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Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is characterized by the development of severe anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms that occurs within one month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stress-event (e.g., witnessing a death or serious accident). As a response to the traumatic event, the person develops dissociative symptoms. Individuals with ASD have a decrease in emotional responsiveness, often finding it difficult or impossible to experience pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, and frequently feel guilty about pursuing usual life tasks. An individual with ASD may experience difficulty concentrating, feel detached from their bodies, experience the world as unreal or dreamlike, or have increasing difficulty recalling specific details of the traumatic event (dissociative amnesia). In addition, at least one symptom from each of the symptom clusters required for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is present: 1. The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced (e.g...

Work problems, getting married, going away to school, an illness — any number of life changes can cause stress. Most of the time, individuals adjust to such changes within a few months. But if you continue to feel down or self-destructive, you may have an Adjustment Disorder (AD). An AD is a type of stress-related mental illness. You may feel anxious or depressed, or even have thoughts of suicide. You may not be able to go about some of your daily routines, such as work or seeing friends. Or you may make reckless decisions. In essence, you have a hard time adjusting to change in your life, and it has serious consequences. You don't have to tough it out on your own, though. Treatment of an AD may help you regain your emotional footing. Most adults get better within just a few months, although teens may struggle longer. Treatment may also help prevent an AD from becoming a more serious problem. Symptoms— The signs and symptoms of ADs vary from person to person. The symptoms y...

" I have a daughter who has been a problem since the age of 15 …she is now 27yrs …has a 2yr old daughter …she dumped the child and went to stay with boyfriend …doesn’t even contribute a cent to this child and I find myself having to start all over again raising a child. I don’t like this situation, but I feel sorry for the child …what can I do in this situation?" Click here for my response...

Adolescents in Trouble: Criminal Behavior Links to sites providing information helpful in understanding, preventing, and coping with criminal behavior in adolescents . Websites— ·          American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center - articles, pending legislation, and a nice annotated list of links related to juvenile justice. ·          Juvenile Justice - by the (U.S.) National Criminal Justice Reference Service ·          Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse - Many links including those to departments of juvenile justice by state. ·          U.S. Juvenile Justice Law - Legal Information Institute, Cornell law School Information and Stats— ·          Kids and Firearms - American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ·       ...

Your adult child just graduated from college. He isn’t sure he knows what to do, and he is asking you for money every few weeks. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent?  Here are some tips to help your adult child be more independent: Be There— While I am not recommending that you are there with open wallet any time your adult child has a financial crisis, you can and need to be there to listen and offer advice where it is required. Helping your adult child out by listening and providing emotional support is just as important and better for them in the long run. Remember back to your own early days out on your own. It may have been hard, you may have “borrowed” an awful lot shampoo from your roommate, but you survived it, and your adult child will too. Gone, but Not Gone— What about the adult child who IS out on her own, but is still relying on mom and dad for financial assistance? Perhaps the job doesn’t pay enough for rent, utilities, ca...

Five days ago I found several receipts where my 17 yo daughter (will be 18 in 3 mos.) has used my debit card to take money from our bank account. I also found a check where she forged my husband’s name. She admitted to it. We told her we were either going to send her away to get help for this and all the other problems she is involved in OR that we were going to file charges against her. She emailed us after the confrontation (where we both remained poker faced). She begged not to be sent away, acknowledged that she needed to changed, and took verbal responsibility for her actions and apologized for blaming us for her behavior. Yeah, very heartwarming, but as you say, and as I already know: THEY LIE. Now my husband has changed his mind and does not want to follow thru with filing charges. He does not want to get involved in the "system". My heart does not want to put her thru the ordeal of filing charges etc., but my intellect says she must face the consequences...