Did you know June is also PTSD Awareness Month? PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder, is a mental health disorder that can be developed after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event such as a natural disaster, car accident, being a victim or witness to violence, or death of a close family member or friend. Research has…
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In life we face many challenges, big and small. When a problem causes us stress or discomfort we have four options: Solve the problem, change your perception of the problem, radically accept the situation, or stay miserable. Marsha Linehan, the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Even though we sometimes unconsciously choose it, none of us wants…
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Did you know that over 6 million men across the nation suffer from depression every year? Depression is actually often undiagnosable in men but men are likely to report loss of interest, fatigue and/or irritability rather than feelings of sadness or worthlessness. One of the risk factors for male depression is substance abuse and about…
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Did you know that taking a moment of silence in between statements is actually an important skill to mindful communication? Children (and adults) who don’t have the skills to control their impulsive behaviors tend to be more reactive (immediate and without conscious thought) than responsive (longer, thoughtful action) in a stressful situation. So when kids…
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Whenever you are spending time with your child, whether you are doing a craft together or taking a stroll around the park, do you ever stop and wonder what your kid might be thinking in that moment? We all do it, too. Children are use to giving us quick answers when we ask them “did…
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The Disaster Media Intervention (DMI) Toolkit can help parents or teachers discuss media coverage of traumatic events including racial injustice and police violence, pandemics, natural disasters, shootings, and more. There are three primary goals for discussion with young people: Encourage Dialogue: Encourage students to talk about their feelings and concerns with a trusted adult. Establish a…
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Cultivating good habits around screen time is important to child development. In fact, “the more screen time [children] logged, the lower their skills in language, literacy, imagery, and self-regulation. This was even found on a structural level – the white matter tracts within the brain were affected.” (source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/fernandezelizabeth/2019/12/12/screen-time-habits-start-at-a-young-age/#7ca3d7f92471) Still, this is a guilt-free zone, and right now…
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As we wrap up Mental Health Month, we are sharing Mental Health America’s Tools 2 Thrive toolkit, which is filled with tools and resources that everyone can use to improve their mental health, resiliency, and emotional safety. On average, 80% of Americans have experienced emotional abuse. Therefore, Eliminating Toxic Influences is one of the many…
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Did you know that every single person in Oklahoma, including you and me, are legally obligated to make a report if a child under the age of 18 is suspected to be a victim of abuse or neglect? In fact, under Oklahoma’s Title 10A, Section 1-2-101, it is a misdemeanor offense for anyone who fails…
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Are you curious to how your child is feeling but he or she struggles with communication? This can be very frustrating to parents and caregivers to not know how their child is feeling during difficult times such as experiencing a loss in the family, stay-at-home orders due to the pandemics, or even bullying situations. That…
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