by Dr. Gina Madrigrano | Oct 17, 2010 | Parenting
A colleague of mine recommended these little interactive self-help workbooks to help children cope with anxiety, negativity, anger, problems with sleep, and OCD. The author uses lively metaphors and illustrations to make the concepts and strategies easy to understand. The author is Dawn Huebner, Ph.D. She is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of children and their parents.
I highly recommend these titles and they are available at Chapters/Indigo and at Amazon.
What to do when you Worry too much (for anxiety)
What to do when you Grumble too much (for negativity)
What to do when your Temper flares (for anger)
What to do when your brain gets stuck (for OCD)
What to do when you Dread your bed (for sleep problems)
I have used them in my own practice and find them quite useful and helpful to both the parents and their children.
by Dr. Gina Madrigrano | Oct 17, 2010 | Parenting, Web Reviews
I first came across Dunstan Baby Language while watching Oprah. It captured my attention as a
future mom and the need to be that “perfect” mom…but mostly out of the terror of not being able to understand my baby’s cries and it having an impact on our attachment. I did not watch the DVD before giving birth, but back home the first day, baby was crying hopelessly and i could not soothe her. It was 2 a.m. and we decided to turn on the lap top and watch the DVD. WOW… for us anyway…
we were able to understand why our baby was crying, and soothe her accordingly. You need to get your ear attuned to her cries but once you
get it… it’s easy and it works. Although there is no scientific validation of this technique, all that mattered to us was that it worked and it has worked for many parents. The technique can be used from newborn to about 3 months, if i recall well, while all
children are the same linguistically all over the world. Australian Priscilla Dunstan identified 5 specific cries or “sound reflexes” (Neh, Owh, Heh, Eairh, and Eh). Below, taken from Wikipedia, you can read a brief description of the meaning of each cry. The beauty of the DVD is that you get to hear and watch different babies cry; it’s really a hands on demonstration, not a theoretical explanation. This is what makes it easier to learn, and discern the different cries. It was well worth the purchase (see
https://www.dunstanbaby.com/). Watch the video below.
- Neh
I’m hungry – An infant uses the sound reflex “Neh” to communicate its hunger. The sound is produced when the sucking reflex is triggered, and the tongue is pushed up on the roof of the mouth.
- Owh
I’m sleepy – An infant uses the sound reflex “
Owh” to communicate that they are tired. The sound is produced much like an audible
yawn.
- Heh
I’m experiencing discomfort – An infant uses the sound reflex “
Heh” to communicate
stress, discomfort, or perhaps that it needs a fresh diaper. The sound is produced by a response to a skin reflex, such as feeling sweat or itchiness in the bum.
- Eairh
I have lower gas – An infant uses the sound reflex “
Eairh” to communicate they have
flatulence or an upset stomach. The sound is produced when trapped air from a belch that is unable to release and travels to the stomach where the muscles of the intestine tighten to force the air bubble out. Often, this sound will indicate that a bowel movement is in progress, and the infant will bend its knees, bringing the legs toward the torso. This leg movement assists in the ongoing process.
- Eh
I have gas – An infant uses the sound reflex “Eh” to communicate that it needs to be burped. The sound is produced when a large bubble of trapped air is caught in the chest, and the reflex is trying to release this out of the mouth.
| |
Your baby is talking to you. Now you can understand. Every baby is born with a natural ability to express their needs through sound. What was once thought of as crying is now known as a unique and universal language, thanks to Australian mom Priscilla Dunstan. Experience the
benefits of DUNSTAN BABY LANGUAGE for yourself.
