Failure to recognise and understand anger can lead to a variety of problems for pregnant women and their unborn babies. According to APA (American Psychologists Association) documentation, anger is accompanied by physiological and biological changes: when we get angry, our heart rates and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of our energy hormones ... [Read more now]
I was recently asked by MyDeal.com.au for my advice on the ups and downs of being a step parent. It got me thinking about... Every parent needs to work on their own self-esteem and confidence levels to cope with the vicissitudes of parenting. Step parents even more so, as it is a big ask to ... [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]
Antidepressants are commonly used to treat depression and anxiety. However, many women believe that they need to stop their antidepressant medication once they fall pregnant. This is because it is commonly thought that antidepressants are detrimental to the foetus. However, in reality there is no conclusive evidence that antidepressants are harmful. In fact, in some ... [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]
The phrase “stop it, I like it!” connotes the ambivalence children feel in relation to their mother. On the one hand, growing children and adolescents want to be left alone to explore and find their own way. On the other hand, these same children and adolescents would feel neglected if their mothers did not show ... [Read more now]
