s article, co-authored with my friend and colleague Dr. Robert Brooks, was prompted by an idea advanced by author and publisher Arianna Huffington. The latter proclaimed Resilience the word of the year in 2020. Recently, she elaborated on that word by designating Resilience+ as the word of the year for 2021, adding, “Resilience+ is my leading contender for word of the decade.”...

I awoke one morning this past week with a vivid memory of a dream I had during the previous night. A family came to see me to have their ten-year old son evaluated. Nothing out of the ordinary for me as I evaluate nearly 200 children each year in my Center. Most are children with complex medical and developmental problems. I sometimes refer to these children as...

School is really not easy these days. Many students have been out of school for a long time because of the pandemic, and the continued disruptions and anxieties are still breaking the flow of normal learning. What can parents do to help their children thrive and excel in school, particularly during these challenging and anxiety-provoking times?

It sometimes feels like it is so hard to avoid feeling down or depressed these days. Between the sad news coming from world headlines, the impact of the ongoing raging pandemic, and the constant negative messages popping up on social and traditional media, it sometimes feels like...

Millions of Americans are returning back to work after being home during the pandemic. While this has been exciting for many, some are feeling burned out by their work. What do you do if you are feeling burned out by your work? How do you reverse it? How can you “get your mojo back”? What can employers do to help their staff reverse burnout?

This article is the third in a series that my colleague and friend Dr. Robert Brooks and I have co-authored to share some thoughts about the concept of tenacity as introduced in our most recent book, Tenacity in Children: Nurturing the Seven Instincts for Lifetime Success. In April we described the...

In last month’s article, my friend and colleague Dr. Robert Brooks and I introduced the concept of tenacity as described in our most recent book Tenacity in Children: Nurturing the Seven Instincts for Lifetime Success. The book incorporated our earlier writings about resilience and self-discipline to include tenacity as the third component of what we have labeled the “essential triad of human development.”

This month’s article, co-authored with my friend and colleague Dr. Robert Brooks describes tenacity, a concept we introduced in our most recent and fourteenth book Tenacity in Children: Nurturing the Seven Instincts for Lifetime Success. The book represents a culmination of ...

In March and April 2020, mental health claims for teens aged 13-18 in the United States, as a percentage of all medical claims, approximately doubled over the same months in the previous year. At the height of the spring wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, this rise in mental health claims amounted to 97.0% in March and 103.5% in April! ...

Stress distorts our thinking. The COVID-19 pandemic not only stresses us about our health and finances but our very survival as a society. We all can identify with the emotional, physical and cognitive impact of stress on our bodies and ...

The COVID 19 pandemic not only worries us about our health but our very survival as a society. We all can identify with the emotional, physical and cognitive impact of stress on our bodies and minds. In stressful situations we ...

A few days ago, I visited with a young teen I’ve been working with over the past year. Despite strong intelligence and achievement, this young man struggles with anxiety and friendships. His mother reported ...

“I’m not happy.” How many times have you heard that from your children? Your spouse? Or thought so to yourself? Why is happiness so important to us? And for that matter what exactly is happiness? ...

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the current standard of treatment for ADHD in children, as a combination of medication, behavioral therapy, parent training and educational support. The quest to create and ...

Over the past twenty years, video gaming has become the number one pastime, not only among adults but among children and teenagers. For all ages, playing video games has overtaken all other leisure time activities, including ...

In May 2015 Craig Clyde, Graham Russell and I set out on an artistic journey culminating in our rock musical, A Wall Apart. Our musical features a soaring score of original songs by Graham, founder of the acclaimed rock group “Air Supply,” His score, coupled ...

Over the past twenty-three years, I have had the honor of serving as Managing Editor and now Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Attention Disorders. Along with my mentor, the late Keith Conners, we started the Journal as an alternative outlet for research on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and...

Dr. Jeremy Walsh, a Professor at the University of British Columbia, along with his colleagues, recently published a health study of over 4,500 U.S. children, ages 8 to 11 years conducted between September, 2016 and September, 2017. Their findings help us appreciate the complexity of the challenges facing children...

“I like learning, I just don’t like school.” A 12-year-old student with significant learning disabilities...

I originally wrote and published this essay on the first anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers in New York City. On this the seventeenth anniversary of this tragedy I thought it would be fitting to post this essay again with a postscript.

I had the opportunity of evaluating Alan, an eleven-year-old, fifth grader. Though quite bright and academically accomplished, Alan was struggling in school due to very poor organizational skills....

The human brain represents the product of an ongoing, six billion year construction project. In its physical form and function the human brain represents millions upon millions of trial and error adaptive adjustments. Comprised of an estimated...

In our books, chapters and articles over the last eighteen years, Bob Brooks and I have again and again emphasized the power of human connections. This is equally true for parents and children, husbands and wives, friends and colleagues...

Executive function (EF) has come to be an umbrella term used for a diversity of hypothesized cognitive processes, including planning, working memory, attention, inhibition, self-monitoring, self-regulation, and initiation carried out by prefrontal areas of the...

Childhood aggression, particularly children aggressing against other children, has long been a significant clinical and social problem. Over the past fifteen years the emphasis and focus of this problem has shifted...

In the past few months, two important large surveys about youth today have been published. The first, completed by the American Psychological Association, addressed stress in children. The second, completed by the...

The late Dr. Julius Segal coined the term charismatic adult to describe adults from whom a child gathers strength. Segal defined the role of a charismatic adult further to note that this person is someone a child identifies...

School Discipline Means the Rod and Cane for Too Many Youth A number of months ago the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Watch released a report about corporal punishment of children in American Schools. Astonishingly the...

The Importance of Understanding Temperament in Raising Children Sam Goldstein, Ph.D. I recently had the opportunity to spend five days with my wife vacationing on a sunny beach in Mexico. Now that my children are...