Counseling for Kids

Counseling for Kids: Social Anxiety

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The term “social anxiety” appears everywhere in today’s world. Many automatically associate the words with those that consider themselves introverts. Some refuse to even take the phrase seriously. But social anxiety isn’t simply the fear of interacting with other people. It’s actually characterized as an intense fear of social situations in which that person may be judged and criticized by others. Social anxiety disorders can truly disrupt a person’s life, especially that of a child. Continue reading as we discuss social anxiety counseling for kids.

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other postpartum symptoms

Other Postpartum Symptoms

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For the last two weeks, we’ve been discussing the postpartum disorders that arise once your baby is born. As much as we’d like to say that these issues don’t happen, these cases are becoming more and more prominent. Fortunately, women are becoming braver and braver in sharing their stories and reaching out for help. Two weeks ago we discussed the most common of those postpartum disorders, postpartum depression. Last week, we shifted gears into learning more about postpartum anxiety. This week, we want to take a deep dive into some of the other postpartum symptoms – those of which relate to postpartum PTSD, postpartum OCD, and postpartum psychosis.

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anxious mother

The Anxious Mother

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Motherhood is an indescribable experience. You aren’t able to understand it until you become a mother. And while it has its incredible ups, motherhood also has its downs. New mothers especially are in for a whirlwind, as there are many mental illnesses that thrive once a baby is born. Last week we opened up dialogue about postpartum depression. And in keeping theme, this week we are diving into the topic of postpartum anxiety. It is not uncommon to become an anxious mother. So keep reading to learn more about this common experience.

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Postpartum Counseling

Postpartum Counseling: Depression

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You recently welcomed a bundle of joy into your home, and the first few days were magical. However, now that the newborn pixie dust is starting to settle, you’re feeling off. You’ve heard stories of all the woes that come after the baby. And you start to wonder if the same is going to happen to you. What does postpartum depression feel like? What are the symptoms? How do you know if you really have it, or if you’re just exaggerating with your spike in hormones? And if you do, what are your postpartum counseling options?

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Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression what are my treatment options?

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Postpartum depression: more than just the baby blues

“This is an illness that takes away a women’s ability to access joy right at the time she needs it most.”      – Dr. Katherine Wisner

Baby blues

The baby blues include mood swings and feelings of anxiety and sadness that typically emerge 3-5 days after giving birth and dissipate on their own within a few weeks. 70% of new moms experience this temporary change in mood. The baby blues differ from postpartum depression in the length of time in which the symptoms peak as well as the severity of the symptoms.

“There’s societal pressure to feel happy and blissful, so women don’t talk about [the baby blues]. There’s enormous guilt and shame.” –Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody

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opiates in pregnancy

Opiates in pregnancy – what are the effects?

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Is your baby being affected by Opiates in your pregnancy?

Opiates in pregnancy – with the current overprescribing of opiates in the Pittsburgh area and the United States in general, it is becoming more of an issue for moms to be.  Clearly, if you are using or addicted to opiates either in legally or illegally, you need to act to avoid hurting your baby.

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single mothers

Single mothers – what can you do to get support for yourself?

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Single mothers

“Being a single parent is twice the work, twice the stress and twice the tears; but also twice the hugs, twice the love and twice the pride.” -Unknown

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Divorce

Divorce – What to do when divorcing with kids

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Divorcing ?

It is never an easy decision to separate or divorce. Even as adults it can be a very taxing process in which we lose our identity, friends, family members, and some financial freedoms. Our adult brains can rationalize or even anticipate the changes that will be coming upon us, but what does it mean for the kids? How do they handle the stress of divorce and what does it do to their view of self and family?

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suicidal behavior can start with isolation and moodiness

Suicidal Behavior in Teenagers

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Suicidal Behavior – is it a problem? Sadly, suicide is the third leading cause of death in teenagers. Despite the seriousness of a suicide attempt, the “last straw” events which lead teenagers to attempt suicide are very common. They include situations such as family conflict, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, legal problems, or school difficulties. The underlying motives for a suicide attempt are often similar to the motives of adults, but this can vary from one teenager to another. Possible motives include really wanting to die, expressing anger, getting relief from a terrible state of mind, escaping a difficult situation, or being disappointed by a trusted person. The availability of firearms coupled with an increased use of alcohol, especially among adolescents who don’t think before they act, has been suggested as playing a role in the increased suicide rate.

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Fighting With Your Ex – What it Does to the Kids

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Fighting with your ex spouse is all too common in our world today. This is sad because, as a rule, more contact with both parents is better for children, but only if the parents’ conflict is contained. If fighting with your ex is uncontrolled, children may do better to see one parent less — and be exposed to less fighting as a result. More contact with each parent may mean sharing time with the children equally; but that arrangement is the exception, not the rule.

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