Quote
admin January 22nd, 2010
When you are sorrowful
look into your heart
and you shall see that
you are weeping
for that which has been
your delight
~ Kahlil Gibran
Why it’s healthy to cry
admin January 21st, 2010
Here’s a great article from my chiropractor’s office about the benefits of crying.
Why It’s Healthy to Cry!
Have you ever curled up on the couch with a blanket and a box of tissues to watch a favorite tear-jerker, perhaps after a particularly nasty break-up? Romeo and Juliet, Titanic, Wuthering Heights, Brian’s Song (even guys shed a tear watching that one!) – any one of those or a hundred others can bring out the tissue box.
So why do we do it? Why do we purposefully seek out situations that make us cry? And what about crying in general? Is it really good for you? Can a good cry really make us feel better?
There are actually three different types of tears.
• Reflex tears are produced in response to an irritant (i.e., smoke, onions, a bug getting into your eye, etc.).
• Continuous tears lubricate your eyes to keep them from drying out.
• Emotional tears are produced in response to any number of situations, including frustration, sadness, anger, relief, pain and even joy.
William Frey II, a biochemist at the St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, discovered that there is a significant increase in the types and amount of stress hormones released in emotional tears. Stress hormones can damage brain cells and negatively affect nearly every organ and system in the human body. Frey’s research seems to indicate that tears serve a definite purpose by eliminating harmful stress hormones (toxins). Interestingly enough, research has also discovered that those who suffer from stress-related conditions, such as ulcers and colitis, frown on the idea of shedding tears.
How miraculous our human bodies are! It’s amazing that so many people still look down on a body function that is intended to eliminate stress hormones that are responsible for virtually every stress-related illness. Now, is it really any wonder that you feel so much better after a good cry?Article taken from Discover Wellness
Cookie Monster makes his way into the classroom
admin January 20th, 2010
During circle time it is not uncommon a scene to see the kids one by one holding on to cookie monster as they share their stories. As the big eyed blue stuffy monster comes closer to Sydney the action of passing it to her seems to skip a beat as all the students assume that Sydney will not share with the class so cookie monster skips her altogether. Thankfully, the teacher recognized this and thought of a great idea. Sharing with the class is coming very, very slowly but it was recognized that perhaps one day Sydney would like to share but opportunity is passing her by. She knows how difficult it is to contribute to class but she thought a acceptable challenge would be to at least take cookie monster and pass it along. She does not have to utter the word pass it’s just a small step to gain confidence in herself to say I’m part of the group regardless of whether or not I speak.
I admire the teacher for realizing that this little step is just what needs to happen in order to help things progress. It’s safe and it’s a step up that mountain one pebble at a time. Now, I’m just waiting for that cookie monster in her communication book to be circled to show that the steps are working.
Freedom from Fear
admin January 20th, 2010
I just found a great site called Freedom from Fear. Take a look at the information below and see if there is anything there that can benefit you.
Anxiety and Depressive disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses. Anxiety disorders alone affect more than 19 million American’s each year. Both anxiety and depressive illnesses are severe, chronic and extremely impairing to the individuals who are affected by them. Furthermore, they can have a devastating effect on the family members of those suffering from anxiety and depression.
Freedom From Fear is a national not-for-profit mental health advocacy association founded in 1984 by Mary Guardino. Ms. Guardino founded FFF as an outgrowth of her own personal experiences of suffering with anxiety and depressive illnesses for more than 25 years. The mission of FFF is to impact, in a positive way, the lives of all those affected by anxiety, depressive and related disorders through advocacy, education, research and community support.
FFF has developed an anxiety and depression screening program with a free consultation from a health care professional. Visit the FFF Screening Room.
Symptoms Child Anxiety Attacks
admin January 19th, 2010
Children anxiety disorders are common, but the exact number of sufferers is unknown, most likely because the condition is often under-diagnosed, undiagnosed or unreported. While it is very treatable with good, persistent medical care, medical experts agree that anxiety problems during childhood (when misjudged and overlooked) will likely to persist as an adult psychiatric disorder. In other words, early manifestations of anxiety through anxiety attacks during childhood must be addressed as early as possible hence, reducing the chances of developing into an adult version.
Quote
admin January 6th, 2010
Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. ~Albert Camus
Happy New Year
admin January 6th, 2010
Well 2010 is most certainly upon us and if you’re a regular to the blog you may have noticed that there were not too many posts over the last few months. As I mentioned in a previous email I have been having some troubles of my own in dealing with my past traumas and current issues with anxiety. I am fortunate to have what I call my “Angels” behind me and each day is a step closer towards healing. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to try and concentrate more on the blog and my committement to advocacy. I have so many wonderful ideas, now if I can only get my head together to put it all in motion.
I’ve started the year off for both Sydney, her brother and I with a little positive chant. When I wake up these are the things that I say to myself to start the day and with the kids I hold out my fingers and together we say:
I am healthy
I am happy
I am loved
I am strong
I am supported
These words have a powerful impact in the morning. Not to mention that it has raised many a giggles which is always a good start to the day.
