August 29, 2014
by Casey Truffo, LMFT
There are so many factors that can affect people as adults as the result of growing up in an abusive childhood. There are so many types of abuse and so many different forms of abuse that many times, when these survivors become adults, life may actually be harder for them than when they were children or even when they were survivors. Probably the more common issues that survivors will have as the direct result of being abused as a child are anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Also common are trust issues and intimacy issues in adults.
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These disorders are very dangerous, and must be taken seriously and treated by a professional. As a parent, it can be difficult to know what to do. You want more than anything to help your child, even while you and your family struggle with conflicting emotions, including fear that your child will seriously harm herself, or even die.
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Many of us have heard someone say they “are OCD”. We may have also told someone, “You are so OCD!” Some people do, in fact, have minor characteristics of OCD. They like things tidy, or they like to do things in a certain order and in a particular way. But clinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be a serious, even debilitating, mental illness for both adults and children. It can create significant distress, and interfere with daily functioning. People with severe symptoms of OCD may find it difficult to work, go to school, or carry out other daily activities.
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August 25, 2014
by Dr. DeeAnn Visk
What is the best way to help children from aged five to eight with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? A recent study from Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island offers an interesting insight. Researcher there found that family-based cognitive behavioral therapy is beneficial. They found that developmentally sensitive family-based treatment that included exposure/response prevention was more effective in reducing OCD symptoms and functional impairment in this age group when compared to a structured relaxation program.
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One only has to turn on the television to see yet another case of youth violence. It seems that it is happening more and more often, from school shootings to cases of bullying so severe that the victim takes his or her own life. Too often, youth are turning to emotional and physical aggression to solve problems and cope with their own feelings. The causes of youth violence are complex, and many of us struggle to understand why it happens.
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July 28, 2014
by Christie Hunter
For many parents, educating their children is a job delegated to teachers where they absolve any responsibility to have any influence in shaping their child’s academics. This is the fundamental error that many parents commit where they are content being confined as only passive observers, reducing their role in perhaps the single most important event in the growth and development of their child. There has to be a realization on the part of parents to play an essential role in their children’s education. They have a lot to gain by doing so.
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July 26, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Summer vacations are a time for fun and frolic for the young ones, giving them a reprieve from their education, making space for them to unwind and relax. However, this time is all the more hectic for mothers who have to make sure that their young ones also use this time constructively. Many concerned mothers enroll their children in summer camps for the duration of summer.
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July 19, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Just because parents love their children unconditionally does not necessarily mean that siblings also share the same level of affection. Kids fighting with one another can become a serious domestic problem when one child dominates or bullies the other persistently. While it seems like an ordinary everyday scenario, the situation can become complicated if not addressed in early stages. You can do several things, especially now when the summer is approaching and your kids will be spending much more time at home – with each other.
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July 13, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Educational psychologists believe that achievement gaps between average and brilliant students can be removed during the summer break. The difference is created when one group of children dedicates time to playing, reading, and live sports, while others vegetate on computer games and television. It’s not a child’s fault if they find video games more pleasurable; even an adult would gravitate towards such interactive screens. The focus should not only be on making physical activities more fun, but also to encourage kids to learn while playing.
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July 9, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as the name implies is an umbrella term used to cover a number of learning and cognitive disabilities. A child born with FASD may have birth defects and major disabilities like deformed limbs, weak heart etc. Moreover, it is also possible that the child may suffer from multiple mental and physical disabilities and disorders at the same time. According to a number of researchers, FASD has become one of the biggest factors for increasing number of birth defects among children during past few years (Warren, 2011).
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