Special Deluxe Boxed Set Includes: 2 DVDs, Booklet and Wall ChartFeaturing: Priscilla Dunstan AS SEEN ON OPRAH! |
by Dr. Gina Madrigrano | Oct 17, 2010 | Parenting
The last two weeks at the parent and child group at our local Waldorf school were simply nice. We met our new teacher… what a delight. She is so sweet and calm and great with the moms and the kids. Her assistant is beautiful too. The first time we handcrafted bracelets made out of decorative corn kernels and this week we made dolls with the husk of the corn. It’s my second year at Waldorf and I am amazed at the new things I learn and the beautiful people I meet. Last year i was initiated to wet and dry felting, using beeswax instead of play dough, candle making, lantern making, water colours, etc. The atmosphere is so serene and the setting simple and soothing. Toys are all-natural, mainly made of wood and natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, and wool. The snacks are healthy, homemade right there in the classroom. The aromas fill the air. Yummy. Last week we had apple sauce with raisins and this week brown rice with shredded carrots. Water for the children and moms and a nice tea is available for the moms… ginger, chamomille… all soothing treats. I’ve been to different playgroups but this one is by far my favourite. It simply fits best with our family’s philosophies of how to educate and raise children. I look forward to every week as it is always a nice surprise and I know me and my daughter will learn something new each time.
by Dr. Gina Madrigrano | Oct 17, 2010 | Parenting
If you are on a quest to finding a natural anxiety treatment, you first need to be aware of what contributes to your anxiety and what perpetuates it. Individuals who suffer from anxiety often share common character traits, some are positive and some are less desirable. Some of these traits are appreciated by family and friends while others can be annoying. While some traits are probably genetic, others are more likely the result of childhood experiences. These traits often perpetuate the problem with those who suffer from anxiety disorders. Four main traits that perpetuate anxiety have been identified. They are: perfectionism, the excessive need for approval, the tendency to ignore physical and psychological signs of stress and an excessive need for control. Do you recognize yourself?
There are various ways you can overcome perfectionism. You need to let go of the idea that your worth is determined by your achievements and accomplishments. You need to first recognize and then overcome perfectionistic thinking patterns (e.g., avoid the use of should, must, can’t, always, never). Human error happens, you must work at stopping to magnify the importance of small errors. Stop focussing on the negatives (there will always be negatives) and start to focus on the positives. Perfectionists often set unrealistic goals; work on goals that are more realistic. Of course, you need to work, but you need a good balance in life. Get involved in more pleasure and recreation. Finally, play to play, not just to win, so work on the process of things rather than on the final outcome (i.e., having a process orientation as opposed to an outcome orientation).
Anxious people often feel an excessive need for approval, they must be liked by everyone and they work really hard at it. This places a lot of pressure on the person and he/she would benefit best from developing a realistic view of other people’s approval. There is no need to take everything so personnally or to make rapid conclusions about another person’s comment on you. Be realistic. Not everyone will like you and that’s okay. Do you like everyone? Dealing with criticism in an objective manner may be more beneficial, it may become a positive learning experience. A constant need for approval is often linked to co-dependency. Recognizing co-dependent behaviour and then letting go of it is also key. Stop placing other people’s need before your own and it is a first step to breaking away from co-dependent behaviour.
Another difficulty often encountered with anxious individual is their tendency to ignore physical and psychological signs of stress. This can lead to long-term health problems and mental health issues. Individuals who do not suffer from anxiety disorders tend to be more in touch with their bodies. When people are unaware of the toll stress takes on their minds and their bodies, they are at higher risk of illness and burnout. These physical and psychological signs are warning signs that you should slow down. It is important that you become more aware of your own personal signs of stress. For example, signs of stress, but not limited to these, are headaches, backaches, teeth grinding, stomach ulcers, colds, depression, anxiety, mood swings, nightmares, relationship problems, etc. There exists various coping strategies for stress which involve the following: physical and lifestyle strategies; cognitive strategies, emotional strategies, and philosophical/spiritual strategies.
