ScottCounseling

Is your child afraid or anxious?

Parenting children who are anxious often makes the parent anxious too. Parents can help their anxious child develop the skills and confidence to overcome fears so that they don’t evolve into phobic reactions. The following techniques may be used by parents to assist the child in coping with his or her anxious behavior.

Symptoms of anxiousness include:

• constant thoughts and intense fears about the safety
• fears about school and other places
• frequent stomachaches and other physical complaints
• extreme worries about everyday tasks
• being overly cautious
• panic or tantrums
• sweating, fidgety, unable to physically relax
• trouble sleeping or nightmares
• fears of meeting or talking to people
• avoidance of social situations
• few friends outside the family
• many worries about things before they happen
• constant worries or concerns about family, school

There are many articles and books written on the causes of autism. Many are written on a medical level that makes them difficult to read or understand. Research journal articles are also often difficult to decipher and navigate through the data. Child development, child psychology and child behavior experts share common ground in their discussions of autism and the challenges facing parents today. Cross Creek Family Counseling Online recently publish an article that outlines the causes of autism in a manner that the general public will understand. Parents searching for answers on the causes of autism will find this article very helpful.

The Causes of Autism

It is generally accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities… Continue Reading

Parenting child who have been diagnosed with autism does not mean a life long or child development parenting nightmare. Child psychology and child behavioral experts share that parents who become aware of their autistic child’s needs by teaming with medical and educational specialist will have many opportunities as parents to experience positive outcomes. Like many parenting challenges, the more you learn and the more support you secure from knowledgeable individuals, the better prepared you be.

According to the National Alliance for Autism Research, autism is a brain disorder that typically affects a person’s ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment. Some people with autism are relatively high functioning, with speech and intelligence intact. Others… Continue Reading

As a school counselor, I am beginning to see more younger females who exhibit the symptoms of depression or have been diagnosed with depression. Stress appears to be a leading factor for depression in younger females. Participation in too many activities, desire to get good grades and low self-esteem seem to bring about most of the stress symptoms exhibited. Child psychologist and child behavior experts agree that the increase in female teen depression is on the rise. More research in this category of child development needs to be explored. This article explores some of the social, biological and environmental factors involved in this area of depression.

Social and Economic Factors

The role that school, friendships… Continue Reading

As a fun summer comes to an end, butterflies nerves fill the bellies of many children as they get dressed for their first day back to school. Parents assure their child that they will do “just fine.” For most children that’s where the anxiety ends; they reach the classroom, catch up with their friends and get on with their day. But for some children, the anxiety of leaving home and going to school is so overwhelming that they are unable to attend school at all; these children have become school phobic.

About 5-10% of American school children suffer from a mild form of what is commonly known as school phobia. About 1% suffer from a more severe form, leading to serious… Continue Reading

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people. A major cause of suicide is mental illness, commonly known as depression. Young adults who are suffering from depression are often overwhelmed by painful emotions and see death as the only way out. There are several categories or levels of depression.

Situational Depression: Sadness due to break up of friendship, loss, not being successful or a short term failure are common examples of situational depression. Almost ever human-being faces this kind of depression in their life time.

Acute Depression: On-going situational depression that may begin to affect the body in a physical manner. A constant sadness, lack of sleep and anxiety are common symptoms.

Chronic Depression: A constant, on-going depression… Continue Reading

The causes of depression in children are numerous. Child psychologist agree that depression is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a variety of childhood situations.

For some, depression occurs due to a loss of a loved one, a change or move, or after being placed in a situation that causes severe fear or abuse. Like adults, depression can occur in children due to family history.
Common factors involved in causing depression in children may include:

Personal and ongoing disputes within a family

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

Major events that occur in everyone’s lives, such as moving, starting school, divorce parents, death of a pet

Serious illness: depressed feelings are a common reaction to many medical illnesses certain medications.

A history of depression in… Continue Reading