There are some well-known differences between Muslims and Christians. Muslims study the holy Quran, do not believe Jesus was divine or that He died on the cross and do not subscribe to the Trinity concept from the Council of Nicea. Christians do not recognize Muhammad (pbuh) as a prophet, do not celebrate Islamic holidays, and have different days of worship than Muslims. That said, there are at least 17 surprising similarities between the Islamic and Christian faiths.

God the Father

Muslims and Christians worship only one God and believe all are children of Him.

Prophets

Both religions revere the early prophets including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, John the Baptist and even Jesus (Peace be upon them.).

The Bible

Christians are familiar with the Bible, but Muslims also believe the Bible to be holy scripture insofar as it is translated correctly and does not contradict the Quran.

Religion

Both Muslims and Christians believe that practicing their faith is good for them personally now, creates peace and harmony among people, and brings blessings in the life after mortality.

Commandments

People of both faiths believe in similar rules given by God for all people and obeying them keeps humankind in a right relationship with God.

Mary

Both Muslims and most Christians believe Mary was a virgin and that Jesus was born miraculously.

Messiah's miracles

Islam and Christianity both ascribe that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah and did perform miracles.

Satan

Both Muslims and Christians believe Satan is real and evil and that he tries to make people follow him instead of God.

The return

The two faiths believe Jesus will return from Heaven.

Antichrist

The belief that there will be an antichrist who appears before the end of the world and that Jesus will return and conquer him is common to both theologies.

Judgment

Both religions believe a day of judgment will really happen and people will be judged for the lives they lead on Earth.

Hell and paradise

Muslims and Christians believe hell and paradise to be literal places.

Covenants

Muslims and some Christians believe God connects with His people through covenants.

Family

Family is a foundational part of both Christian and Muslim life. Both peoples believe the family has a critical impact on society.

Codes of health

Muslims and some Christians have codes of health such as not drinking alcohol or not eating certain foods. These codes of health are part of their covenants made with God.

Modesty

Muslims and most Christians believe the body to be sacred and/or should be treated with respect.

Clothing

Muslims and some Christians may wear sacred clothing as signs of covenants made with God.

With many different kinds of Mulsim faith practices and the variety of Christian denominations, there are many things common between these two faith groups. Let us unite together in faith, sharing covenantal cultures and protecting families in a changing world. Reaching out with kindness and understanding is a simple way to bring a little peace to the world around us.

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Some love affairs begin passionately. Others start with more subtlety. However, when you are in love with sin, there's a constant slipping down a dangerous slope. Even when we are vigilant against evil, we cannot choose good if we not self-aware of our choices. If we are choosing to flirt with danger, you might quickly find yourself indulging in sin. Do these three warning signs of being in love with sin sound familiar to you?

Secrecy

Hiding our behavior is a form of lying; it's a way of protecting bad behavior. Engaging in sin secretly when we are alone, or declining to discuss it with those around us who could help is a way of giving sin permission to grow in power against us. Darkness destroys resolve and secrecy silences cries for help. Secrecy causes sin to grow.

Justification

When we justify just a little sin or tell ourselves "just this once", we are helping sin find ways to feel more comfortable and more routine in our lives. Justification gives the illusion that sin is not impacting our life. Making excuses is a form of denial, and rationalizing why we did something does not make it okay that we did it. Bending the rules or changing laws doesn't make sin okay. There will be consequences to your actions if you continue to justify sin.

Apathy

Once we are entangled in sin, we may no longer care that we we are doing is wrong. Deep down, we know that we should stop, but we don't. We've fallen too far down sin's slippery slope. We may be defiant against accusations, attempting to disengage from those who try to tell us the truth. We may claim offense or disinterest, or perceive others as against us instead of being against the sin destroying us. When we no longer care that we have been swept away by sin, we will no longer try to escape it.

Sin is slippery. We might not realize we've been sucked into its dangers. We may think we can still control ourselves, or that our sin isn't so bad, or even that it doesn't matter what we do. These signs of being in love with sin will make it harder to turn from it, to get out, or to turn away. Keep a watchful eye to ensure you don't fall into sin's sneaky grasp.

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As a chaplain, it is often my duty to minister to patients and families during and after the dying process. While every experience is absolutely unique and sacred, patterns begin to emerge from the last thoughts shared in these final moments. Here are the top five regrets most commonly shared by those dying.

