Opportunities for growth: Transitions for youth with autism spectrum disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong condition that affects a person’s social and communication skills. People with ASD can have repetitive behaviors, a narrow range of interests, a strong preference for sameness, and sensory processing differences. The number of children diagnosed with ASD has increased dramatically over the past several decades. Because of this, growing numbers of youth with ASD are now making the developmental transition from adolescence to adulthood. This transition is marked by changes in many areas of life, including new healthcare providers, educational or occupational settings, and living...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 24, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robyn Thom, MD Tags: Adolescent health Children's Health Health care disparities Mental Health Neurological conditions Parenting Source Type: blogs
What one study from China tells us about COVID-19 and children
As we try to predict what will happen here in the US with COVID-19, it’s natural to look at the experience in China, where the epidemic began. In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, we learn about how the pandemic affected children.
What this study tells us
The study looked at information about 2,143 children with COVID-19 infections that were reported to China’s Centers for Disease Control from January 16 to February 8 of this year. Of the infections, about a third were confirmed with a laboratory test for COVID-19. The others were diagnosed based on symptoms and the results of other tests, such as x-rays.
Th...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 23, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Adolescent health Children's Health Infectious diseases Parenting Prevention Source Type: blogs
5 Ways to Help Your Child Who Self-Injures
Hidden pain is difficult for anyone to manage without help, especially for those who are young. Nothing in ordinary life naturally prepares us for pain that cannot be expressed. Additionally, the outward world — what your child, teen, or young adult observes — often offers a distortion of what is really going on in the lives of others. Television and movies present unrealistic details, magazines and online media may glamorize extreme ideals and peer behavior, and friendship upheaval exerts tremendous pressure at a time in life when big changes are happening to the body and mind.
You may be the last person to f...
Source: World of Psychology - March 22, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jan McDaniel Tags: Children and Teens Parenting Child Development Self Harm Self Injury Source Type: blogs
Grandparenting in the time of COVID-19
Baby boomers are used to embracing grandparenting head on. Some of us have moved across the country to be with our grandchildren; others regularly bridge distances via FaceTime and Skype; many take pride in kayaking, rock climbing, jumping on trampolines, and doing yoga with our grandkids. Before the new coronavirus and COVID-19 came along, many grandparents were confident we could do it all. The threats posed by this new virus are humbling and present new conundrums. As schools and daycares temporarily close, many grandparents are wrestling with questions surrounding whether they can safely spend time with their grandchil...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 21, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ellen S. Glazer, LICSW Tags: Health Healthy Aging Infectious diseases Parenting Relationships Source Type: blogs
School closed due to the coronavirus? Tips to help parents cope
Although the precautionary measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19 are efforts to protect the community, the notification of your child’s school closing may have landed like one of your worst nightmares. Children thrive on routine and predictability, both of which are in short supply right now for families across the country and well beyond. Despite the uncertainty in the community, you still can try to foster an environment that includes as much routine and predictability as possible. Below are some tips to manage children’s increased time at home.
Validate first
Before offering some tips on...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 18, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jacqueline Sperling, PhD Tags: Children's Health Infectious diseases Parenting Source Type: blogs
Easing the Fears of Children
The fear response is part of our human nature. Fears and worry reactions to those fears arise uncontrollably within us. Sometimes these instincts serve us well. At other times, they complicate our lives in unproductive or negative ways. Many of the same things that help you manage your fears can help your children manage theirs. Information and coping strategies might have to be expressed in different ways by using age-appropriate language and suggestions. But the children in your life deserve the kind of care that can make the difference between an experience causing traumatic injury to their psyches or a strengthening of...
Source: World of Psychology - March 18, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jan McDaniel Tags: Anxiety and Panic Children and Teens Communication Parenting Childhood Anxiety coronavirus COVID-19 Source Type: blogs
Why Hyper Parenting is Harming Children
A 30-year-old woman is sitting in her therapist’s office, talking about her inability to manage life. She is disorganized, has poor time management skills, cannot make decisions, is easily overwhelmed, has no direction in her life and is filled with anxiety.
A young adult woman just graduated from university and gets her first job. She comes down with a stomach bug and her mom calls her boss for her to tell her she can’t come into work.
A high school student shares that her teacher gave her less than an A on her assignment and her parents request a meeting at the school and demand to know why.
A preteen girl fo...
Source: World of Psychology - March 18, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sue Morton Tags: Children and Teens Parenting Autonomy Child Development helicopter parenting Resilience Source Type: blogs
Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus?
COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, has rapidly spread globally. The World Health Organization recently labeled COVID-19 a pandemic. Many of my pregnant patients have expressed concerns, both for themselves and their babies, about the impact of COVID-19 on their health. To answer often-asked questions about pregnancy and the new coronavirus, I’ve teamed up with my husband, an infectious disease specialist and internist. Together, we reviewed the extremely limited data available to provide evidence-based responses below.
