We want to shield our children from pain, difficulty, and trauma. This is natural. But we do our kids a disservice when we succumb to enabling. What is enabling? This is when we, as parents, inadvertently encourage unwanted behavior. Case in point: when we give in to a tantrum in order to avoid a scene
How to support your special needs child without enabling Read More »
When most of us think about depression, sadness is the first thing to come to mind. But the reality is, signs of depression in teens and even in kids vary widely, and some are really easy to miss. The first sign of one of my children’s depression was not lethargy or sadness. It was anger.
Easy to miss signs of depression in teens and kids Read More »
You’ve decided to get help for your child in the form of therapy, and have reached out to a therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist. Good job! But how to navigate the parent and therapist partnership? You will need to work as a team with mutual respect, support, and guidance. Here’s what you need to know: Trust
Depression vs bipolar disorder is confusing. Most parents are familiar with the concept of a depression diagnosis, and hopefully, you know what signs to look for when you think your child or teen may have depression. Depression is more than just feeling low or being moody. It’s a deep feeling of sadness, lack of interest,
Depression vs Bipolar disorder: what is the difference? Read More »
Deciding to medicate your child for ADHD, autism, or depression is a huge decision and one that is usually a last resort for most parents. Starting meds for kids is a decision that definitely needs to be taken seriously. Personally, I waited longer than I should have to use meds for depression and meds for
5 questions to ask before starting meds for kids Read More »
When my teen was diagnosed with major depression, it was kind of an ‘aha moment’ for me. The symptoms of teen depression had all been there, but for over a year, I had been looking right past them, trying to connect his behavior to life events, disappointments, and other conditional things. When his therapist diagnosed
Four symptoms of teen depression and how to beat them Read More »
What you probably already know: depression and social isolation–due to COVID precautions or otherwise–don’t mix well. But what is the depression loop and how is it affected by social isolation? Picture this: iIt’s 8 pm on a Saturday night, and my teen is ignoring his phone. Weird, right? Maybe even bizarre behavior from a 16-year-old?
What you need to know about depression and social isolation Read More »