Time

Of those wrestling the dying process, one of the things they reflect on the most is how they spent their time. All of the patients I have worked with have either said they wished they had spent more time with their families, or they said the memories of time spent with their families were most precious.

Work

Many struggling with end-of-life issues regret working too much. Rather than using work as a means to provide necessities for their family, they spent time working for extra material things, missing out on valuable experiences. They talk about how they wished they had saved more energy for playing with their kids while they were young, tried new things once their kids were grown or gone on adventures with grandchildren.

Grudges

People who hold grudges or fail to forgive often wish they had let go of things earlier and resolved differences sooner. They reflect on wasted energy, time they didn't realize was slipping away and being enslaved by what they thought was punishing someone else.

Words

When looking back, many people say they should have been more kind or maybe had the courage to speak truth in some bold way. They are sorry for things they can't take back and ashamed of times they should have stood up for someone but didn't.

Happiness

When people are aware of the dying process, they become more mindful of what it means to still be alive. They talk about how they wished they had been more content or not been so afraid of change. They realize happiness is something chosen or even created rather than something that can be bought or to which a person is entitled.

The dying process strips away distractions, clarifies vision and brings meaning to being alive. Priorities become easier to set, time is treasured and interactions become more sacred. Learning to live well now can help the dying process be more peaceful.

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Addiction is (or becomes) a chemical disorder in the brain. Those who struggle with addiction have lower levels of norepinephrine than others. Norepinephrine is a chemical secreted under stress, arousal, or thrill. The more habits and behaviors lower the level of norepinephrine, the harder the person has to work to get those levels raised. The only way to do this is by using more and more of the substance to get the same effect. Addictions that cause this chemical response include, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, misuse of prescription drugs, pornography, and gambling. Here are 5 tips for beating addiction:

1. Ask for help

Admitting there is a problem is a good beginning, but you also need help from an outside source - family, friends, a group, online program, and/or a workbook - because the addiction is inside of you. Using these resources can really help by holding you accountable, and providing much needed support and encouragement. Candeo is an excellent online resource that uses addiction science to confidentially coach people through daily recovery from sexual addictions.

2. Break habits

Obviously, breaking an addiction is a challenge, but you can reinforce your efforts by consciously abandoning your everyday routine and establishing new ones. Change the furniture. Start going to the gym. Go to bed earlier. Change the route you use to drive home.

3. Do something else

Think of 3 activities you can do before choosing addictive behavior. Call or text 3 people you can ask for help at a moment's notice. Write 3 reasons why you are strong enough to empower yourself to do something else. Make a list of 3 things you are feeling, instead of hiding those feelings behind addiction.

4. Know Thyself

Identify both your weak spots and triggers that set the addiction cycle in motion. Identify specific coping skills to help with each trigger, and develop strategies for improving the weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and those trying to help you.

5. Focus on the good

Make a list of the positive things you are doing right. Look for the reasons you have to do well, like your spouse or children. Develop an attitude of gratitude, finding small ways to sincerely thank those around you for the ways they contribute to your life. Recognize the good ways you contribute to the lives of others. Do the things you enjoy when your life isn't revolving around addiction.

Giving in to addiction is the process of surrendering your ability to make good choices. Beating an addiction will help reclaim your freedom, empower you to make good choices, and increase your ability to enjoy and appreciate those who care about you.

Emily Christensen, PhD, lives with her husband Nathan in Owasso, Oklahoma. Her blog is www.housewifeclass.com, and she can be contacted at housewifeclass@gmail.com.

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Differentiate danger

Learn to discern the difference between what puts your child in actual danger and what simply makes you nervous. Address environmental issues you can control. If safety plugs in outlets aren't enough, move a piece of furniture. If running into the street is an issue, make the backyard the best playground. If your toddler won't stop climbing the bunk bed ladder while you are folding socks, throw the ladder up on the top bunk each morning.

Get out of the way

Let children fall. Let them resolve their own conflicts. Let them try what doesn't work so they learn what does. Let them take some risks when the danger is not too great so they can develop decision making and boundaries. Praise their tenacity and willingness to keep trying new things, hard things and scary things.

Cut parents (or yourself) some slack

Fearlessness in children can be a genetic predisposition. Therefore, if a child is reckless, it does not mean his parents are to blame. Instead of blaming parenting style, practice prosocial behaviors with your child and provide creative outlets for him to develop boundaries and empathy.

