Quirky. Has some odd habits. Quite controlling. These are inaccurate ways to describe a child or adolescent with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). As I discuss in this video, the nature of OCD is that it IS very distressing. It gets in the way of kids enjoying a normal life. People seek treatment because more and ... [Read more now]
Listening to a message left by Reeva Simons* on my voice mail, I noted some anxiety in her voice. I called back immediately and set up an appointment for the next day. Noticing the date was the 14th of January, I decided to consult my notes. Yes, my gut feeling was correct. I had seen ... [Read more now]
Most parents care deeply about their children. Literally, they work 24/7 to provide for their children’s physical and emotional needs. One area of difficulty for parents is to be calm and loving when their child is anxious or afraid. Common mistakes parents often make Here are some common responses that I have witnessed when a ... [Read more now]
The verdict is out. If you are an anxious person, your child will more likely be anxious too. Therefore, you owe it to your child, as much as to yourself, to learn how to manage your anxiety. Tips for parents: Be honest with yourself. How anxious are you on a daily basis? If you are ... [Read more now]
So many parents cry to me about their children. It is heart breaking to have a child who is suffering from any mental health issue including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, or phobias. It is also excruciating to watch a child with ADHD, Autism or learning problems, struggle academically and socially. Parents are ... [Read more now]
Bullying is a hot topic today. Still, it is not yet common knowledge that bullying can be extremely damaging to victims. Bullying can literally change your brain’s neural structure and impact neurotransmitters. Theses changes lead to anxiety, depression and diminished learning capacity. There are many different definitions of bullying. Most definitions refer to specific behaviours ... [Read more now]
Adults today feel very anxious about the safety of children. Not only parents, but grandparents, extended family and strangers worry about children left alone. In principle, it is a caring and responsible attitude. It has been exacerbated by knowledge of child abductions, abuse and neglect. But have we taken it too far? I think so. ... [Read more now]
"Parents who are overprotective and constantly monitoring their child's progress, known as helicopter parenting, could be making children more anxious as they get older, according to an Australian study. The finding comes from a study of 200 children by researchers from Sydney's Macquarie University. The children were initially assessed when they were pre-school age (three ... [Read more now]
