Why does it seem men have a harder time being alone than women? For one thing, it might be that women socialize with each other and share more than men do. They share both the good and the bad. This may actually be the very reason that makes the experience of being alone so much more painful for men.

Men do not tend to share their pain, but rather try to share their feats and accomplishments in an an attempt to posture or create the impression of strength amongst other men. No man wants to be on the losing end of a competition.

In light of the events of the last week, which I'm sure have captivated most people's attention, an appropriate question I've heard and read many people asking is how does one begin to carry on with life as usual after a week of carnage and terror? I felt I would be remiss if I simply went back to business as usual without mentioning them at all, particularly since I am always talking big about the merits of people using adversity to make themselves stronger.

The diagnosis and treatment of ADD has had a controversial history. The medical establishment has identified ADD as a diagnosable disorder and outlined specific treatments to mange symptoms. However, some groups have claimed that ADD is a conspiracy developed by the pharmaceutical companies to make money off the sales of drugs developed for what they deem a fictional disorder. Given this history, it seemed appropriate to address the issue of ADD and the efficacy of medications in this week’s blog. 

I can't emphasize enough how important it is to identify folks with ADD/ ADHD, children AND ADULTS alike. Let me put a few facts down here on the blogosphere that encompass the social, emotional, and educational impact of ADD/ADHD:

The Social

Last week I started a discussion about connecting with fathers. I was not surprised to read both positive and negative responses, as people’s experience and relationship with their father varies. Not everybody had an involved, loving father. Some people may have had a downright abusive experience with their father, or never knew their father at all. 

This past weekend I noticed an interaction between a child and his mother that captured my attention, reminding me of an important lesson about communication. The interaction I’m about to describe is something I encounter in my work regularly with clients of all ages (adults included!), though not always as simple as this example. Yet despite my best efforts to teach people how to avoid it, it can elude even the most well-intentioned. This leads me to believe that it is just one of those challenging aspects of the human condition that isn’t going to go away overnight. I will get right to what I observed, then explain some of my reasoning about its relevance.