Channel the energy

Many accidents happen when kids have been alone too long or are bored and craving stimulation. Spending time playing with your kids in focused activities can help keep them busy and safe. Many parents love organized sports because they help teach teamwork and coordination while wearing children out in safer, more structured environments. Gymnastics is another excellent outlet for kids who will find a way to tumble anyway.

Protect without stifling

Fearless kids love to move and require a lot of playtime. Sometimes, simple changes can help create safety. One mom went running with her son, but her son often ran off the sidewalk. She started running around parks or soccer fields so her son had more room to roam while staying safe. One dad found smaller, individual trampolines for jumping and play when the roughhousing on the big one was out of control. Some grandparents had to have their trees trimmed so that the kids were not playing on unsafe branches.

Develop healthy pleasures

When children are focused on thrill-seeking, they sometimes lose their fears by conquering them. This pleasure response reinforces the child's behavior. Stressed children (e.g. children who often get into trouble or feel out of place), however, cannot always distinguish failure from success. These children might repeat negative behaviors in order to maintain familiar stress levels. This is often why punishing a fearless child never seems to work and why more positive and supportive parenting may be required. Helping a child find other things he can enjoy, feel good about and be praised for will help him reduce thrill-seeking behaviors.

Fearless kids struggle with impulse control, moral reasoning, boundaries, setting limits and sometimes even an ability to express love to others. Creating safe places in which your children can play will allow them the freedom to explore in developmentally appropriate ways while still nourishing their hunger to learn. Talk with your children about natural consequences as they experience them to improve their self-regulation. Playing with them will help them rehearse prosocial skills and develop empathy and understanding of how their choices impact those around them.

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Pray

Talk together to God as if he is the Father who cares because he is. Talk to him as if he is the God with power to help because he can. Pray individually, but also pray as a couple and as a family. Praying together will also teach you the concerns and gratitudes important to your spouse. My husband and I have already noticed that praying together softens our hearts and prompts us to positive changes we can make individually and together.

Focus on the other

One couple struggled because neither of them felt any intimacy needs were being met, but realized they spent most of their time brooding internally about feeling neglected by the other. Consciously looking for ways to serve their spouse not only helped them get to know each other better, but also helped them each feel more loved. Small and simple acts of service for each other will go a long way toward melting hard hearts and returning your relationship to a place of tenderness.

Listen

Being attentive to someone you love is the best way to learn who he is and how to meet his needs. We learn and grow every day, and so are not the same as we were yesterday - much less 10 or 20 years ago. Listening well to your spouse will help you feel connected to him, understand where he is in personal development struggles, support him in challenges, and discover ways you can help.

Counsel together

There is a lot of "business" in a relationship, from childcare to finances to housekeeping. These are shared responsibilities for both partners, and so it is important to take time to discuss these issues regularly and often. How does your spouse feel about the job? What's been hard with the kids lately? Where can pennies be pinched, and what are you doing well? What spiritual guidance has each felt that needs to be applied as a family? What has there not been enough time to say, and what are you especially grateful for this week? How do you need help, and what is going well? These are all important things to communicate with your spouse, and the answers from your spouse will give you new pieces to who she is today and who she wants to become.

Spend time together

Couples often forget they are a "couple," above all else. Work, kids, caring for aging parents, and community responsibilities are all a good part of life, but couples need time together when they are just a couple. Make time for regular date nights and find activities you can do together - apart from the regular "business" meetings together. You can be creative, rekindling your courtship without spending a lot of money or neglecting other duties. Include the Passion Plan as part of your time together!

Encourage instead of criticize

Sex can meet some of our needs for touch and closeness, if shared lovingly as a couple focused on the other. But some of those same needs can also be met by appreciating our spouse, celebrating her successes and engaging in non-sexual touch. When we appreciate, our spouse will recognize success and be motivated to try harder. When we hold hands, touch our spouse's back as we reach past them for something or even dance together in the kitchen, these communicate closeness and touch in tender ways.

Remember the three T's

Laura M. Brotherson, the author of "And They Were Not Ashamed: Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment," points out that women need talk, touch and time to feel loved and to be prepared for physical expressions of that love. Talking will help you feel emotionally connected, time will help you both feel appreciated and understood, and non-sexual touch will help her feel loved without the pressure of expectation. This creates a safe and inviting environment in which she can respond with her own demonstrations of love and affection. It is emotional intimacy that improves physical intimacy.

