According to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, over 47,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2017. In the same year, there were an estimated 1,400,000 suicide attempts.Knowing the signs of suicide is the primary step in preventing someone you know and love from successfully taking their own life.The Warning Signs of SuicideHopelessnessMany individuals who are contemplating...[ read more ]
What does it mean to have a healthy self-esteem? Some people think it means you are okay with how you look. Other people think you must accomplish something big in your life to have a good self-esteem. But the reality is, having a healthy self-esteem means you like and appreciate yourself faults and all. A good self-esteem can be the...[ read more ]
Have you heard the phrase “helicopter parent?” It describes a mother or father that ‘hovers’ around their child 24/7, overseeing their life to keep them from every potential danger, pitfall and mishap. It looks good on paper, but this kind of parenting forgets one important fact of reality: life happens. Adversity happens to all of us. Those children who engage with...[ read more ]
It's tough trying to get your teen to talk. Science has shown that the teenager's brain has yet to fully develop the frontal cortex, which is the area that controls our ability to reason, and to think before we act. As your teen's brain develops, they're also learning new things about themselves and their surrounding world; simultaneously, they're dealing with...[ read more ]
There was a time when young kids went to school and came home, did a little homework, then went outside to play with their friends. Their schedules were open and easy for them to handle. Nowadays, more and more kids are involved in so many activities they don’t seem to have time to engage in imaginative play, whether in the...[ read more ]
Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common developmental disorders experienced in children. ADHD is a condition that makes it unusually difficult for children to focus and pay attention, sit still, and control impulsive behavior. ADHD can be experienced as predominately one or the other- inattentiveness or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Most children with ADHD however, experience symptoms as a combination of both...[ read more ]
It’s almost fall, which means store shelves are stocked with low-priced notebooks and markers and glue, et al. Soon the familiar brake hiss of school buses will be heard in neighborhoods across the country as kids head back to school.While some kids begrudge alarm clocks and mountains of homework, they still look forward to school; to enjoying friendships and new...[ read more ]
Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of your body and feelings in the present moment. If you're silent for a moment, you will notice the subtle smell of your freshly washed clothing, the sound of your breathing, and watch a small leaf blow past your window. Mindfulness is an incredibly calming, relaxing practice that can help adults in numerous...[ read more ]
The old expression “Boys will be boys,” describes types of behavior that may not be appreciated by parents, teachers, and female siblings or peers. While the expression is outdated and simply inaccurate in terms of gender roles and stereotypes, many people still use this term to refer to behavior that pushes the envelope in male youth. These behaviors, though typically unwelcomed,...[ read more ]
It's well known that the teen years are the most trying time for parents. It may seem like their rebellion is personal, and that they're determined to make your home life miserable; but in reality, this is a natural process. Your teenager is maturing both physically and emotionally, and their brain is still developing. When their frontal cortex develops in...[ read more ]