Debra Moore
Biography
Articles
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Mario's Story
Fact Sheet 19 (FS19)September 2002Mario's StoryMario is 10 years old. When he was 7, his family learned he had AD/HD. At the time, he was driving everyone crazy. At school, he couldn't stay in his [more]
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
You've probably heard the term 'shell shocked' used to refer to veterans traumatized by war experiences. After the Vietnam War, the term 'post traumatic stress disorder' began to be used. Most folks... [more]
Auditory Processing Disorder - If Your Child Has Speech Problems, Read This
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is the term for a condition in which sounds and speech are not properly processed by the brain so that they can be made sense of. Professionals are just becoming... [more]
Does Venting Your Anger Help? The Answer May Surprise You!
Somewhere along the line people got the idea that psychologists advise folks to freely vent their anger. To "let it all hang out". Or as Mark Twain said "when angry count to four - when very angry,... [more]
We Can All Be Childlike During the Holidays
Children love the holidays. They anticipate the festivities with excitement and delight. They are able to dream of the future and simultaneously enjoy the moment. This may be a busy time of the year... [more]
Helping Kids Cope With Divorce
Over one million children annually experience divorce. Yet it is doubtful that even 5% of them receive professional counseling or support during this time. This is in spite of the fact that for most... [more]
It Takes Two - Couples and Conflict
Couples and CommunicationA woman came to a divorce attorney. "Do you have grounds?" the attorney asked. "Oh yes, we have half an acre." The lawyer paused, then continued. "Do you have a grudge?" The... [more]
Panic Attacks - What Are They?
Panic attacks are a set of symptoms that come on suddenly, putting your body into a red flag alert stance. The symptoms build to a peak rapidly, usually in ten minutes or less, although it can feel... [more]
General Information on Anxiety Disorders
Everybody feels anxious at times. Anxiety is a normal part of life and a helpful part. It alerts us, helps us organize ourselves, mobilize our resources and take action. For example - a person int [more]
Panic Disorder and Use of Health Care
Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center looked at how men and women with panic attacks use the health care system.The patients were interviewed in their homes over a two-year... [more]
The Mysteries of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
To the observer, obsessive-compulsive disorder can be fascinating. To the sufferer, it can be torture. Although we have come to use the terms obsessive and compulsive in everyday language, few people... [more]
The Bipolar Child - a Checklist of Warning Signs
There is no standard test for bipolar disorder. This checklist, printed in a recent Time Magazine article on Bipolar Disorder in children, was adapted from the book "The Bipolar Child".If you... [more]
Violent Children Are Not A Mystery
We think of violent children as mysteries and shocking anomalies. But as yet another schoolground tragedy confronts us, the realization of a chilling trend is becoming unavoidable. Juvenile crime has... [more]
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Also called manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder affects almost 2 million Americans. Typically starting in the teen years or early adulthood, it often continues throughout a person's life.... [more]
The Blues, the Blahs, and Depression
We all feel blue or down at times. Perhaps we've been under the weather, or experienced a rejection or are having financial difficulties. During these periods we may accomplish less than usual and... [more]
Myths About Depression
DEPRESSION IS JUST A BAD CASE OF THE BLUES We throw the word depression around casually. Let's use the analogy of how a rich dessert can produce a mood change vs. the condition of diabetes. The... [more]
Early Warning Signals (of Depression) You May Overlook
There are many early warning signals of depression that are usually overlooked or attributed to other causes. They include:changes in our speaking patternsfor unipolar depression:speak [more]
Borderline Personality Disorder - A Guide for Families
A personality disorder is a cluster of traits or behaviors, which are characteristic both of a person's recent (past year) and long-term functioning. To be classified as a disorder, the traits must... [more]
Coping After a Trauma
What exactly is a trauma? Many types of experiences can be traumatic. Any situation in which you are exposed to actual or threatened death or serious injury is usually very traumatic. Some traumas... [more]
When a Child's Pet Dies
You can help your child cope with the death of a beloved pet by following some simple guidelines: * When a pet is seriously ill or aging, begin to prepare your child. Talk about the day Smokey won't... [more]
The Stages Of Grieving
Even though we are all different, grieving can sometimes follow a loose pattern. You will go through you grief in your own unique way, but it may be reassuring to know that others may follow similar... [more]
Understanding Your Child's Grief
If your child has experienced the death of a family member, friend, or neighbor, you can expect that they will experience grief. But if we expect a child's grief to look like that of an adult's we... [more]
12 Self-help Suggestions for Coping with Trauma or Loss
1. Be gentle with yourself. Realize you are merely human and you are having normal, human reactions. Be aware of any harsh judgments you are making about your reactions or the reactions of others... [more]
Helping Teenagers Cope with Divorce
Over one million children annually experience divorce. For teenagers this comes at a time when they are already likely to be overwhelmed with the transitions of adolescence. How can you help them... [more]
How Discipline is Different in a Stepfamily
There are loyalty conflicts. The children are yours, or mine rather than ours.There is fear of rejection. Usually, biological parents can discipline without fear of rejection. Their relationship is... [more]
Four Common Feelings of Children in Stepfamilies
GRIEF -Remarriage only happens after a loss. The children have either lost a parent through divorce or death. It is natural for them to be grieving. Their grief may not look like the grief of an... [more]
8 Tips for Stepfamilies
1. Relationships take time. The average stepfamily takes longer to bond than anyone would like. But accepting this will help. The difficulties you are having are likely a typical stepfamily stage. It... [more]
Entering Junior High - A Parent's Guide
Your child's entering junior high school and you're probably both a little nervous. Multiple classes, numerous teachers, a larger school, more classmates, and a new location all loom as changes that... [more]
What to do When a Friend is Depressed: Guide for Students
You know that these school years can be complicated and demanding. Deep down, you are not quite sure of who you are, what you want to be, or whether the choices you make from day to day are the best... [more]
Warning Signs of Anorexia
---Dramatic weight loss---Refusal to maintain normal body weight---Disturbed sense of body, misperception of shape or size---Frequent statements about being "fat" or "feeling fat" when [more]
Health Consequences of Anorexia
Anorexia is a form of starving yourself. You deny your body nutrients it needs to be healthy. You force your body to slow down in order to preserve energy. When you force your body to slow down, you... [more]
The Holidays Are Times of Remembering
Counselors often experience an increased number of calls and requests for appointments around the holidays. Sometimes the recognition that another year is passing by and a troubling part of one's... [more]
7 Steps to Emotional Maturity
1. Eliminate Magical Thinking Magical thinking is believing that something will happen without any real effort on your part. This is normal thinking in children, but self defeating in adult [more]
Common Questions about Counseling
Frequently when new clients phone me they have questions about the various types of therapists and therapies. Psychiatrists...psychologists...social workers...marriage counselors...family... [more]
