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Tween & Teens | Work Burnout
I would like to share something more personal for this week’s blog. Recently, I have been battling with my own anxiety and panic attacks. As difficult as it is to go though, I believe this experience has given me tremendous empathy for my clients and those suffering from anxiety disorders. One morning I woke up with an extremely elevated heart-rate.
Read MoreAnxiety disorders are common but can be difficult to diagnose in children. Panic attacks occur within the realm of anxiety disorders; however, they are not exclusive to anxiety disorders. Your child may complain about physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, or other aches and pains.
Read MoreIn the heat of the moment we often forget the coping mechanisms we learn in therapy. It's easy to forget to pause and take a deep breath. I wanted to give you this list to help you in those moments where taking a deep breath just doesn't do the trick. Here are a 100 coping strategies to choose from. Enjoy!
Read MoreResearch shows children can begin experiencing anxiety in early childhood. As adults, we often think of anxiety as evidenced by constant worry and fidgeting. While children may exhibit these symptoms, there are a number of others ways children experience anxiety. Anxiety presents itself in a plethora of ways, such as
Read MoreI work with children and parents who often have trouble “pausing”. As humans, our first instinct is to react when a situation arises. When our child is not listening to us, our first instinct is to respond with a demand. It usually sounds something like, “If you don’t _____, I will____”. These reactions, in part, are due to time restraints, stress, and a lack of understanding of what our child’s behavior may be indicating.
Read MoreThis week’s breathing exercise is probably the one I employ most frequently in my everyday life. It’s so simple to do (it doesn’t require any facial or body manipulation), and it’s incredibly effective for the moments when I need a little “emergency calm”. If you suffer from any kind of anxiety, this breathing technique can be a great tool for you slow down your heart rate, and calm your body and mind before those stressful feelings of anxiety get out of control.
Read MoreSummer is south Texas is no picnic! Slogging through triple digit weather almost every day can definitely take its toll, making us hotter, more exhausted, and more irritated that we would ever wish to be! As I’m sure the title of this blog has given away already, one way to combat the adverse effects of this rising heat is through calm and focused breathing. So whether you’re trying to battle the external heat of the sun, or the internal heat of anger and frustration, this breathing exercise can provide the cool-down you’re craving!
Last week’s recommended breathing exercise was all about calming unwanted nerves and feelings of anxiety; this week’s is designed to give you a little more pep in your step!
Read MoreThe seamless exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that keeps our bodies humming along. And even though it’s a process that is obviously incredibly crucial to our lives, it’s something we typically give very little thought to. It’s one of the hundreds of valuable processes that our bodies execute automatically, and, as such, requires very little of our conscious effort.
Read MoreIt is about that time of year again—dreaded final exams. As a counselor that works with adolescents, I know the stress that many teens feel in regards to school. As I write this, I am reflecting back on my own experience with final exams. I always did well it in school, but when it came time to remembering an entire semester, or even year of material, I panicked. Then, I am supposed to remember a year’s worth of material for 7 classes? An overwhelming feeling takes over, and even though I know I will survive this, in the moment I have no idea how I will. Does this sound familiar? If so, here is a list of some things that you can do to prepare yourself for final exam week.
Read MoreMindfulness, or the practice of being present in the moment, is not just for adults, it’s for kids too! Children experience stress, sadness, and frustration, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression, just like adults do. Often times, children have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions, as well as regulating the emotions that they experience.
Read MoreAnxiety is one of those things where simply being alive means you experience it. My dog even has a script for Xanax at the pharmacy for those really bad stormy nights!
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