In light of the school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., it's important to address emotional health issues for parents and kids. In fact, all of us, as a nation are grieving. We need to examine our response to crisis and protect ourselves. Part of that involves guarding our minds against excessive fear. Parents particularly need to be mindful of how they discuss the deaths with their children. We have to be sensitive and open, but not reactionary. Here are mental health resources for disaster victims and all of us as we recover. Read moreSandy Hook School Shootings--Mental Health Resources for Kids, Disaster Victims
In light of the school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., it's important to address emotional health issues for parents and kids. In fact, all of us, as a nation are grieving. We need to examine our response to crisis and protect ourselves. Part of that involves guarding our minds against excessive fear. Parents particularly need to be mindful of how they discuss the deaths with their children. We have to be sensitive and open, but not reactionary. Here are mental health resources for disaster victims and all of us as we recover. Read more
Parent coping tips for teen anger and mood swings
Clinical teen depression and adolescent major mood disorder are relatively uncommon, but tell that to parents of teens and they may not agree. Bouts of moodiness are hallmarks of teen behavior and one of the most worrisome for parents. Here's a parent survival kit for dealing with teen mood swings. read more
Curb Holiday Cravings, Christmas Weight Gain with Low Sugar Switches
Understanding teen depression and adolescent mood swings
Teenage depression can be frightening for kids and parents. Clinical teen depression is relatively rare, but mood swings aren't. They're part and parcel of growing up. Mood swings affect adolescents across the spectrum, regardless of background, upbringing, personality or gender. Here are things to keep in mind about teen mood swings. Understanding teen depression and adolescent mood swings
What parents should know about childhood obesity to help overweight kids
For a society that values tolerance, there's one population we're not very nice to--fat people. We treat fat kids especially badly. We rail against bullying, but then we shame overweight kids and guilt parents for letting kids get fat. While obesity is problematic, every fat kid may not be overweight. Here are things parents need to know about fat kids and weight loss. What parents should know about childhood obesity
Techniques, Self Help Therapy to Heal Low Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem, lack of confidence, poor self-image, these are some of the many ways to describe feelings of worthlessness. In my experience and research, I have come to a working conclusion that low self-esteem is at the core of many surface illnesses. Depression, codependency, lethargy, failure to thrive, low achievement, substance abuse, isolation, relationship issues, control issues, rage, arrogance, intolerance, parenting problems, frequent illness, stress and stress related illnesses and many others. 10 Therapeutic Techniques to Heal Low Self-Esteem
How parents can help withdrawn, shy kids
How I Self Discipline, Change Habits Using Al Anon Slogans
Self-discipline is something I've never had trouble with. I've got a nasty case of low self-esteem and auto-flagellation my modus operandi. But rigid self-control isn't healthy. It doesn't work either. Here's a simple self help plan I created, based on Al-Anon principles, to modify behavior and change habits. It works if you work it, one day at a time! How I Self-Discipline, Change Habits Using Al-Anon Slogans
How I Lost Weight with Weekly Spiritual Fasting
There's some controversy about fasting as a way to lose weight. Going without eating for long stretches can be dangerous. But regular, spiritual bread and water fasting can be beneficial health-wise and for losing weight. It improves emotional health, too. Here's how I did it. How I Lost Weight with Weekly Spiritual Fasting
Empty nest syndrome: Ways to survive kids moving out
When children leave home, many parents experience depression symptoms called "Empty Nest Syndrome," says Psychology Today. Typically, empty nesters are mothers, but dads experience it, too. Some factors affect empty nest, including number and age of kids, family closeness, death of children, and boomerang kids (those who leave and come back). Life factors like parents' relationship, jobs, health and social opportunities determine severity, too. Here are tips for coping with empty nest syndrome. Empty nest syndrome: Ways to survive kids moving out
Helping Kids Cope with Motion Sickness in Air Travel
Motion sickness is primarily a vestibular condition exacerbated by nerves. Motion sickness afflicts several of my children. One gets air sick and the other struggles with car travel. As a kid, I'd get seasick and car sick. Here's a first aid kit I've assembled for children who suffer from travel sickness on airplanes. These tips help with motion sickness on car or boat rides, too. Helping Kids Cope with Motion Sickness in Air Travel
Four Must-Have Relationship Rules of Emotionally Healthy Couples
Starting a relationship with a significant other can bring much happiness. As with marriage, there's a honeymoon phase where you float above problems and always get along. But the honeymoon doesn't last forever. And if some ground rules aren't put in place early on, the relationship will crumble quickly. As the relationship progresses and depending on what level it gets to, more definition may be added. Here are some must-have rules. Four Must-Have Relationship Rules of Engagement
The Importance of Boundaries and Road Signs in Relationships
Navigating relationships with significant others or spouses is a lot like driving on back roads. There are few stoplights, street markers or warnings posted. You only know you're in a blind alley, pitfalls or wrong turn when it's too late. In relationships, the only warning signs are those partners erect themselves and, as with traffic signals,they're usually not erected until an accident has occurred. The Importance of Boundaries and Road Signs in Relationships
How to parent kids who cut without getting hurt
Meander through any parenting forum and the subject of kids cutting themselves is bound to come up. Intentional self-harm is scary and hurts everyone involved. It's a painful subject just to talk about, let alone try to parent. As a parent to a child with an eating disorder and a childhood self-abuser myself, I've walked through many self-harm issues. Here's my emotional "first aid kit" for cutters and those who love them. How to parent kids who cut without getting hurt
Teach teens to tame temper tantrums
Alanon Slogans to Treat Depression--One Day at a Time
Depression can be a crippling mental health condition. Though it manifests itself differently in different people, one common challenge is with control issues. Depression is often a precursor for addiction, power struggles in relationships and self-control problems.Even though I've been in recovery for years, I still struggle with bouts of depression. Depression bouts are often triggered by negative experiences--job loss, relationship splits (or just rocky patches), health issues, kids moving away. Since I've hit menopause, I've been in a colossal depression jag. It's so bad that I've considered restarting an antidepressant after successfully weaning 2 years ago. It feels PMS everyday. All this reminds me that I can't quit quitting (the mental health work).
