Research shows parents can feel pride in their children’s achievements, but living vicariously through a child can damage both child and parent.

Your Dreams on Hold: Are You Living Vicariously Through Your Child?

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Let’s be honest. Life can be disappointing. And for some people, that disappointment or frustration can push a person to try harder to achieve their dreams. But for some parents, they deal with those life disappointments by living vicariously through their children. We’re sure you’ve seen it; overbearing “wanna-be coach” dads and overdramatic stage moms. In 2013, a study was done to provide evidence that vicarious living both exists and has effects. Researchers found that parents can feel pride in their children’s achievements and even heal old wounds. When taken to extremes, however, living vicariously through a child can damage both the child and the parent.

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When a person lives in constant fear it can lead to a number of issues. But how else does fear affect our physical, emotional, and mental health?

Chronic Fear and Mental Health

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Fear is described as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. It is also the act of being afraid of someone or something as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening. Fear is a basic survival mechanism that signals the body to respond with a “fight or flight” response. It is a crucial element of our overall safety. But when a person lives in constant, chronic fear, continually in the fight or flight response, it can lead to a number of issues including fear and anxiety disorders. But how else does fear affect both our physical and mental health?

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Dialectical behavior therapy is a kind of therapy that focuses on minfulness and healthy coping to help improve stress and emotion regulation.

Treatment 101: DBT

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Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT is a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It focuses mainly on living in the moment, coping healthily with stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships with others. Originally intended for those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), it has now been adapted for other mental health conditions.

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If you're a new mom, how can you take care of both yourself and your child, while tackling all the other responsibilities of your life?

Self-Care Checklist for New Moms

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There are a lot of nerves that can build when you are about to or have recently become a new mother. The postpartum phase is not the same for all moms. But most of the time, intense feelings of love can drive a new mom into her new role without much thought or effort. That is, until the exhaustion hits. Between lack of sleep and residual pain to new responsibilities and feeling overwhelmed, it’s hard to find time for yourself once baby arrives. How can you take care of both yourself and your child, while tackling all the other responsibilities of your life?

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Fidget spinners have figuratively lost their momentum as a pop culture trend, there are still those who find the coping tool helpful.

Child Counseling: Do Fidget Spinners Actually Work?

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They were a craze that most parents and teachers were getting sick of. “Fidget spinners” are small, ball-bearing devices that the user can rotate between his or her fingers. While they were first marketed as a tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and autism, they are now banned in classrooms across the country. And while they have figuratively lost their momentum as a pop culture trend, there are still those who find the tool helpful.

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Many connotate anger as a “negative” or “bad” emotion, but it can actually be helpful. Here's why we need to be more in touch with and manage our anger.

Anger and Mental Health

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Anger is quite a powerful human emotion. It stems from feelings of frustration, hurt, and even fear. While anger is an extremely normal emotion, it seems as though it’s in excess these days. From small irritations to strong rage, most of us seem to be aggravated about something. And while many connotate anger as a “negative” or “bad” emotion, it can actually be useful, sometimes even motivating. And it is crucial we cultivate the ability to recognize, express, and manage our anger for the sake of our mental health.

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment developed in the late 1980s - could it help you heal from past trauma?

Treatment 101: What is EMDR?

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. in the late 1980s. It was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, such as with PTSD cases. Multiple studies show that those using EMDR can experience a quicker healing process. EMDR helps to remove emotional and mental blocks from the impact of disturbing events. Once this block is removed, patients can resume healing and move towards balanced mental health.

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Stress levels in America are rising - especially in teens and young adults. How does their stress compare to the generations before?

Anxiety is No Joke: Stress Levels Today

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As someone who is in front of a number of children and teens, I’ve learned a lot about the inner workings of their everyday lives. The pressure at wildly young ages to be successful in both academics and extracurriculars. Losing sleep due to long hours of homework, projects, and exams on top of practices and club requirements. Inner conflict when having to figure out who they are and what they are going to do with their lives, all while tip-toeing on the lines of social culture. And now with the help of social media and instant gratification drama with friendships, relationships, and social image have magnified. I have often said I am so grateful to have been born in the year I was in, as I don’t think I would be able to handle the constant pressures of being a teen today. But how high are their stress levels today? And how do they compare to stress levels of generations of the past?

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Can meditation truly help you stress less and achieve more? Emily Fletcher's book of the same title explores that concept for high achievers!

Guide to Meditation: Stress Less, Accomplish More

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Mediation is a topic that doesn’t exactly vibe with everyone. Although it is 2019 and more people are turning to more holistic and authentic ways of life, we still generally hold a stigma when it comes to those who meditate. Many of us picture monks in long robes, holding vows of silence, devoting hours to meditation every day to find enlightenment. But Emily Fletcher is here to change your thoughts on meditation. In her new book, “Stress Less, Accomplish More”, Emily encourages readers to ditch their preconceived notions and past experiences with meditation and look at it through an entirely new lens. Could meditation really be what’s keeping you from living a productive and fulfilling life?

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Anxiety Help: There are some great anxiety products on the market, but we believe nothing can replace positive coping mechanisms and lifestyle choices!

Anxiety Help: Products Vs. Lifestyle

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If you type “anxiety” into the Amazon search bar, you are met with seven pages of search results. From stress balls, aromatherapy mists, and gummy “calm” vitamins to audio books, teas, and weighted blankets, there are no shortages of possible anxiety relief solutions. In a culture where therapy is still stigmatized and access to healthcare isn’t easy, we are choosing to buy our way out with products rather than sit down and truly reflect. While we believe there are some great anxiety products on the market, nothing can replace positive coping mechanisms and lifestyle choices. Let’s dive into a few of the most popular results, and also discuss how pairing those products with lifestyle choices can truly help you cope with anxiety.

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