Category Archives: Children’s Mental Health

The Scoop on ODD

Typically first diagnosed in elementary-aged youth, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ODD, is a psychiatric condition characterized by a chronic pattern of disruptive behavior. Estimates suggest that anywhere from 6 – 10% of children have ODD. Core features include negativity, anger and hostility, verbal aggression, and behavioral outbursts. While all children periodically display developmentally appropriate oppositional behavior and test limits, those with ODD have frequent anger outbursts and repeatedly refuse to comply with rules and instructions.

The Scoop on ADHD

January 23, 2018 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Parenting Dr. Leesha

In an effort to educate parents and families about mental illness, I have decided to write a series called, “The Scoop.” Every week, I will feature a different psychiatric disorder and discuss 5 facts about that illness to promote awareness and improve understanding of the condition. This post focuses on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 11% of children ages 4 – 17 years old have ever been diagnosed with ADHD.

3 Things I Learned From My Toddler

November 7, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Parenting, Work-life balance Dr. Leesha

My youngest daughter, Khloe, turned 3 a few months ago, and she embodies all things “I am three” in her adorable pint-sized form. Multiple times a day she reminds me of how fiercely independent she is as she repeatedly chants, “I can do it!” She is confident. She is sassy. She is persistent. And I’ve learned a few things from her. 1) Remove the limits For Khloe, the rules and societal norms do not apply. It matters not that her preschool-aged peers wear typical school attire for she dons a tutu and princess crown to school almost every day. She wants to […]

Depression in the Eyes of Our Youth

September 11, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Depression, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, harvesting hope, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

As a board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, I treat youth with depression almost every day. Major Depressive Disorder, the medical term for clinical depression, is a debilitating illness that affects 12.5% of US youth aged 12 to 17 according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This means that, in 2015, 3 million teens had experienced at least one major depressive episode. The signs and symptoms of depression include sad mood and/or irritability crying spells too much or too little sleep weight loss or weight gain secondary to changes in appetite worthless and hopeless feelings fatigue difficulty concentrating thoughts of […]

Taming the Mood Monster: The Curious Chameleon

August 2, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, harvesting hope, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

A chameleon possesses the unique ability to change the color of its skin. Color change aids in camouflage, heat regulation, and light absorption; but, a chameleon also changes its color in response to its mood. Brightly colored male chameleons more easily attract females while a chameleon donning black coloring may be stressed. Similarly, youth with anxiety behave differently depending on the child and the setting. This is why I often refer to anxiety as the “the great imitator.” We all have the image of an anxious kid – fretful, pacing, and pensive. He asks 20 questions while biting his fingers […]

Taming the Mood Monster: Gloomy, Blue Eeyore

July 25, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

Many of us recall watching Winnie the Pooh as children. The best of friends, Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore live together in the Hundred Acre Wood. Each character is unique – hunny-loving Pooh, fretful Piglet, persnickety Rabbit, winsome and buoyant Tigger, and gloomy, blue Eeyore. Always sad with his head hung low, Eeyore expects the worst, thinks very little of himself, and struggles to enjoy his friends or his life. Sometimes our children fall into a bit of a funk. Much like us, they have bad days too. Even in their youth, they face a myriad of challenges such as […]

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