Finally, another character trait we encounter in individuals who suffer from anxiety disorders is the excessive need for control. Somehow, they believe that if they can control a situation, a person, an outcome, that they will experience less anxiety. The problem with this perception is twofold. First, the only person we can control is ourselves. The minute we try to control other people or situations, the more we increase the odds of failing or encountering relationship difficulties. The fact is that the idea that we can control other things but ourselves is an illusion. The best way to address this need for control is to first accept that we have no control. Second, we need to cultivate patience, which means that at times you will need to tolerate an uncomfortable situation. Another important aspect is to come to the realization that most problems eventually do work out or get solved. Clients who have overcome anxiety have also found that developing a spriritual approach to life has helped them greatly, in addition also to mindfulness.
It is important to realize that these traits have become a way of life and will take time to change and will require your commitment. The first step to successful change is to become aware of these traits. In the end, this shift may bring about a domino effect, where you will not only change these traits but also end up changing certain values and beliefs you hold true and you may even change your lifestyle. Priorities may change also. The ultimate goal is to be freed from the anxiety and lead a happy and fulfilling life.
If you liked this article you can find more details on how to cope with anxiety by purchasing the book from which this article was inspired: The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne.
(c) 2010, Dr. Gina Madrigrano. All rights reserved.
by Dr. Gina Madrigrano | Oct 17, 2010 | Parenting
A great number of people of all ages suffer from anxiety. There are natural remedies to relieve symptoms of anxiety, which have been proven effective in studies which included control groups. If you are not willing to take prescriptions drugs and prefer to try the natural route, you may benefit from these natural and safe alternatives.
Research has shown that cognitive behaviour therapy and some natural herbs have been quite effective at treating various anxiety disorders for children, teens, and adults alike. Many of the strategies used by therapist can easily be learned by individuals.
There are cognitive and behavioural aspects to anxiiety disorders and both need to be addressed in otder to best treat anxiety. Let’s start with the easier components which are the behavioural components. There are three main strategies that can be used: visualization, deep breathing (or diaphragmatic breathing) and progressive muscle relaxation.
For the cognitive aspect of anxiety disorders, peole need to look at the source of their anxiety. It can be a place, an object, an animal, a situation. etc. Whatever it is, there are a few cognitive techniques to address these fears: progressive exposure, exposure and response prevention, flooding. These techiniques can be done in imagination or in vivo. The ultimate goal is to become skilled to do the exposure in vivo. The main key, whatever the approach chosen, is to remember to resist the urge to avoid or escape the feared stimulus. Doing so will only reinforce your fear and solidify it. Finally, thought stopping is another important cognitive strategy to reduce irrational thoughts related to the anxiety-provoking stimulus.
Once more, these techniques have been proven quite effective and there are many resources out there that describe them in detail. They can be found in workbooks available on Amazon or other book stores, web sites and You Tube videos that give very good descriptions of these techniques.
Lastly, in lieu of prescription medication, it is worth consulting an alternative health professional (e.g. homeopath, naturopathic doctor) for their advise on the best natural remedies to calm symptoms of anxiety and its related problems, such as insomnia. Valerian Root, Melatonin are two example of natural sleep aids. St-John’s Wort has been shown to help with mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Always remember to consult with a registered and licenced professional before using any natural remedies, especially if you are also taking prescription drugs; drug interactions are possible and can be dangerous.
Finally, it is important to have a healthy balanced diet. Eating whole foods is always best, organic if at all possible, avoid processed foods, and artificial sweeteners, among other things. Basically, eat real food! Furthermore, the excessive use of stimulants (e.g. cigarettes, cafeine, sugar, soft drinks) can imitate physiological symptoms of anxiety which in turn can be misinterpreted as anxiety or even misinterpreted as a panic attack.
In conclusion, anxiety is a disorder that is treatable and with high success rates with the natural techniques mentioned above. However, if you find you get no relief, it may be helpful to consult a mental health professional. It may be difficult to go at this alone, especially if you have been suffering with anxiety for many years.
(c) 2010 Dr. Gina Madrigrano, All Rights Reserved.