Alcoholics Anonymous and its partner groups Al-Anon, offers many helpful recovery tools. Even if there's no active addiction or codependency going on, Al-Anon is still really helpful. I find the slogans used by AA and Al-Anon, listed Addiction A-Z, particularly useful to heal issues associated with depression. I mediate daily on different slogans. Here are some thoughts on the slogan "One Day at a Time."
Al-Anon Slogans to Treat Depression--One Day at a Time
How Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Heals Negative Thoughts, Depression
I wouldn't say depression and I are friends, but we're definitely old acquaintances. I've tried different therapies to treat my depression. Counseling, journaling, herbal treatments, antidepressant medications, self-help books-each has helped me in some way. How Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Heals Negative Thoughts, Depression
Using Al Anon Slogans to Heal Negative Thoughts, Depression
Depression is a lonely, scary condition. You feel like no one has ever felt like you feel. While I don't know exactly what you're feeling or what happened to cause your depression, I empathize. Depression and I go back a long way. I've tried many different techniques to heal or at least just cope with my it.About 10 years ago, I tried Al Anon, the companion support group for Alcoholics Anonymous for a drinking issue. I discovered that Al Anon principles were useful for treating a gamut of emotional issues, including depression. See, depression stems from that stinking thinking they're always talking about in AA/Al-Anon. Usually codependency is somewhere tangled up in the roots. Recovery for me requires new self-talk, new I-messages.
Some of the most helpful components of Al-Anon, for me, are the recovery slogans. Addiction A-Z lists a collection of slogans for all different sorts of situations. There are general helpful reality checks and mental health tools, too. Here's how I use them in recovery. Using Al-Anon Slogans to Heal Negative Thoughts, Depression . If you're feeling despair and you can't find help, get to a meeting. If you can't, check out Daily Strength.org. Remember--one day at a time. This too shall pass--and it will, I promise.
Distorted Stinking Thinking of Low Self Esteem, Depression
Have you ever wondered what goes on inside the head of a person with low self-esteem? I can clue you in. I've had a lot (too much) of experience with it. If you're experiencing low self-esteem for the first time, it can be pretty scary. If you've not experienced it, it's hard to imagine why we behave as we do.Low self-esteem often manifests as depression. It's a complex melange of feelings, but it's based on negative thinking. Stinking thinking, as Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous would call it. Everyone has some thoughts of self-doubt, but in a person with low self-esteem, these thoughts are pervasive. Teens are particularly vulnerable. Negative thoughts are obsessive, inaccurate and distorted, too. Here's how people with low self-esteem think about themselves. Distorted Thinking of Low Self-Esteem, Depression
How to balance family summer schedules with sleep-late teens
Mary Richardson Kennedy Death By Hanging--Kids Need Extra Support
Whatever the circumstances that led to Mary Richardson Kennedy's death, I say we need to give the family a lot of space and support to mourn. Especially her four kids. ABC News says that the 52-year-old wife of Robert Kennedy, Jr., was found dead from asphyxiation due to hanging in an outbuilding on the family property in Bedford, N.Y. Kids Need Extra Support After Death of Mom Mary Kennedy
How to soothe a fussy, crying baby
25 Drug-Free Therapies to Treat Menopause Depression, Anxiety
Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome): I struggle with each to a varying degree. For seven years I took the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine), but I put on weight at an alarming rate. When I entered menopause, it felt like I had PMS every day. My depression and panic attacks escalated. I decided to quit and find ways to treat emotional distress without medication. Here are 25 drug-free therapies that have kept me off antidepressants and helped me to lose weight and feel better.Read more at: 25 Drug-Free Therapies to Treat Menopause Depression, Anxiety
Healthy Grieving and Coping with Loss Patterns
Self Help Tricks, Mental Health Tips to Quit Antidepressants
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