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What do parents wish *all* clinicians knew about raising kids with ADHD? How can we ask more effective questions to learn about how ADHD symptoms are affecting a child's life at home and at school? We answer these questions and more in Part 3 of Child Mental Health talks w/ Parents about ADHD with Ashley and Lauren!

00:00 Advice for Parents and Clinicians

01:12 Advice for Clinicians from Ashley

05:17 The Importance of Community and Support

05:17 Navigating ADHD as a Parent

08:58 Advice for Parents and Clinicians

10:10 Encouragement for Parents to Seek Diagnosis and Treatment

10:10 The Role of Medication in ADHD Treatment

13:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Dr. Elise Fallucco talks with parents and neurodiversity advocates Ashley and Lauren about the concept of 'masking' symptoms in ADHD. They discuss how children, especially girls, consciously or unconsciously camouflage their ADHD symptoms to fit into social norms, and the emotional toll it takes. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, Ashley and Lauren reveal how they identified masking in their children and the impact it has on their emotional well-being and self-esteem. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing strengths and the therapeutic value of a diagnosis.

00:00 Talk with Parents about Masking of symptoms in ADHD

01:25 Masking Symptoms of ADHD

02:58 Noticing Behavioral Differences at Home and School

04:39 Masking Symptoms at School

06:51 Challenges in Diagnosing ADHD

09:43 Personal Experiences with ADHD

10:51 Struggles with ADHD and Masking

12:01 Understanding Executive Functioning Challenges

12:49 The Importance of Diagnosis and Labels

13:44 ADHD Superpowers in Children

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Understanding ADHD from a Parent's Perspective

In This episode of Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians, we begin a new series, 'Child Mental Health Talks with Parents,' featuring advocates Ashley and Lauren, who share their experiences raising children with ADHD. They discuss the creation of a Mental Health and Neurodiversity PTA committee, early signs of ADHD in their children, and practical insights for clinicians. Listen in to understand how morning routines and psychoeducational testing can aid in assessing ADHD, and stay tuned for more on masking and self-esteem in the next episode.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:33 Starting the Mental Health and Neurodiversity PTA Committee

03:40 Recognizing ADHD in Children

05:25 Executive Function Challenges

09:28 Gender Differences in ADHD

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In this episode, Dr. Fallucco dives into the nuances of ADHD in girls, explaining  why it is so important to recognize girls with ADHD, how girls with ADHD present with different symptoms than boys, and why girls often go undiagnosed. 

She highlights the importance of early recognition and treatment to reduce risks like suicide, drug abuse, accidents, and social struggles. Dr. Fallucco also discusses the subtle inattentive symptoms in girls, genetic risk factors, and ADHD 'superpowers' such as hyperfocus and creativity. 

Tune in to learn why it's crucial for clinicians to identify and treat ADHD early, especially in girls, to help them thrive academically, socially, and in life.

00:00 Introduction to ADHD in Girls

00:49 Why ADHD in Girls Matters

02:35 Challenges in Diagnosing Girls

03:19 Importance of Treatment

04:31 Recognizing ADHD in Girls

04:39 ADHD Subtypes and Gender Differences

04:54 Subtle Symptoms in Girls

06:25 Hyperactivity and Impulsivity in Girls vs. Boys

08:38 Which KIDS you should worry about who may have unrecognized ADHD

13:27 ADHD Superpowers

15:58 Final Thoughts and Pearls

17:17 Conclusion and Contact Information

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Do you have patients with severe ADHD who are just not getting better?  Did you know that they *might* have undiagnosed bipolar?  

In this episode, Dr. Fallucco and Dr. John Walkup talk about how to distinguish bipolar disorder in children and teens from ADHD. They provide clinical pearls for clinicians and share examples from kids and teens with bipolar.  