Pregnancy and the new coronavirus
As you probably know, the virus spreads through respi...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 16, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Huma Farid, MD Tags: Parenting Pregnancy Women's Health Source Type: blogs
Talking to Children about COVID-19: Reducing Hysteria During a Global Emergency
“Wash your hands!” My kids hear me say this all the time, but this week these three words have taken on a new meaning. Now washing your hands represents an important protective behavior against the coronavirus pandemic.
After getting home from school yesterday, I reminded my children, as per usual, to wash their hands, but this time I stressed, “for at least 20 seconds because we need to be extra vigilant against getting the coronavirus.” My generally cool-as-a-cucumber son immediately replied, “I don’t want to hear about that anymore!”
While we are all adjusting to social distancing and self-quarantini...
Source: World of Psychology - March 16, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Rochelle Davidson Mhonde Tags: Health-related Minding the Media Parenting coronavirus COVID-19 mass hysteria pandemic Source Type: blogs
How to talk to teens about the new coronavirus
We seem to be stuck in a nonstop news cycle about the new coronavirus that is causing an illness called COVID-19. Many parents are understandably sharing concerns, too — at least among friends and families. It’s also possible that teenagers are talking to their own friends and surfing the web and social media sites to gather information, including potential misinformation.
How can you make sure teenagers are informed just enough without feeling overwhelmed, yet also have accurate information? Your teen already may be asking many questions. Even if not, it might be a good idea to find out what your teen has heard in cas...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 14, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jacqueline Sperling, PhD Tags: Adolescent health Infectious diseases Parenting Source Type: blogs
Peanut allergy: A new medicine for children may offer protection
Of all food allergies, which affect between 5% and 8% of US children, peanut allergy is the one most likely to cause anaphylaxis, a serious type of allergic reaction. For a child with a peanut allergy, eating one peanut can literally be fatal.
“When you have an allergy,” says Andrew MacGinnitie, MD, PhD, clinical director of the division of immunology at Boston Children’s Hospital, “your body sees the thing you are allergic to as dangerous. So your immune system tries to protect you by causing hives, vomiting, and other symptoms.”
The body does this by releasing histamine and other chemicals that are designed to ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 11, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Allergies Children's Health Parenting Source Type: blogs
How to Manage Intense Emotions in the Moment
Maybe it was the argument that set you off. Maybe it was the poor performance review, the fender-bender, the sarcastic remark from your colleague, or a string of stressful events.
And you find yourself seething with rage. Or you’re heartbroken or devastated. Or you feel a profound sense of shame.
Your heart is beating faster and faster. Your palms are clammy. Your face feels hot. Your ears are burning. You feel incredibly uncomfortable. And you want to leap out of your body.
It can be hard to know how to handle your emotions when they’re so intense. After all, most of us weren’t taught this skill. But thankfully, it ...
Source: World of Psychology - March 11, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anger General Mental Health and Wellness Mindfulness Parenting Self-Help Stress Source Type: blogs
25 Fabulous Years of Psych Central: An Interview with Founder & CEO John Grohol
The year 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of Psych Central. It is quite an achievement, especially in these days when even the most prestigious publications have been closing down at an alarming rate. John Grohol, the Founder and CEO, deserves the credit for his brilliant idea and all the work he has put into the site for the past quarter-century.
I’m Bella DePaulo, and I have had the good fortune of blogging for Psych Central since 2011. Five years ago, for the 20th anniversary, I asked John Grohol if I could interview him about the site. Happily, he agreed. Readers enjoyed the interview and learned a lot, too, so I as...
Source: World of Psychology - March 9, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Bella DePaulo, Ph.D. Tags: General Interview John Grohol Psychcentral Source Type: blogs
How to talk to children about the coronavirus
Every news outlet seems to be talking nonstop about the new coronavirus, which is causing an illness called COVID-19. Many parents understandably are sharing concerns, too — at least among friends and families. Even at school, children are hearing about this new virus and registering that some adults seem worried.
Given all the discussion about coronavirus, your children might have heard about it and have questions for you. Below are some tips on how to respond to their questions. A separate post will address tips for talking with teens about the questions they might have.
Provide just enough information about the corona...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 7, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jacqueline Sperling, PhD Tags: Children's Health Infectious diseases Mental Health Parenting Source Type: blogs
Burned Out Moms: What to Do When You Don ’ t Feel Like Doing Anything
So, it’s morning and it’s time to get out of bed. The kids have to go to school, and you and your spouse have to get ready to go to work. But there’s a problem, you don’t want to get out of bed. Instead, you would rather be in bed all day long, underneath your warm covers hiding from the world.
I’ve been there. I know how it feels to dread hearing your alarm clock go off in the morning signaling that it’s time to get on with the day. It’s not a good feeling especially when you know you have to get up. If you are a mom, you can agree that if you don’t get up the entire house is ...
Source: World of Psychology - March 6, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jasmine L. Bennett Tags: Inspiration & Hope Motivation and Inspiration Parenting Women's Issues Burnout Motherhood Source Type: blogs