I wish you all a happy 2010 and thanks for being patient with me. I promise good things are coming.
Another year is drawing to a close and I’d like..
admin December 22nd, 2009
I loathe the expression “What makes him tick.” It is the American mind, looking for simple and singular solution, that uses the foolish expression. A person not only ticks, he also chimes and strikes the hour, falls and breaks and has to be put together again, and sometimes stops like an electric clock in a thunderstorm.
- James Thurber
As many of you have noticed that over the past month or two there has been little activity on the blog. I have not given up on my committement to make things better for my daughter nor have I lost my focus. No, instead I have much like the above quote broken a little bit and needed to be put back together. Seems like my daughter is not the only one who is having to challenge the anxiety monster. I have always suffered from anxiety attacks and since September my past has caught up with me and made me take some time to sort some things out for myself. I’ve been given the opportunity to look into myself and the way I tick and chime in efforts to help my daughter out there.
This has been an incredible year for both the blog and myself. This year the blog has:
- Been host to some amazing woman who have shared their insight with us such as Ruth Hartman, Jan Lundy and Ruth Hix and Chynna Laird.
- Been selected to be one of the Top 100 at the Baby and Children’s Blog.
- Had a first ever “Blog Contest” where Iris the Dragon books were given away.
- Attended the Parents for Children’s Mental Health conference.
- A wonderful article was written in the Toronto Star by Andrea Gordon on early intervention for children.
- Presented at the annual Parents Information Conference for the Halton Catholic School Board.
For myself I have had the chance to put “me” back together. In the struggle to make things better for Sydney I lost a bit of myself. A panic attack back in September landed me in the hospital and things have been changing a little bit each day since. Don’t worry for the better. I feel priveleged and honoured to have gotten so many wonderful emails from friends and strangers thanking me for what I do and I must admit I feel a little guilty that I’ve just sort of dropped off the blogging world. I’m sure all parents but especially parents that are raising children with challenges know we must take care of ourselves first and foremost because without us where would we be? I’ve enlisted the help of naturopaths, chiropractors and the therapist from ROCK (as we go through the second phase of the trauma session group). Each one of these individuals I consider to be like Angels that have been placed tenderly in front of me to help me be a stronger more whole and well individual. Everyone knows when we feel good inside great things can happen and that is exactly what I plan to do.
Great things will come in the New Year trust me.
So, as the end of the year draws closer I want to wish you all the best of the season no matter which celebration you engage in. I want to ensure you that the blog will continue and I will do my best to find great things and resources for all of us. The one thing I ask is that you as the parent or the one suffering from anxiety or any other mental health issue be kind to yourself and know that we all have within us a great power and vitality to live. We just as the quote says, “chime, break and sometimes stop” but that doesn’t mean the end it just means that temporarily our path changes but once we’re back on track we have life ahead of us, and the possibilities are incrediable.
Merry Christmas and all the best of 2010.
Coping with stress
admin November 4th, 2009
It’s on T.V., it’s in the paper, everyone is the schoolyard is talking about it and it is most certainly overwhelming. What am I talking about? H1N1. I don’t know about you but if you suffer from anxiety than you’ve probably been overrun and overwhelmed by all the news about this new flu. Well, I have started avoiding watching the news and will skip past all the articles about the virus. Don’t get me wrong I am perfectly aware of what the virus is doing it’s just that every 5 minutes I don’t need to be reminded that my children might die or I might die if I contract H1N1. So in my google alerts this morning I found an article that was a bit of a light in a very dark scenario and it made me breath a little easier. Take a look at some really good advice for those of us who suffer from anxiety and even those who don’t.
Throughout the course of history, people have coped with a variety of illnesses and diseases that have been severe and widespread. Along with the physical impact of such illnesses, each widespread disease or epidemic has brought various levels of social anxiety, stress, and in extreme cases near panic. While our society today is nowhere near this level of public anxiety, it is important to keep a balanced psychological approach to this issue.
High levels of public attention and media coverage are necessary to help prevent the spread of influenza. However, these frequent messages can inadvertently raise our anxiety and lead to high levels of stress or feeling somewhat helpless. The following tips will help you deal more effectively with the psychological stress associated with flu season.
Have you ever heard of PANDAS? Not the animal.
admin October 21st, 2009
I was fortunate enough to have this article forwarded to me from the Thrive blog. It is a blog put together by the Chicago’s Children’s Hospital.
Today we posted an article on our pediatric blog, Thrive, on one mother’s story about her son’s diagnosis of PANDAS, a controversial neuropsychiatric disorder thought to be related to routine childhood strep infectionsI came upon your website and thought this article may be of interest to your readers.
Eleven-year-old Chris Heckmann was healthy and in good spirits when his mother, Maura, left him with friends for the night. But when she returned, 24 hours later, her son was unrecognizable. Stricken with paranoia, he refused to eat and paced around the family room, fear in his eyes.
