• Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We respect your privacy and will NEVER share your email address with anyone, ever.

    Join 11 other subscribers

  • Certifications

    Certified Coaches Federation Logo

  • Affiliations

    S-O-S Research Team
  • FosterMind

  • In Case You Missed It

Monthly Archives: May 2008

Facebook Connection for Social Anxiety

May 30, 2008   admin   No comments

I have a group on Facebook for Parents of Children with Social Anxiety. Although this isn’t the exact age group that I’m dealing with I felt that it was important to share this link with you. The Director of the film posted this on my facebook site. Take a look!

NEW DRAMATIC FILM ABOUT SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER!!!

It’s about time that we have something like this! A great film is in the works that highlights the debilitating effects of Social Anxiety and really sheds light on the disorder. This is not a real-life documentary, …

To view the full article please go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7457751633 or view the YouTube Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheDreamFactoryPrds

Read More

Time goes by so quickly

May 30, 2008   admin   No comments

It seems like just yesterday that we were contemplating a move and now we are officially on the 30 day countdown. It has been a crazy couple of months and it is without doubt that the best and worst is yet to come. So far if you ask the kids about moving they will be more than forthcoming about where we are moving to. The big test will come in the following weeks when what little is left in the house gets further boxed up and saying goodbye to friends. I have people telling me now how upset their children are at the prospect of loosing my children and I have to say at that moment in time I feel very guilty from uprooting all that my kids have known for the past 6 and 8 years. But change is good, at least that’s what I keep telling us.

So early next week we are venturing to the new school to register and get a tour and explain to the new school all that we have been through in the last 6 years with Syd. My hope for next week is that Sydney enjoys what she sees and maybe is a little excited about it. Sydney’s opinion I’m sure will differ and the reality is that if it goes the way yesterday went, we visited a friend of mine that works at a school and we had complete meltdown, I think I may need a good strong coffee and strength.

I’m not nieve, I know this is all tough on them and that Sydney must learn to trust everyone all over again. But she’s come such a long way and she is able to work through things better now. I must tell her exactly what we’re doing, what’s going to be happening and then I think it may at least keep her feeling slightly more secure. If I’ve learned anything at all it’s not to make things a surprise. As hard as it may be at least she knows what to expect.

I’ll keep you posted.

If you have an experience or idea that helps your child through rough times please share it with us!

Read More

Sydney picked her new room

May 25, 2008   admin   No comments

We took a drive to the new house today in order to take some measurements, find out if certain furniture will fit in the living room and dining room and most importantly we wanted Sydney to pick out her room. We felt it was important for her to pick out which room would be hers and let her feel like she was in charge. She had two rooms to choose from and in front of our family she proclaimed, “Guess which room I’m choosing?” with the biggest smile on her face she pointed to the room and proudly said, “This one!”. She was so proud of herself and we praised her decision. This is a big deal in the life of a child with Social Anxiety. First of all we’re moving into totally new surroundings, we’re all a little stressed about that. Secondly, her room will be a significant distance further from ours so it’s no surprise that she snuggled herself between her big brother and our room. Perhaps once we’re in the house moving things around the novelty will wear and anxiety will set in but for today the little step of figuring out just where her life will begin in this new house is a big step and she did it!

Read More

It only seems like yesterday

May 24, 2008   admin   No comments

It only seems like yesterday that we would walk into a social event and without any warning our daughter would burst out in tears. All eyes quickly shot our way and the inevitable question would be looming, sometimes said more often muttered under breath, ” What’s wrong? why is she crying”. As a parent all emotions come in to play when your child is unhappy for seemingly unknown reasons. For us we knew, entering into a room full of people, children playing and running around, eyes on us…you name it and anything that required social involvement would bring her to tears.

Well, today we went to a birthday party, this was after spending the morning at the school’s spring fair. We walked into the backyard to a number of people and our daughter did not cry, she did not cling to my leg, she did not sit back and observe her surroundings, no instead she raced to her cousin and climbed into their trampoline and started jumping. It still sometimes catches me off guard when all of the sudden she’s not beside me. I have an opportunity to say hello, to have adult conversation and most importantly I see my daughter revelling in the laughter of her cousins who for so long wanted her to join in. Now, don’t get me wrong it doesn’t always happen that way but when it does it only seems like yesterday that those little hands were clinging to me for dear life. Best of all when someone asked me how the packing was going didn’t she pipe up to say, “We’re moving around the Milton way!”, very matter-of-fact, very grown up, very confident.

Read More

Iris the Dragon

May 23, 2008   admin   No comments

In my need to continually find resources and helpful material for us all to enjoy I was contacted this week by the author who produces the book series of “Iris the Dragon”. If you have a chance please take a look at their website.

New book to help children with anxiety launched during Children’s Mental Health Week, May 4 -10th

 

May 11, 2008

 

OTTAWA – To mark Children’s Mental Health Week, Iris the Dragon Inc. launched its third book in a series that helps children and parents address mental health issues. Hole in One: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series uses a fairy tale format to create awareness and discussion about anxiety disorders in children, specifically social anxiety.

 

Hole in One helps children understand anxiety as they read about the main character, Teeman, who dreams of being a professional golfer but whose ambition and ability to perform are inhibited by his anxiety. Upon meeting a friendly green dragon named Iris, Teeman is able to understand anxiety and learn techniques to help overcome it.

 

Author Gayle Grass created the series to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health and to generate understanding and awareness of mental health problems in children. “I personally experienced the effects that mental health problems had on children and their families,” says Ms Grass. “I found that there were very few resources in the marketplace that dealt with children’s mental health, and wanted to create a tool that would facilitate a dialogue between parents and children in a non-threatening format.”

 

The book has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Prabhu, Registered Psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Head of the Mood and Anxiety Team. “Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorder in children and adults,” says Dr. Prabhu, who also wrote the book’s epilogue. “It is estimated that roughly 13% of children and youth suffer from anxiety disorders, with more girls than boys receiving this diagnosis.” 

 

Iris the Dragon, a non-profit publisher, was created to provide educational material for adults and young readers to help facilitate a conversation between parents, teachers and children about issues relating to mental health and emotional wellness.

 

To celebrate their new book Iris the Dragon is offering a free book for every book purchased.

 

For more information about the release of Hole in One and to order your copy, visit

www.iristhedragon.com

Read More
« Older posts

  • Featured Videos

    Changing Educational Paradigms

  • What We’re Up To

    May 2008
    M T W T F S S
    « Apr   Jun »
     1234
    567891011
    12131415161718
    19202122232425
    262728293031  
Powered by WordPress | Designed by: best suv | Thanks to toyota suv, infiniti suv and lexus suv

Array