Intimacy is more than just sex, and sex alone does not fulfill our needs for intimacy. It means to know someone well, and to work hard at loving well. To love someone else means to serve willingly, and with good cheer. It means to forgive, apologize, and appreciate. Increase love by expressing it. Express it internally through positive thoughts and appreciation. Express it outwardly through continued and ongoing courtship. Serving each other will help you see your spouse the way God sees him or her.

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Classification

Substance use refers to non-medical uses, but what about substances that are not illegal, but not always medicinal? One college professor can't teach without his morning coffee, and some of his students can't make it through their homework without an energy drink. Caffeine, classified as a schedule 3 stimulant drug, is used in some medications, but is also the drug abused by more people than any other drug. For these reasons, the APA moved caffeine to Section III of the manual for further research and study as a "Caffeine Use Disorder", relating to the potential addictive behavior caused by excessive, sustained consumption of caffeine. MyAddiction.com has more information about treatment for caffeine addiction.

Legality

Not all substance use is about legality. Marijuana has been approved for some uses in some states, and there was not enough evidence previously to include withdrawal under the cannabis category. However, research in the last fifteen years has provided enough for this to be added to the manual. The DSM-V includes new criteria for "cannabis withdrawal", which the APA says is caused by "cessation of cannabis use that has been heavy and prolonged," results in "clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning." Addiction-Treatment.com has treatment resources for marijuana abuse.

Behaviors

What about addicts that don't use a substance? A woman often cannot pay her bills because she goes to the casino after work every day, and a man is confused that his wife wants a divorce because of the time he spends video gaming. A new category of behavioral addictions address these kinds of issues. Gambling has been added to this category, due to its similarity in "clinical expression, brain origin, comorbidity, physiology, and treatment" (DSM-5.org Fact Sheet). The DSM-V fact sheet points out that "internet gaming disorder" has also been added, and that both internet and social media addictions still being studied and researched. This category may also include food addictions and sexual addictions in the future. Some treatment resources for behavioral addictions include Gamblers Anonymous, The Center for Internet Addiction, Best Video Game Treatment Centers, Food Addicts Anonymous, National Eating Disorder Association, and Addiction Recovery.

Symptoms

The DSM-V includes 11 symptoms to assess for substance use. Cravings, or urges to use the substance, is a new one added in this addition. One woman "shopped" for doctors to keep prescriptions of medication she no longer needed, and another woman continued using illegal drugs despite losing custody of her children. One man occidentally overdosed by using more than he meant to, while another man lost his job because he got so behind on his work while using.

Addictions are not called addictions anymore, and now referred to as substance use disorders. The goal for this change is to focus on drug-seeking behavior and the impact of substance use rather than only withdrawal symptoms. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has an excellent resource guide for explaining what kinds of help are available, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has contact information for help sorting through treatment options, or you can call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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Many healthcare workers have their own families at home, and children will have some questions as they hear about the outbreak on the news or have concerns about family members who work in the hospital or serve in other countries - even as they care for non-Ebola patients. It will be important to explain to children that the disease can only spread through touch, and not by anyone who isn't showing symptoms. There are only a few watch cases in the United States, and all of those are related to people who had recently traveled to Africa; those being watched are put on a 21 day fever watch, and cleared if no symptoms occur in that time. If a person does begin to show symptoms, they are cared for in an isolation ward at the hospital.

Patricia Davidson, Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, wrote a letter published in the Baltimore Sun about the role of nurses in caring for Ebola patients. She stated that while nurses are not "immune from fear," it is true that nurses are often "the first to reach the front lines of an epidemic, the first to recognize and try to relieve patient pain and the first to get to work healing the sick regardless of the challenges and obstacles." The Center for Disease Control provides information to protect healthcare workers caring for patients in such high-risk conditions.

As you talk with your children about Ebola, listen to their specific questions and answer them directly at their own developmental level. Reassure them of their safety and the safety of your loved ones, and discuss plans for treatment in cases where there are legitimate concerns. Children will often mirror your own response, so parents staying calm will help children stay calm. Maintaining structure and routine as much as possible will help children feel safe and comfortable. Acknowledge your own fears, and the fear of your child, but counter them with facts. Remember it's OK to turn off the media and take a break from news reports.

