If you’re looking to improve your mental health and overall well-being, one of the best things you can do is track how you’re feeling. Not only does this allow you to identify any issues you might be experiencing and set goals for how to resolve them, but it can also help you analyze how you’re progressing toward those goals. Here...[ read more ]
You may have heard about the benefits of setting boundaries with family, friends, and coworkers—by communicating your needs and wants, you can boost your self-esteem, prioritize your mental and emotional health, and improve your overall well-being. In the long run, boundaries can also enhance the relationships you have with those around you since they can help you feel respected instead...[ read more ]
Rumination involves obsessively thinking about negative experiences and feelings. Some people replay events that occurred in the past, while others worry about situations that could potentially occur in the future. Rumination tends to have a snowball effect—certain mental health conditions (including generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder) can cause someone to ruminate, and rumination can in turn worsen the...[ read more ]
Chicago Child Psychiatry Associates Welcomes Caroline Rowland, Certified Nurse Practitioner, to Our Child Psychiatry and Young Adults Team Chicago Child Psychiatry Associates, owned by Dr. Amer Smajkic, is a leading provider of child and young adult mental health services with 10 years of patient excellence awards. We are thrilled to announce the addition of Caroline Rowland, APN, PMHNP-BC, to our...[ read more ]
Have you recently gone through a divorce, a broken engagement, or a breakup? The loss of a romantic relationship can be especially difficult because we spend so much time with our significant others, so a separation can impact many aspects of our lives and leave us feeling like our world has been turned upside down. Not only do we have...[ read more ]
You’ve probably heard of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (more commonly referred to as “ADHD”). This very common mental disorder often causes difficulty focusing, excessive movement, and poor impulse control. But did you know that ADHD may also increase creativity? Researchers are still working to determine whether there’s a definitive link between ADHD and creativity, but many studies suggest that individuals with...[ read more ]
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a type of mental disorder that can cause excessive movement and make it difficult for someone to focus and control their impulses. For many people, ADHD can also make it hard to stay organized—deadlines are missed, projects are started but not completed, and piles of clutter make it impossible to find important items. Fortunately, there...[ read more ]
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) can cause a child to frequently exhibit anger, irritability, and defiance against their parents and other authority figures. Children with this disorder often argue and act spitefully or vindictively, making it difficult to maintain relationships and causing issues at home, at school, and in other areas of life. ODD Causes & Risk Factors Researchers...[ read more ]
Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life? If so, you’re not alone. According to Mental Health America (MHA), almost 40% of U.S. adults who are employed full time reported working 50+ hours a week, and 18% work 60+ hours. Despite how common it is for people to work long hours, having a healthy work-life balance is...[ read more ]
Co-parenting can present obstacles at any time of the year, but it tends to be especially difficult on birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. Here are a few tips for how to approach your next big event: Decide on a schedule ahead of time. Chances are good that your co-parenting schedule will already be laid out in your custody...[ read more ]