Opiates in pregnancy – with the current overprescribing of opiates in the Pittsburgh are and the us 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.
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?
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.
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.
Childhood anxiety is a normal part of growing up. All children will experience anxiety at some point in their development. Different phases of development can lead to temporarily increased levels of anxiety, but sometimes it isn’t just a phase. When do we know if a child needs help with managing anxiety symptoms?
“Why does my teenager cut themselves? How can my child cut themselves? What does cutting mean? Is my child suicidal because they are cutting? How can I help my teenager to stop cutting?”
Conflicted divorces – Research makes it very clear that the more parents fight with each other — before, during, and after a divorce — the more psychological problems their children experience. This is especially true when children witness or overhear the conflict, or when they are put in the middle of a dispute. Even very young children feel tension, torn loyalties, and mixed messages when their parents are struggling. Obviously, disagreements are expected between divorced partners. Different philosophies about raising children can become difficult to manage, and old hurts and new jealousies can create many reasons for anger and pain.
I feel like she is just so clingy!
We have all seen solid examples of shyness in children many times over, but when is a child’s shyness a problem?
Being a shy child isn’t necessarily an issue! Shyness in children is a natural temperament sometimes called a slow-to-warm-up temperament. The shy child adapts slowly to change. They do not often express negative emotions initially and can seem withdrawn, cautious, or avoidant. If the child is pushed to join a social situation, their mood will escalate and they may tantrum, cry, or shut down. A shy child may also exhibit inappropriate expressions of emotions or irregular patterns of sleep or elimination.
