Each year, the American Psychological Association surveys more than 3,000 adults all across the nation to find out what is stressing us out. And the 2025 report shows that societal division and concern about our country's future is stressful. But beyond that tired headline, the survey revealed loneliness, advancing technology, finances, and mental health struggles as top of mind for folks. In addtition, I see in my office stress related to burnout, dating, parenting, and juggling all the demands in our lives. Often these stressors pancake on top of each making for a complex situation. APA noted resilience too - 84% of Americans still feel hopeful about building a fulfilling life, and 73% of adults are still looking to shape their community's future for the better. This is good news as we head into 2026.

If you are an adult with ADHD, you may have been struggling your whole life, or are navigating a new diagnosis. Sometimes as a patient, it is difficult to know where to put your resources to treat your symptoms. A new, large scale review from the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services synthesized the latest research on treatment efficacies. They analyzed 223 studies and determined that a combination of medication along with psychosocial therapy was the most effective at reducing symtpoms and improving functioning. There was some evidence for a treatment called neurostimulation. There was insufficient evidence for neurofeedback, supplements, nutrition, alternative medicine, or cognitive training. This means that you will likely be best served with a combination of FDA-approved medication prescribed by your PCP or psychiatrist, likely a stimulant class of drugs, along with therapeutic treatments like Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Dealing with the fear and uncertainty of losing an income is agonizing. Three things that you can do now to take care of yourself during this time of transition: 1) Take deep breaths to calm your anxiety and jump start your parasympathetic nervous system. 2) It is natural to be thinking about the future and all the what-ifs, so intentionally spend part of your day thinking about the present, right here, right now, to remind your brain that you are safe and are ok at this moment. 3) Let people know what is going on. This kind of situation can be extremely isolating so it is important for you to have chances to talk about what is going on for you and get support.