It is not uncommon for children to experience anxiety when change occurs. From transitioning grades to families moving into an entirely new school district, changes for some students could potentially result in difficulties in academics, social and emotional problems, and increased rates of dropouts. However, these changes are provide children with the chance to learn…
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Addictive coping mechanisms? That’s right! Much like behavioral scientists understand alcohol and substance abuse as an addiction to a method of coping, they understand a range of other behaviors as addictive as well. This includes gambling, hoarding, and sex addiction. More recently, scientists are viewing anger through the lens of addiction theory as well. Ever…
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When it comes to anger, there are three paths we can take: Aggression: This is where we believe our feelings trump the rights of others, and at its extreme end result in emotionally or physically abusive behavior. Perfection: On the opposite end of the spectrum, some of us get the message that we don’t have…
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Feelings are a normal part of the human experience, but often we shame children for certain feelings. Or we send the message that they should be able to “control” their feelings. Some research suggests that this can actually produce anxiety in children, who feel they must be in control of all of their emotions. Instead,…
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Ask your child to lie on his/her back. Ask your child to close her/his eyes and breathe normally while paying attention to all the parts of his/her body that move when she/he breathes. Ask him/her to place one hand on her/his upper chest and the other on his/her stomach. Tell your child to inhale through…
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While lying on their backs, ask your child to stiffen every part of their bodies, and be like spaghetti before it is cooked. Slowly count to 3. Then ask your child to completely relax while you slowly count to 3. Tell them to be like cooked spaghetti. This is a fun way to calm down…
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