According to Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D., a family therapist and author, there’s a striking contrast between the kids in the US and the kids in France diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

A great number of children in America have been diagnosed with ADHD and are taking medications. But, in France, the number of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD and who are taking medications for it is less than .5%.

So, the question is: Why do so few children in France suffer from this disorder?

Well, one possible reason could be the approach. In America, ADHD is considered as a biological disorder which has biological causes and which should be treated with medications such as Adderall and Ritalin.

On the other hand, in France, child psychiatrists consider ADHD as a medical condition which is more psycho-social and situational based.

Instead of treating behavioral and focusing problems of kids with medications, French doctors prefer to search for the root cause of the child distress in the child’s social context rather than in the child’s brain. Then, they tend to treat the social context issue with family counseling or psychotherapy.

In addition, child psychiatrists in France don’t use the DSM-3 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) classification system for diagnosing children’s emotional problems as psychiatrists in the US.

Instead, they use the CFTMEA (Classification Française des Troubles Mentaux de L’Enfant et de L’Adolescent), with the purpose of determining and addressing the root causes of children’s symptoms, and not with the purpose of identifying the best medications with which to camouflage symptoms.

Furthermore, the definition of ADHD is broader in the US system than in the French system. The DSM doesn’t consider root causes, thereby leading clinicians to diagnose a great number of children with ADHD and encouraging them to treat these kids with medications as well.

Another important difference between the French and American approach to diagnosing with and treating children for ADHD has to do with diet.

French specialists and clinicians have attributed ADHD symptoms to nutrition. They have found that some children’s behavior is worsened after consuming foods containing allergens, artificial colors, and/or preservatives. And in America, the great focus on treating ADHD with pharmaceuticals encourages clinicians to turn a blind eye to the influence diet has on a child’s behavior.

There’s also a difference in the way children are raised in France and in the US. For instance, French parents set rules and limits for their children from the time they are born. For example, they don’t let their children eat snack foods whenever they want.

Dr. Wedge concludes that the way French children are raised, it’s easy for her to understand why kids in France don’t need pharmaceuticals to control their behavior – since they learn self-control and discipline early in their lives. They grow up in families where the parents are in charge of their children compared to the family style in the US where the situation is more often than not vice versa.

Pets are much more than just animals we share our homes with. They are like family members. Regardless of whether someone owns a cat or a dog, we build a strong and deep connection with them. If we are upset or sad, they can easily cheer us up and comfort us just by sitting right next to us.

They simply bring happiness and a sense of peace into our lives and they show their loyalty to us throughout their life. And the more time we spend with them, the harder it is for us to imagine living our lives without them.

That’s why the loss of a cherished animal companion can be an emotionally devastating experience. The grieving process after the loss is difficult for the owners. They experience strong emotions, such as sadness, anger, denial, and guilt. They find it hard to accept the fact that their cherished lovely furry friend is gone.

But there’re some people that don’t understand the sadness, pain, and loneliness that someone whose furry companion has died experience. They don’t understand that the death of a pet leaves a void in the soul.  

So, when a friend of yours or someone you know is grieving over the loss of their pet, here are three things you need to remember:

1. Be careful about what you say to them.

First things first, remember that no one wants to be told, “Oh, don’t be sad, it was just an animal” or “Don’t worry, you can buy a new pet, right?”

Telling this to someone who is grieving for the loss of their pet will not comfort them or make their grief go away for sure. It’ll just make them feel worse.

That’s why you need to be careful about what you say to someone grieving over their lost pet. And if you don’t know what to say, then let them talk and listen attentively to what they have to say.

2. Acknowledge and respect their strong bond.

Some people are closer to their furry companions than their family, and for many people, this is difficult to understand. When someone owns a pet, this furry friend becomes an inseparable, important part of their life. They spend time together and interact with each other every day. They develop habits together and create a strong connection.  

So, when a pet isn’t there anymore to lie next to their owner on the bed when they’re ill or jump around them when they cook lunch or do something in the garden, that absence is unbearable.

So, once you understand how close and deep that relationship is, the more you can acknowledge that person’s grief.

3. Try to understand the grieving process.

For some people, it’s very hard to cope with the grieving process when they lose their pet. It’s impossible to ignore or rush through the strong emotions they feel, otherwise, they can’t completely heal.

What you need to remember is that some people may cope with the loss of their pet easily, but others may take weeks or months to accept the loss and adjust to a life in which their beloved pet will no longer keep them company.

So, if someone you know is dealing with the loss of their cherished pet, try to acknowledge their grief and let them know you understand how they’re feeling.

Dr. Paul Kelley, an Honorary Clinical Research Associate in the University of Oxford’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, claims that having to start work before 10 a.m. is a form of torture and is making staff stressed, tired, and ill.

Dr. Kelley explains that the circadian rhythm (or the internal body clock which regulates the sleep-wake patterns over 24-hour periods) of adults is out of sync with regular  9-to-5 working hours, which negatively affects our mood, productivity, and mental health.

Many experiments and studies on circadian rhythm have demonstrated that an average 10-year-old student won’t begin focusing properly for their tasks at school before 8.30 in the morning. Likewise, a 16-year-old student should start at 10 o’clock in the morning in order to achieve best results and students over 16 should start at 11 o’clock in the morning.

Current patterns, i.e. 9-to-5 working hours negatively affect our emotional and physical health and performance. Not only do they cause some people to suffer from sleep deprivation, but they also increase the risk of serious health conditions, such as schizophrenia and diabetes.

If we add to this the fact that we can’t change our 24-hour rhythms and that we can’t learn to get up at a certain time, it’ll be easier for us to understand why Dr. Kelley believes that working hours need to be changed.

He explains that by changing working hours, both children and grown-ups will be prevented from feeling exhausted and being sleep deprived.  For instance, students could improve their grades and employees could be more productive at work and have less stress.

Undoubtedly, changing the time people start and end work in all areas of modern society will benefit millions of people on Earth as we’ll become healthier, happier,  and more energetic and productive.