I am a Board Certified Psychiatrist and have been practicing for 20 years. For almost half of my professional career, I have practiced Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The primary reason for referral, by far, was Attention Deficit Disorder.

Over the years, I watched as the standards of assessment and treatment shifted from a comprehensive one, to one of almost exclusive focus on medication. While a percentage of our children were helped, with ability to stay focused and complete assignments, it seemed that an over-reliance on medications existed, and still does, with an almost complete absence of education on the principles of healthy lifestyle.

Addictions are pervasive in our culture. And addictions to alcohol or drugs aren?t the only ones out there. Addiction to shopping, sex, gambling, video games, are but a few.

Addictive habits are forms of dependence. They are habits- performed time after time- done so often, they are performed in involuntary or compulsive fashion.