All Posts

Regardless of age, youngsters can begin working on developmental levels they have been unable to master, but only within the context of a close, personal relationship with a devoted adult.                                                               -Stanley Greenspan, M.D., The growth of the mind   13-year-old Avi is in Grade 6. He has irregular moods. He is angry one moment and happy another. When his parents ask him to listen, he covers both his ears with both

From early infancy, it appears that our ability to regulate emotional states depends upon the experience of feeling that a significant person in our life is simultaneously experiencing a similar state of mind.   - Daniel J. Siegel, MD Attunement starts from infancy, such as when a parent smiles back at a baby's smile or says “whoops” when a toddler drops someth

“I do not want to be late. However, it is only time that strikes, and I start to get ready to go. I am aware that I need to arrive at college for the 9:00 a.m. class. I started ordering my taxi 5 minutes before 9. When I could not find one, I began to curse. I run outside and struggle between hailing a taxi, cancelling the order, and sending an email to the professor explaining why I am late. I arrive 20 minutes late for class, hurriedly making apologies. My friends are smili

“My 16-year-old daughter has always been a picky eater, but recently, we've noticed a troubling change. She appears to be pushing herself to lose weight by exercising three to four times a day and watching videos and reels about weight loss. We suspect she might be forcing herself to vomit after meals. Additionally, she has become withdrawn, touchy, and moody, making it challenging to get her to talk about what she's going through. Sometimes, she even seems angry.”           

Many animals have memory, but how humans utilize memory, alongside other cognitive skills, distinguishes us in important ways. Human memory goes beyond a simple survival tool; it is closely linked to our capacity for abstract thinking, communication, and self-reflection, for making human life better. This advanced memory, the researchers believe, is one of the most incredible products of evolution. We may not give our memory much thought in day-to-day life; however, when comb

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat are the 3 R’s Brain habits encompass both beneficial practices for brain health, such as hope, positivity, and gratitude, and harmful habits, such as chronic stress, an all-or-nothing attitude, comparing oneself to others, and other forms of negative thinking. Acquiring a new healthy brain habit is learning a new skill, a new brain muscle. Additional examples of positive habits include engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles, maintai

“Singing and cooing, sing-song sentences, naming objects, and bringing them to your baby. Intentional eye contact, being musical, cradling, twinkling eyes, naughty smile, hide-and-seek, sideways glance, babyish noises, spontaneous laughter”.   We all do this with our little babies, encouraging them to enjoy the world and each other. Disco is more than just a dance; it’s an emotion! This style lets you relax, forget your problems, and just dance your heart out, connecting with

“Neurons that fire together, wire together .”                                                                                Donald Hebb, father of Neuropsychology Dr. Donald Hebb combined psychology and neuroscience, proposing that learning and memory activate neurons, strengthening their connections to form more stable neural links. Are you aiming to create a new health habit, mental or physical? Neuroscience says it requires consistent practice and repetition, leading to c

“My kids were raised by six to eight moms. A schoolteacher, a music teacher, two neighbours, a friend at netball, their godmother, my mom, and my sister. They did their own part…. called them on their birthdays, welcomed them for weekend lunches/dinners, hosted them during summers, took them on summer holidays. I am so grateful, my kids gained self-esteem and many life skills with these adult interactions.”                                                 Amy, mother of a 15-y

…..a delayed Uber, work deadline, traffic jam, a mismanaged household chore, argument with a family member, corner table at a restaurant, a spoiled dry clean shirt, loud neighbor, dismissive waitress, a malfunctioning kitchen appliance, electricity outage at home, printer not working, forgetting debit card at home, long queue, long wait at tele marketing, hung up call, missed deadline to pay bills, delayed doctor appointment…… How many of us face the above almost every day? T

Ruptures in relationships are inevitable. They happen when communication and understanding break down between two people. “Rupture” between a parent and child or teenager occurs when the parent and child/teen experien ce a loss of connection, resulting in misattunement. Ruptures resulting in the child shutting the door or the parent walking away- Scene 1    Child: “I forgot to clean my room today.”                      Parent: “You can never do anything responsibly.” Scene 2 

“Monday, I was hit by a nagging brain fog. Nothing seemed clear. The day was spent with a sense of aimlessness. Headaches and...

Ruminations, obsessions, and worry, which are recurrent, uncontrollable thoughts not aimed at a specific outcome and  are often associated with distress and can be part of conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). These thoughts are unwanted, intrusive, and often preoccupy the mind, making them hard to control. They can be distressing and trigger negative emotions like anxiety, fear, or disgust. Unlike constructive problem-solv

A: “I have lost my job. The financial instability is immense, and it is causing incessant anxiety. I worry and ruminate. I question my...

Anthony has difficulty with eye contact, as he often repeats words or phrases and fixates on specific interests. He finds himself...

“Throughout the majority of the day, I am left with a sense of emptiness. I perceive that I have not accomplished anything at all, and the day has gone. This feeling makes me feel anxious with pain in my heart and shallow breathing,”                                                                                                         A 33-year-old female patient What happens when one feels that they have achieved something during the day? Reaching a goal can help improve yo

The limbic system, particularly the amygdala, generates and processes emotional responses like fear and anxiety, while the prefrontal...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put forward a self-screening questionnaire you can use to determine if you suffer from ADHD. This...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the few most common childhood disorders which can continue through adolescence and into adulthood. Mainly the symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behaviour, and hyperactivity. As per DSM V, following signs and symptoms are to be looked out for- Symptoms of Attention deficit- · Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolw

Do you have adult attention deficit disorder? “Since childhood, Peter has been told again and again that he is impulsive, hyperactive and have difficulty paying attention. His academic performance and behaviour at school was never above average. His parents thought he will overcome this with age, but it seems not!! He is 32-year-old now and finds it difficult to perform in work and at home and in other social relationships with other people. Moreover, lately he has started t