One of the best ways to help children in a crisis is to let them find ways to help. A child may not be able to cure Ebola right now, but they may have an interest in science that could be nurtured and encouraged. They may not be able to visit Africa to cheer up local children, but they can still be a positive contribution to their community, such as delivering flowers or stuffed animals to local children affected by other illnesses. Writing thank you notes to doctors and nurses helps children find ways to respond directly to what they witnessed or heard about on the news or at school. Volunteering at a local agency or for a church service project can help people far away from the tragedy still contribute something positive.

The Ebola crisis is likely to get worse before it gets better, and it's hard to explain why we can't make it go away, even when doctors and nurses are risking their lives trying to do so. Children look to us for safety, comfort, and modeling of healthy emotional responses to hard things. Talking with them about tragedies and teaching them how to cope is a vital part of raising them well, even when we can't solve all the problems right away.

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1. Websites

From basic how-to websites to university courses, there are thousands of educational websites. Watch out for joining fees, testing fees, or annual subscription fees. Some websites charge for official certificates, while others let you print them from home. Some universities offer free courses, while others charge a basic tuition rate to take them for credit. If taking courses for educational or professional credit, be sure the course is properly accredited or approved for your field. Be aware some sites may contain educational material on every subject, not all of which will be appropriate for you or your family. Also pay attention that the resources you utilize or download are either public domain or approved for legal download.

Popular how-to websites that generally passed our internet safety filters include: About.com (videos), EHow (text and videos), Howcast (videos), Make (text, videos), SuTree (videos), and WikiHow (text).

Educational videos for homeschool or tutoring are an excellent way to help kids learn online. Some of our favorites are TeacherTube (videos) and Pioneer Woman homeschool resources (text, links). For middle school and older, also try YouTube School (videos), HippoCampus (resources, content, images, videos), and iTunes University.

For all ages, from preschool to post-doc, we use Open Educational Resources (text, videos) to plan modules, units, and courses. Open Education Database (text, audio, video, courses) has everything from classic pieces, like a 1981 video of Ted Koppel interviewing Carl Sagan to an entire fall 2011 course on 9/11 and its aftermath.

For adults wanting to further their education, many universities offer free classes online. These often change throughout the year so check back often to find new courses. Here are some of our favorites: Harvard-MIT Initiative (videos), Open Yale (audio, video, text), Open Education Consortium (search audio/video open courses in universities all over the world), Princeton Media Central (audio, video, webcasts), Connexions (textbooks, reports, modules). GCF Learn Free (text, video) offers classes in technology, math, science, reading, typing, and office skills. Alison and Future Learn are both UK-based sites that offer a variety of full courses in a more structured format. Open Culture (audio, video) is a website that organizes all the free university courses from all over the world by course topic.

2. Podcasts

Podcasts are audio only, and can be downloaded to your smartphone or mp3 player. Some are individual classes, but most offer a series or a course on a particular subject. Learn Out Loud is a popular one that offers classes and courses on most everything. Many educational television stations also have podcasts, such as BBC and its children's podcasts), Discovery Channel, and the History Channel with its audio archive of famous speeches (see here for a whole list of great history podcasts).

3. Ebooks

Project Gutenberg started the ebook movement, making books available for free online, and now includes audiobooks. In August 2014, Project Gutenberg partnered to launch Outernet, which hopes to bring literacy by satellite for countries and rural areas that do not yet have access to the internet. Other ebook sites include: Free Ebooks (textbooks, audiobooks, children); Free Book Spot (scientific, engineering, programming); AskSam (classics, legal, government); and Get Free EBooks (fiction, new authors). Also, Online Books Page lists and links to more than 30,000 free books on the web.

4. Apps

Apps make it possible to use handheld devices as your own personal university or library! Some apps, like this list of educational apps for children, are free all the time. Many apps have free versions that include ads or limit usage time, but work just as well as the full price versions without ads. Others are hard to play with or disruptive because of all the in-app purchase options. There is good news, though: you can also watch for specials or discounts, such as the $49 app, Autism Track, which is an expensive app for parents of children with autism but is free one day a year on Autism Awareness Day (here is a list and another list of other autism apps discounted that day or during the month of April). Sometimes it is not that specific, such as Kindergarten.com making all their apps free only during the month of April, even though their apps are not autism-specific (or kindergarten-specific, so check them out for all little ones).

