ADHD Archives - Rice Psychology

With a New Year Comes a New Diet and Mindset!

on January 7, 2022 at 9:00 AM /

Today’s story is personal since it’s mine. Please consider it as it relates to this week’s topic. I’ve struggled with my weight since high school and have gone up, down, and practically sideways on the scale over the years. Breaking my leg in 2005 was a huge setback, and the effects of the weight gained that year have lingered. I’ve heard many people with poor diets and lack of exercise complain of feeling sluggish, both mentally and physically. Like many, there have been days when I’ve had particular trouble focusing and lacked the motivation to get off the couch. After speaking with...

Navigating ADHD: A Guide for Every Struggling Parent

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 4, 2021 at 12:27 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My child has been acting out in school recently and in public whenever we visit restaurants or stores. He doesn’t sit for long and doesn’t focus or listen to my directions. Every time I try to talk to him, he loses interest and starts playing with a nearby toy or game. Not only is it incredibly frustrating to help him in school, but it’s a little embarrassing, too. I feel like this is a reflection of me as a parent. His guidance counselor at school suggested having him evaluated because...

What Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is and How it Works

By Dr. Jordan Barnada

on September 6, 2021 at 9:01 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Mary gets the fifth call this week from her child’s preschool about her son hitting other kids, not listening to instructions, and generally being disruptive. She picks him up, tries to talk to him about what happened, and all he does is scream “No!” at her until she gives up. At the grocery store, her son continues to scream as he sits in the cart. Mary gets judgmental looks from other shoppers and does her best to ignore them but feels completely embarrassed. Finally, she hands her son her phone...

Complex ADHD: New Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 13, 2020 at 11:45 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Recently, my husband and I noticed that our 9-year old daughter was having difficulty paying attention, and she’s rarely able to sit still. At school, her teacher notified us that she was falling behind in class and recommended setting up a meeting with the school psychologist because she believed she might have ADHD. After some testing, she was officially diagnosed. To say that I’m scared is an understatement. What does this mean? How will this affect her life? The school psychologist informed us about some new ADHD guidelines that might...

Your Child’s ADHD: What it Takes to Adapt as a Parent

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 22, 2019 at 11:34 AM /

ADHD
Blog

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My husband and I recently found out that our 11-year old son, Ryan, has ADHD. It started with a call from his teacher saying that he wasn’t focusing enough in class despite having good grades on tests. We then had a meeting with the school psychologist who said Ryan was showing some behaviors that were similar to other children with ADHD, which was confirmed with a private child psychologist later on. It’s tough at times for sure, but with our son’s psychologist helping us out, it’s starting to get easier....

The Internet, Adult ADHD, and the Best Ways to Stay Focused

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 24, 2019 at 2:35 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I’m a registered nurse and, recently, I was assigned to a more administrative position that requires a lot of desk work. Before, I was always on my feet, going back and forth between patients and following a schedule that helped me take care of my responsibilities. Now, I’m in front of a computer most of my shift. As an adult with ADHD, this makes me nervous since I am easily distracted by the many things going on around me. With new duties that don’t really require following a typical...

ADHD in Girls and Women: How it Differs from What We Typically See in Boys and Men

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 7, 2018 at 11:57 AM /

ADHD
Blog

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I just got off the phone with Maggie’s teacher an hour ago. It’s the third time she’s called me this month and it’s always for the same reason. Apparently, Maggie is extremely chatty. Like, too chatty. I kind of figured it was normal for girls to be chatty. After all, she’s been this way since she learned to speak and became more talkative when she started elementary school. I’m starting to wonder if this is in some way related to her ADHD. I always assumed kids with ADHD were...

A Daily Routine: Helping to Keep Your ADHD at Bay

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 3, 2018 at 1:57 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. My wandering mind is no secret to any of my friends or family, and it can often keep me from completing even the smallest of things. However, my family told me that they started seeing a difference in me once I began to implement a routine for my days. You see, my ADHD can make things difficult, but by using a few strategies that I’ve learned from my therapist, I’ve been able to improve and keep things under control. It’s hard work, but now that my son has been diagnosed...

Dyslexia: What it is and How it Can be Treated

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 13, 2017 at 10:03 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. Today I received some worrying news. My 10-year old son, Christopher, was diagnosed with dyslexia. My husband and I were aware that there was an issue when his teacher brought to our attention that he was having some trouble in class. I’ll admit that we’re both terrified. Will he trail behind his schoolmates? Is he going to be held back a grade? Will he even be accepted into a college after high school? I know I’m getting ahead of myself, and Chris’s psychologist explained to us that he can still...

An Issue in Later Life: How You Can Deal with ADHD as an Adult

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 26, 2017 at 10:05 PM /

ADHD
Blog

When I was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as a kid, I didn’t know what to expect. All I remember was feeling terrified. I felt like as though something was seriously wrong with me that would make my life difficult to deal with. Luckily for me, it was easier to manage than I expected once I learned about ADHD and followed through on some of the tips my psychologist gave me. Now that I’m an adult, doing a few seemingly small things here and there like keeping distractions out of my way at work or making lists of...