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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.
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Learning how to manage our stress in healthy ways is a lifelong process. We have compiled a list of resources below that may help people with and without Down syndrome who are workin
Contingency maps can help an individual visualize their behavioral choices and the outcomes/consequences of their behaviors. They can help make the problem-solving process more concrete. The individua
The handouts linked below were developed to teach individuals with Down syndrome how to think more positively. If an individual has an automatic negative thought (or ANT), they can squish it or brush
There are many things that might make us feel stressed. My Stress Triggers gives examples of things that might make us feel stressed. What causes you to feel st
Coping with stress is an important and necessary part of life. There are some strategies that can help us manage our reactions to different life stressors. The steps below are strategies that I use wi
The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW, on February 23, 2023. In this webinar, the presenters define, iden
This Getting an EEG visual explains what happens when we have an electroencephalogram (EEG) done. It can help individuals with Down syndrome know what to expect when going for an EEG.
*This article was adapted from Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges, 2nd Edition. What is attention-deficit/hyperactivit
What is obsessional slowness? Obsessional slowness is an apparent form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that appears to be more common in people with Down syndrome. At this point, much more needs to b
When we talk about emotions during our social skills groups for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome, we explain that it is ok to feel any emotion; however, it is not ok to have negative
This visual handout shares activities you can do to help yourself calm down.
"I" statements are a way to share how we feel in a clear, calm, and respectful way. The handouts pictured below explain the components of "I" statements. There is a
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that involves sedating an individual with anesthesia and then inducing a seizure with a short electrical stimulation of the brain (more information can b
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition in which an individual develops psychological symptoms in response to an extremely distressing experience. The symptoms can vary and
Every thorough mental health assessment should include an assessment of physical health to ensure that physical health problems are not affecting mental well-being in any way. This is true whether or
A parent of an individual with Down syndrome asked a question about stereotypies and self-stimulatory behavior. The parent shared that the individual made noises while watching videos on their iPad an
We received a question from a family member of an individual with Down syndrome who is anxious and fearful of bad weather, particularly thunderstorms. Thunder, lightning, strong winds, heavy rain, hai
Abstract Background: The Down syndrome population has been disproportionately affected by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in terms of experiencing severe illness and death. Soc
A common and appropriate question is: Can a person be weaned off a psychotropic medication? A psychotropic medication is a medication prescribed to treat a psychological problem such as depression or
Abstract Findings from a recent study of the largest documented cohort of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) in the United States described prevalence of common disease conditions and strongly sugges
The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD on November 10, 2021. Dr. Chicoine is the co-founder and medical director at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. The topic of th
We were sent a question about selective mutism and loss of speech. Selective mutism is defined as an anxiety condition in which a person with normal verbal skills is unable to speak in particular sett
The video below is a recording of a webinar called "Promoting Mental Health in Adolescents & Adults with Down Syndrome" presented by Brian Chicoine, MD on September 28, 2021.
We received the following question: Have you ever seen cases in which a person with Down syndrome keeps writing in a journal all day? My loved one keeps on writing names of his favorite supe
Please note: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for a medical, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan by a qualified professional. We recommend you review the educational material with your health providers regarding the specifics of your health care needs.
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