The Raising Socially Anxious Children Blog

admin April 14th, 2010

If you come to the site often you’ll notice that now there’s a “Subscribe” button at the top. In an effort to make sure that all you readers get timely updates and to keep abreast of upcoming events I encourage you to sign up. So what’s the blog contest you ask? Well, everyone who signs up between now and June 1st, 2010 gets their name put in for two “Iris the Dragon” books. One is on stopping the stigma of mental illness and the other is on anxiety. So go ahead and see if you’ll be lucky. Either way you win!

Thanks for reading!

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admin February 13th, 2010

Parents for Children’s Mental Health is pleased to present the
6th Annual
Parent to Parent
Conference
Friday April 30th, 2010
and Saturday, May 1, 2010
LOCATION: Novotel Hotel Mississauga
3670 Hurontario Street
905-896-1000
(special rates available when booking for conference)
Friday evening 6 p.m.
Friday evening ‘Mental Illness and the Arts’
and reception
Keynote address by Gayle Grass, author of Iris the Dragon Series
Special guests and special performance from Tara-Jean and Vincent
from CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance Canada who will showcase
their dance depicting mental illness choreographed by Stacey
Tookey. Tara-Jean was the winner of CTV’s So You Think You Can
Dance Canada this past season.
Saturday, May 1, 2010 (All Day)
Workshops will include: PCMH’s From The Inside Workshop and Training, Child
and Youth Provincial Advocate, Political and Public Advocacy, Raising Children with Mental
Illness, Youth Justice and The Police System, and more to be announced. As well as keynote
addresses to be announced.
Parents Supporting Parents Conference for Child and Youth Mental Health.
With new speakers, and a Friday evening reception,
this year is proving to be another excellent opportunity for networking,
exchanging information and gaining necessary supports we all need.
This year we thank our sponsors -
The Child Development Institute

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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.

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admin May 4th, 2009

It is my pleasure to give away a copy of the book “I can Fix it” part of the Iris the Dragon Series.
Here is the winning entry

We have an amazing 7 year old who has been dx with anxiety disorder and is in the process of being dx with Asperger’s or somewhere else on the ASD. In the past, he has not been able to participate in extra activities such as rec league sports; his anxiety levels were entirely too high. This year, I told him he could play soccer if he wanted and he did. We told him soccer was Tuesday night and Saturday morning. We never made a big deal about any of it like we have in the past, just started preparing him for the schedule change and when the time came got him dressed and left the house. Our wonderful little boy has been playing soccer successfully with very little anxiety for 4 weeks now!

I truly believe that by keeping it low key, he was able to prepare himself without all of the anxiety that comes with such a socially involved change.

Please remember your comments and feedback is what keeps the spirit of hope and community and growth alive. Read often and share often.

Celebrate the children and remember that no child should be left out!

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admin May 2nd, 2009

We were given a copy of the new Iris the Dragon book entitled “I can fix it”

The new book focuses on educating audiences about Asperger’s Syndrome one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and the importance of a caring community surrounding children with developmental, emotional and behavioral challenges

And I have some exciting news for you. I’m having my first ever blog contest. For those who wish to win a copy of the new Iris the Dragon Book, here’s what you have to do:

Just let us know your best “small victory” story … you know – those moments where a few words, saying nothing at all, or “winging it” have made all the difference to your child.

To enter the contest simply leave a comment on this post. Contest closes May 4th, 2009 and good luck!

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admin April 27th, 2009

Gordon Floyd, the executive director and CEO of Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) who was also a guest speaker told The News one of the biggest obstacles facing parents today is the lack of understanding and support from their neighbours, teachers and police regarding mental issues with children.

The sixth annual Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH) conference was on Saturday and it was truly amazing. It was an incrediable opportunity to meet a new group of parents who understood unconditionally my struggles. It was empowering and emotional and best of all I got to meet face to face my new friend Heather Bishop, the mother of Erynn Quigley of whom we shared the spotlight in the Globe and Mail article back in 2008. It was a chance to learn, a chance to share and a chance to see exactly how we can all help to change the stigma of mental health.

We were given a copy of the new Iris the Dragon book entitled “I can fix it”

The new book focuses on educating audiences about Asperger’s Syndrome one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and the importance of a caring community surrounding children with developmental, emotional and behavioral challenges

And I have some exciting news for you. I’m having my first ever blog contest. For those who wish to win a copy of the new Iris the Dragon Book, here’s what you have to do:

Just let us know your best “small victory” story … you know – those moments where a few words, saying nothing at all, or “winging it” have made all the difference to your child.

To enter the contest simply leave a comment on this post. Contest closes May 4th, 2009 and good luck!

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admin February 26th, 2009

I have great news from the Iris the Dragon series. If you’re not familiar with the books:

Iris the Dragon is an educational company that publishes a series of children’s illustrated books for children with special needs ranging from emotional, behavioral and developmental conditions. Children’s books are an effective resource for caregivers to introduce topics to children and begin discussions on topics that can be difficult. Iris the Dragon books help to promote the acceptance of children with mental health challenges while at the same time offering a brighter future for these children.

Iris the Dragon is now offering her first two books “Catch a Falling Star” and “Lucky Horseshoes” in her series for free as a downloadable PDF. Visit the store to download your copy now!

As well Iris will be launching her 4th book April 2009 called “I Can Fix It.” The new book focuses on educating her audiences about Asperger’s Syndrome one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and the importance of a caring community surrounding children with developmental, emotional and behavioral challenges.

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admin May 23rd, 2008

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

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