Category Archives: Uncategorized

Decoding ADHD

October 18, 2021 1 comment Uncategorized ADHD, Birmingham Alabama, education, Mental Health, mental health awareness, Mental Illness Education, Psychiatrist, student mental health Dr. Leesha

Dismantling ADHD Stereotypes Loud, bossy, bad, dumb, stupid, lazy – these are but a fraction of the destructive words erroneously used to describe children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. While a common childhood diagnosis, ADHD is often poorly understood. It’s more than kids with boundless energy, excessive talking, daydreaming, and forgetfulness. There is also low self-esteem, strained relationships with peers or co-workers, rejection sensitivity, mood dysregulation, poor time management, car accidents, and financial burdens. Many youth with ADHD face lifelong consequences, especially when their symptoms go untreated. According to the CDC, 9.4% of US children have […]

No Seat At the Table?

February 28, 2021 0 comments Self-Care, Social Justice, Uncategorized Birmingham Alabama, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, drleesha, Psychiatrist, womanhood Dr. Leesha

At whose table shall I sit? Is there a space for me? Well, how many tables are there? And who sits at those tables? Is that even where I belong? Maybe someone saved me a chair … Perhaps space was divinely created for me … Or does my spot remain cast aside, ignored, and unwanted? Should I force my way in and pull up my own chair? You know, shift folks so I get into position Or I could ask permission, politely with a smile Spout pleasantries, curtsey, and grin Then might they let me in? Nah, I’m not forcing […]

Whose Making Self-Care Goals for 2021?

January 2, 2021 0 comments Uncategorized drleesha, Mental Health, self-care Dr. Leesha

Irrespective of your age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, or political persuasion, 2020 was a year like no other. We cried, celebrated differently, many quarantined, some vaccinated, lost jobs, created businesses, gave birth, buried loved ones, traveled less, and zoomed more. The life we once lived became unrecognizable. Whether 2020 was overwhelmingly difficult, filled with pockets of unexpected joy and blessings, or somewhere in between, we all bear its scars. As we determine how best to move forward, perhaps crafting a “fresh start” or merely dragging ourselves out of the quicksand, I implore you to make your mental health and wellness a priority in 2021. Like, for real! No […]

#GivingTuesday: Try Giving a Little GRACE, Too

December 2, 2020 0 comments Uncategorized Dr. Leesha

Black Friday Small Business Saturday Cyber Monday GivingTuesday The Thanksgiving holiday season is filled with clever quips to promote gift-buying, economic growth, and global generosity. Today is GivingTuesday though by the time you read this, GivingTuesday may have ended. Nevertheless, let us continue to share the spirit of GivingTuesday. According to givingtuesday.org, the GivingTuesday movement began in 2012. The premise was simple, to create “a day that encourages people to do good” – a day filled with intentional acts of kindness individually, community-wide, corporately, and around the world. For 2020, a year where the world is in crisis, a year […]

My First Love

May 9, 2020 0 comments Uncategorized Dr. Leesha

I never fully appreciated the vast expanse of your love nor the magnitude of your sacrifice until I begin raising my own children. Now I know, and it only makes me love you all the more. For Ruby: Love began with you When God knit me together in your womb. Yours is the first voice I heard Because you first whispered love songs to me. Yours is the first face I saw when I entered the world And I fell in love with your radiant countenance. Yours are the first eyes that saw me naked and vulnerable And yet you […]

I Hit A Wall Today

May 7, 2020 6 comments Uncategorized Dr. Leesha

Thud. Splat. Smack. Crash. Slam . Whack. What sounds like rhymes straight out of a Pete the Cat children’s book are the sounds my emotions make as I hit the wall – the quarantine wall. This week has been especially tough as restrictions and contradictions spawn confusion and uncertainty only intensifies rather than dwindling. Days and nights blend. Work-life and home-life are intimately intertwined with no boundaries. Lines are blurred. Roles coalesce. Transitions no longer exist. There is no “How was work, mommy?” or “How was school today, sweetie?” I’m tired. I’m tired of working from home, but I’m scared […]

Dr. Leesha | Psychiatrist, Therapist, and Parenting Expert