Dr. Melina Spyridaki-Dodd, MD

Thank you for your question at FADT. I would say definitely seek the advise of a child psychiatrist if you feel concerned. If this feels like a big step, maybe you can start with an appointment with her pediatrician, and together make a plan which may include future consultation to a child psychiatrist. I hope this helps, thank you! Dr. Dodd, MD.

Thank you for your question on FADT. So, bullying is a widespread problem. Typically the things we can do to help the student includes: encourage the student to spend most if not all of their time around friends in the school environment so that any one who plans to bully her finds a little more difficult to do; have the student let the bully know that the student does not appreciate that kind of behavior; have the student tell the teacher; have the parent tell the teacher; have an educational advocate tell the school on behalf of the student; in some cases maybe of severe situation, the family can hire a lawyer (there are typically pro bono lawyers available within each county); join anti-bully groups, which are comprised of a number of families of the same district. At home, parents can help the child be more confident for exactly who they are, and this is achieved by emotional support, socializing with supportive friends, maybe therapy in some cases. I hope this helps. Thank you, Dr. Dodd MD

Thank you for your question at FATD. Generally speaking distance learning involving a computer based learning experience exposes the child to a lot of computer generated energy which activates the child making it hard to sleep. You can control that by ensuring computer time ends at least two hours prior to bed time. In addition, home-bound conditions lead to less than the normal levels of physical activity. To that end you can ensure that your child stays active daily for at least an hour, by engaging in a safe physical activity, which will allow built up energy to be released. I hope this helps, thank you, Dr. Dodd, MD

Thank you for your question at FADT. During these unusual times human routines are interrupted in a major way, even though it is necessary for everybody's safety. Children are much more vulnerable to routine changes. You child may sleep better if you follow a strict routine right now. For example set a program for the day, set specific times for meals, work, play, engage in physical activity for at least an hour every day, help your child connect with friends maybe virtually for some times every day. I hope this helps, thank you! Dr. Dodd, MD

Thank you for your question at FADT. So, depression is a hereditary disorder to some extend, meaning the offspring of a depressed person run a higher risk to have the disease. However it is uncertain whether the offspring will actually acquire the illness for sure, or to what extend and severity the illness will be expressed into the offspring, and very importantly, the offspring's environment can modulate this risk. So for example a parent who has experienced depression may have a wealth of knowledge which can help both the parent and the offspring in the event the offspring develops the illness. This knowledge includes how to cope with the illness, early signs, how it feels to be depressed. This knowledge can be an invaluable asset for the offspring as it could protect by providing early diagnosis and treatment of the illness, and guide by example. I hope this helps, thank you! Dr. Dodd, MD

Thank you for your question on FADT. So, psychosis is a symptom in humans whereby the human perceives sensory stimuli as if these stimuli are actually real, however the stimuli are not real. For example the human may hear a voice of her aunt, and the human believes adamantly the aunt and her voice are real. What happens to the brain in that moment, is that the auditory center of the brain fires electric discharges, exactly as if that center was being triggered by a real sound. Typically the advise is that it is very important that any person who feels they are experiencing psychosis that they meet with a specialist for a definite diagnosis. I hope this helps. Thank you! Dr. Dodd MD

Thank you for your question at FADT. So, the typical symptoms of bipolar disorder is at least a week-long duration of no need or less need for sleep, and very significant changes in attitude and personality for the same time duration. It is commonly confused with "moment to moment" changes in anger levels, or with sudden "snapping out in anger" which typically is not bipolar disorder but maybe more likely close to traumatic experience, attention deficit, or other disorders. The general advise is seek the professional opinion of a specialist for definite diagnosis. I hope this helps. Thank you! Dr. Dodd, MD

Thank you for your question at FATD. This is a general answer, and it is not meant to be a medical consult, or establish "patient-doctor" relationship. Typically, the way I start investigating new onset bed wetting, is first of all take a good medical and psychiatric history, including any possibility of abuse or traumatizing event or simply a change of routine in the child's life. In addition, I try to rule out any physical causes of the bed wetting including but not limited to high blood sugar, or urinary track infection, in collaboration with the child's pediatrician. When trauma, and physical causes have been ruled out then we focus on possible psychiatric diagnoses which can contribute to bed wetting, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
I hope this helps, again thank you for your question.

Sincerely,

Melina Spyridaki-Dodd, M.D.