Many of us fantasized what parenthood would look like way before we had children. Our ideas of parenthood might have been solidified in early childhood, as we tucked our baby doll in her toy crib. Or it may have been dreamt about the moment we knew we were about to become a parent.
Anxious kids often have a hidden superpower. They are some of the kindest human beings on this planet. They are thoughtful, considerate and empathetic.They can soak up other people’s emotions and feel other people’s pain. So what happens when they become the target of a mean child. A child who is the opposite of thoughtful. The opposite of considerate. The opposite of empathetic.
You make the appointments. You drive your child each week. You hand over your credit card. But how do you really know if your child’s therapy is working. What should you look for? What are some red flags? Therapy can be time consuming and expensive, so it is important you know you are on the right track sooner rather than later!
Motivating Kids by Asking, “What is Anxiety or OCD Ruining for You?” It can be hard to motivate kids to work on anxiety or OCD. It can be a hard sell to tell them that the more they do hard things, the easier it will become. Anxiety or OCD can be demanding and convincing. So how are we supposed to motivate our kids to work […]
When I began my journey parenting kids with anxiety or OCD, it was a lonely experience – and I am an anxiety and OCD child therapist! I felt my judgement was questioned. I felt the diagnoses were questioned.I felt like my parenting was questioned.
To tell or not to tell. That is a common question I get asked by both parents and children alike. Is it a good idea for their friends to know they have anxiety or OCD? Could it be harmful?
Do you cringe when you sign your anxious child up for something new? Do you have a mini heart attack when you are planning to move your child to a new home, visit a new place or have a new experience?
Do I Tell My Child They have Been Diagnosed with Anxiety or OCD? Often one of the initial hurdles parents face when their child has been diagnosed with anxiety or OCD is what to tell their child. Do they even tell them at all? If they do, is it going to help or hurt the situation? I do have some strong opinions about this […]
Helping Anxious Kids Who Feel Like Everybody is Staring at Them When you have anxiety, especially social anxiety, you can think the world is a stage. The minute you leave your house, you can feel like all eyes are on you. This can be an unsettling feeling to say the least. Now add hormones and normal childhood insecurities, and those feelings can feel like a […]
Health and anxiety have an intimate relationship. They love to hang out together. They love to work together. Anxiety can make you feel sick. Sickness can make you feel anxious. It can be a vicious duo that can wreak havoc in your child’s life.
Sometimes it just seems impossible. Beating anxiety or OCD seems like an insurmountable task that is not worth taking. This is especially true for our kids. When just getting them to do their homework or eat healthy is an uphill battle, how on earth can we encourage them to take steps towards their fear?
Living with anxious kids requires a different kind of parenting. Sometimes it can feel exhausting. Sometimes it can feel frustrating. And sometimes it can feel inspiring and hopeful. It can be quite the rollercoaster ride.
Helping Kids with Anxiety or OCD who have Holiday Overwhelm What can be wrong with lots of time off, plenty of parties, some pent up excitement and gift giving? Lots actually, especially if you are a child with anxiety or OCD. It is not unusual for kids to struggle a bit more during the holidays. The reason for this varies depending on the child’s […]
Anxiety and OCD can take its toll. It can be exhausting, overwhelming and traumatizing for the whole family. So, when your child starts to make some big improvements, it’s normal to be worried about how long it will last. It’s normal to doubt the progress. You might ask yourself, “Is this for real? Is this the new normal?”
As a child therapist, I am often asked what to do when a child is in the middle of complete panic. Their brain has shut off and it can seem like there are no good options to help them. So how are you supposed to reduce anxiety?