Some Key differences between ADHD and BIPOLAR highlighted include :

- the nature of relationships in ADHD vs. BIPOLAR

• Kids w/ ADHD tend to be fun, likable while kids with BIPOLAR have more serious problems in relationships, including with their own parents

-  extreme impulsivity

• Kids and teens with Bipolar have more extreme, intense impulsive aggression and emotional reactions

** Early identification and consultation with psychiatry is key to helping support these kids and families best.**

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Have you ever wondered if one of your patients has bipolar? On this episode, we talk about the red flags for bipolar - and questions you can ask to determine whether they may have bipolar. We discuss key signs such as the inability to regulate upside mood, decreased need for sleep, hypersexuality, and grandiosity, providing concrete examples and questions to help guide your clinical assessment. Join Dr. Elise Fallucco and Dr. John Walkup as they offer valuable insights into distinguishing bipolar disorder from other conditions like ADHD and anxiety.

00:00 50 - RED FLAGS for Bipolar w/ Dr. John Walkup

01:30 ***Not all MOOD SWINGS are bipolar***

02:10 RED FLAGS for BIPOLAR - Inability to regulate UPSIDE mood

02:28 Appetites for FUN and Mood

04:22 Energy Drive - Wake up ready to go

04:52 What Questions to Ask about SLEEP to see if they could have bipolar

06:03 Hypersexuality in KIDS presents as interest in romance

07:06 Grandiosity

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Welcome to our new segment called Mystery Case Files where we walk through a clinical case that presents a bit of mystery. Using the latest research and evidence, we discuss practical approaches to help YOU care for your patients effectively.

This episode features the case of a nine-year-old boy with anxiety who develops new onset of behavior problems. 

00:00 Introduction to Mystery Case Files

00:27 Today's Mystery case

00:27 Presenting the Case: A 9-Year-Old with Anxiety

00:54 Initial Thoughts and Differential Diagnosis

01:32 Reviewing the Patient's History

02:04 Choosing the Right Medication for Anxiety

02:10 What is the best medication for anxiety?

03:34 Four Weeks Later: Follow-Up Visit

03:58 Analyzing New Symptoms and Possible Causes

05:01 Is the anxiety medication making him worse?

05:26 Exploring ADHD and Medication Side Effects

07:09 Understanding Activation Syndrome

08:45 Pharmacokinetics and Genetic Factors

10:25 Solving the Mystery and Next Steps

11:02 Conclusion and Call to Action

Visit us on our website or message us with YOUR MYSTERY CASE that we can discuss!

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In this episode of Psyched for Peds, Dr. Elise Fallucco and her teenage son, Chase Fallucco, discuss the seasonal surge of mental health symptoms, termed the 'emotional flu,' impacting teenagers during October and November.  They discuss:

** What are the symptoms and signs of the emotional flu?

** Why are October and November high-risk periods for the Emotional Flu?

** What can we do to "vaccinate" teens against the Emotional Flu?

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It's time to talk about the mental health impact of *parenting*... and what we can do about it. Join me and our special guest, Ashley, a working mom, as we explore practical tools and exercises to recognize and address signs of BURNOUT.  This episode is for parents AND for all of us who need to take care of ourselves so that we can care for others.  We talk about practical tools like:

** The stress continuum: Are you green, yellow, orange, or red?

** 'What's on your plate' or 'What's on your mind?': Exercises to assess and reprioritize responsibilities. 

*** Self-care that WORKS to recharge mentally and physically:  including social connections, creative expression, and exercise 

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If you think you may be experiencing burnout, what can you do? To answer this question, Dr. Fallucco discusses strategies to combat healthcare burnout with Dr. Jessi Gold, Chief Wellness Officer at the University of Tennessee Health System. 

 WE discuss:
*  That systemic changes in Healthcare are urgently needed to reduce burnout.
*  Individual strategies to address burnout in the current healthcare system including:
----- practicing self-reflection -  and asking, "How Do *I* feel?" and "How is my job affecting my health?"  
-----practicing self-compassion and gratitude, which can help counterbalance the natural tendency for our brain to focus on negative things and threats, 
---  We discuss the “Three Good Things” exercise which  can help reduce burnout and increase well-being. Three Good Things and other free tools are available at the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality online at: https://hsq.dukehealth.org/tools/ 

Dr. Jessi Gold is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UT Health Science Center. Dr. Gold is not only a psychiatrist, but she is a mental health advocate and fantastic writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, InStyle, Slate, and Self. 

https://www.drjessigold.com/
@drjessigold

Dr. Gold's new memoir is called
 How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine available on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982199776?tag=simonsayscom

Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds