News and Research
Science-backed Information for Better Care

Last reviewed: 03/04/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve ever wondered why OCD gets worse under stress, you’re not imagining it. Stress doesn’t “create” OCD out of nowhere, but it can turn the volume up on intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsions, leading to OCD flare ups that feel sudden and intense. [1,2] In this article, you’ll learn: Why stress makes OCD feel more urgent Common ocd relapse triggers during busy or uncertain seasons Why compulsions and reassuran

Last reviewed: 03/03/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re exhausted but can’t sleep , it can feel like your body and brain are arguing: you’re drained, but your mind won’t slow down. This “tired and wired” experience is common in anxiety, stress, and burnout. In this article, you’ll learn: Why fatigue doesn’t guarantee sleep How nervous system arousal blocks sleep How insomnia becomes a learned pattern Habits that accidentally reinforce insomnia How CBT-I rebuilds slee

Last reviewed: 03/02/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If your brain won’t turn off at night , it can feel infuriating and confusing. You’re exhausted. Your body wants rest. And yet your mind is replaying conversations, scanning tomorrow’s to-do list, or doing that “just one more problem to solve” thing that seems harmless at 9 p.m. but becomes a full-blown spiral at 2 a.m. 😮‍💨 Key takeaway: Feeling “wired but tired” is often a nervous system pattern, not a character flaw.

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for asrs score interpretation , you’re not alone. A high score on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) can feel like a flashing sign that says “ADHD”… but the truth is more nuanced. The ASRS is a screening tool , meaning it helps flag symptoms worth exploring, not prove a diagnosis on its own. [1] In this article, you’ll learn: What an ASRS score can and can’t tell you Why sleep loss, anxiety, mood,

Last reviewed: 02/26/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for ADHD testing providers in Nashville as an adult woman, the results can feel inconsistent: directories, quick “online tests,” medication visits, and full evaluations that all use the same words. This guide breaks down what “evidence-based” should mean so you can choose an assessment that’s thorough, fair, and actually helpful. In this article, you’ll learn: Why Nashville listings can be confusing Wh

Last reviewed: 02/26/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re looking into ADHD testing for women  in midlife, you’re not alone. If you’ve searched for an “adhd test for women over 40,” this article can help you understand what actually matters in a real-world evaluation. Many women first seek an evaluation in their 40s or 50s after burnout, shifting hormones, a child’s diagnosis, or the feeling that “my systems stopped working.” Reviews and consensus guidance suggest ADHD

Last reviewed: 02/23/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve ever Googled circadian rhythm disorder vs insomnia  at 3 a.m., you’re not alone. The confusing part is that both can involve “I can’t fall asleep,” both can wreck your mornings, and both can feed sleep anxiety. In this article, you’ll learn: The key difference between a timing problem and a sleep ability problem What delayed sleep phase often looks like (and why weekends can be a clue) What classic insomnia patt

Last reviewed: 02/23/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly Chronic insomnia is brutal because it isn’t just “not sleeping.” It becomes a whole system: you start planning your life around exhaustion, dreading bedtime, and bargaining with yourself at 2:00 a.m. If you’ve searched cbti near me Nashville  or wondered whether cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia Nashville  is actually different from generic sleep advice, it is. CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) is

Last reviewed: 02/23/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for a private ADHD assessment, you’ve probably seen wildly different prices and timelines. Some options look like a full psychological evaluation, while others are closer to a screening visit. The price often reflects what the evaluation does (or doesn’t) include, and “fast” doesn’t always mean “clear.” High-quality adult assessment is built on careful clinical interviewing, multiple data points, and a

Confused by ASRS v1.1 scoring? This guide explains what a positive Part A screen means (and doesn’t), what can inflate scores, and smart next steps if you want an ADHD evaluation.

Perimenopause ADHD can make focus, sleep, and emotional regulation feel shakier, even if your prescription hasn’t changed. Here’s what to track and ask at your next visit.

Last reviewed: 02/12/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you are in perimenopause and dealing with adhd insomnia , you may recognize the same nightly script: you are exhausted at 9PM, wide awake at 11PM, and then your brain turns on like a searchlight at 3AM. This “wired but tired” pattern is not a character flaw. It is often a predictable interaction between hormonal transition, stress physiology, and an ADHD brain that has a harder time downshifting. 💡 Key takeaway: When

Last reviewed: 02/12/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re in midlife and living with ADHD, you might recognize the moment when your brain says “I can’t do one more thing,” and your whole system shuts down. Demand avoidance adhd can show up as procrastination, irritability, or a sudden need to escape, even when you care deeply about the task. When perimenopause and long-term overfunctioning enter the mix, the “avoidance” often isn’t about attitude, it’s about nervous sy

Undiagnosed autism and menopause can collide in midlife, making long-held coping strategies suddenly feel like they stop working. Learn why sensory overload, fatigue, burnout, and executive function strain can spike in perimenopause, plus how a neurodiversity-affirming assessment and practical supports can help.

does adhd get worse in perimenopause? For many people, symptoms can intensify as estrogen fluctuates, sleep fragments, stress rises, and the brain’s dopamine systems have less “buffer” for attention and executive function. This guide explains what’s changing and practical, non-medical ways to reduce overload.

Last reviewed: 02/12/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re asking yourself, “Is this ADHD or perimenopause ?” you’re in good company. Many midlife women notice new (or suddenly unmanageable) trouble with focus, follow-through, emotional regulation, and memory, and it can be hard to tell what’s driving it. In this article, you’ll learn: Why perimenopause can change attention, memory, sleep, and stress tolerance How ADHD patterns tend to look across a lifetime (especially

Autism medical comorbidities can hide behind “behavior.” This guide covers common GI symptoms, sleep problems, seizures, hypermobility/EDS, allergies, and select genetic or metabolic conditions, plus a practical checklist to advocate for thorough, compassionate care.

ADHD insomnia is not just willpower. Learn why ADHD and sleep problems feed each other, how delayed sleep-wake phase and racing thoughts keep you up, what to rule out, what to track, and which supports can help.

If your brain won’t turn off at night perimenopause, you are not imagining it. Sleep fragmentation can create ADHD-like symptoms (focus, memory, mood), and ADHD can also make “winding down” harder. This guide helps you sort sleep-only vs ADHD + sleep patterns and know what to track before an assessment.

A quality adult adhd assessment is more than a symptom checklist. This guide explains what a thorough evaluation should include, why quick online tests can mislead, and what to ask before booking (especially for telehealth in Tennessee).