For adults, apps are usually very content specific. There are some GED apps, some GRE apps, and other apps for specific entrance exams like med school or law school. Most of these will have limited features in the "free" version, but if nothing else will give you the chance to try out which apps you really want to budget for before you actually buy them. Language and other specific course study apps work the same way, offering a free version to try and a full version to buy. Remember that gift cards for app stores is a good way to save money on those expensive apps, if you haven't already used the gift cards up on music only!

Websites, podcasts, ebooks, and apps are all great ways to continue learning online, whether it is summer school for the kids or weekend study for the grown-ups. Watching schedules for free courses offered and special deals on quality apps will give you greater access to legitimate education. Multitasking while listening to a podcast, or relaxing with an ebook while you are stuck in a waiting room are easy ways to cross homework off your list. With so many opportunities today, we never have to stop learning.

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I always have to refer people to their doctor or a psychiatrist to discuss medication issues, but there are several red flags for when it is time to make that appointment.

Loss of functioning

Sometimes parents or teachers want a child on medication because either the child or the people around the child are not functioning as they should (or both.) When a teacher recommends a medication referral for a wiggly or disruptive child, it is important to look at how the child is functioning in class. Is the child progressing well in school, even if the child is not sitting still? Or is the child falling behind because they cannot focus, pay attention or complete tasks? How much of a disruption is the child to the learning of the other students? Is the class itself still functioning? Whether a parent decides to medicate or not, there are many helpful tips for an active child in the classroom. When a parent asks about depression medication referrals, functioning questions are also important. Is the child just tearful? Or is the child not getting out of bed at all - ever? Is the child unusually sad? Or also not completing hygiene, skipping favorite activities and hiding from friends? The National Institute of Mental Health has a great FAQ for parents and teachers of depressed high school students.

Loss of reality

Sometimes the need for a medication referral is more obvious. If a child is seeing or hearing things that are not there, especially if this prompts aggression toward self or others, then definitely call the doctor right away. Mania that causes impulsive or out of control behavior, especially if it is dangerous (such as a teenager's reckless driving or sexually acting out), may be a good cause for a referral. Extreme issues with self-perception that cause changes in eating or exercise behaviors may indicate an eating disorder, which can require hospitalization. Sometimes simple things, like not sleeping or a urinary tract infection can cause a loss of touch with reality as well.

Loss of Control

When a child is already in therapy but continues to struggle with safety issues or aggression towards self or others, a medication referral might be needed. When a child is so anxious they cannot breathe or stop crying enough to talk, medication might help. Other loss of control issues, like bedwetting or soiling pants, could have other causes that need to be assessed by a medical doctor.

Loss of Hope

Hope is how people progress even through challenges and difficult experiences. When a child is not responding to therapy, symptoms escalate or it seems everything else has been tried, it is definitely a good time to check in with the medical doctor. Whether to rule out organic causes or to discuss medication options, a doctor can help restore hope to the child and the family.

Remember that medications are intended to rebalance chemicals in the brain, not target specific behavior problems. Medication will work differently in each child and often require a trial and error period in addition to the two months most medications need to start taking effect. Some diagnoses, like anxiety or depression, can sometimes benefit from medical intervention while others like Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Reactive Attachment Disorder are not necessarily caused by medical problems and so may not always benefit from medical treatment. Other diagnoses, like the BiPolar Disorders or Schizophrenia may demonstrate such a benefit from medication that the person is actually less likely to continue taking medication as prescribed (because they "feel better"), causing "relapses" that make them more sick each time they stop treatment. Many medications have side effects than can be really scary or even alter the child's personality.

Medicine does not "cure" a child's behavior, nor does it undo past experiences or correct family dynamics that may be contributing to current behaviors. Medicine does not replace therapy, help a child practice following directions, learn more quickly or increase communication skills. In addition, a child on too much medication or taking medication that isn't needed will not be able to function properly enough to practice problem-solving or expression skills. If the child is so sleepy, lethargic, or flat that they cannot interact well with others, express themselves, or accomplish simple tasks, then it is still not a positive benefit even if some negative behaviors are reduced. It is important to discuss medication choices with a medical doctor and take medications as prescribed (including not stopping them suddenly without first talking to the doctor.) Research alternative options, and discuss those with your doctor as well.

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