Articles containing: anxiety

One Year Later: Back-to-School Anxiety During COVID-19 – Shrinking It Down

During the pandemic, many kids across the country have been doing most or all of their schooling online. But now, a year later, many communities are finally finding ways to bring kids back to school, in person.

Returning to the Classroom During COVID-19: How to Support Kids & Teens

Many families have been homebound due to COVID-19, and kids and teens have been learning online across much of the country. As the pandemic continues, there are growing concerns about how the disruptions in norms and routines are affecting their mental health.

The Challenges of First-Generation College Students

This post is one of a four-part series on college student mental health.

The Power of Community Health During COVID-19: A Look at Chelsea, Massachusetts, featuring Mary Lyons-Hunter, PsyD – Shrinking It Down

Since the pandemic, mental health concerns have risen across the country.

Ask Ellen: How to Respond to Your Child’s Big Emotions

During challenging times, it’s normal for families to feel overwhelmed and anxious. But kids don’t always have the necessary skills to cope with those emotions, and this can sometimes lead to tantrums and meltdowns. What can parents do in these situations? 

In our latest Ask Ellen Q&A, child psychologist Dr.

CBT Snapshot: Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a special kind of talk therapy that can be used to help with mental health challenges. In this CBT Snapshot series, Dr. Ellen Braaten gives a glimpse of what it looks like to use CBT for a range of mental and behavioral health disorders.

Coping With Disaster Fatigue: A Guide for Families

Mother nature has not been easy on us, lately.

We have shouldered one weather-related crisis after another. The United States has had a record number of wildfires, tropical storms, derechos, and tornados. And these disasters do not include other serious weather-related concerns, like record-breaking heat, droughts, floods, or mud slides.

Second Generation Antipsychotic Medications: An Overview

As child psychiatrists, we prescribe medications. As medicines go, perhaps none are more controversial than the use of second generation antipsychotics. For at least the last 15 years, concerns about these particular medications have characterized a good part of any discourse I’ve had with parents in the office or on the lecture circuit.

My Child Was Diagnosed With Anxiety or Depression. How Should I Talk to Her About It?

“Should I use the word anxious or depressed?”  

“Should I talk about it at all with my daughter?”  

“What should I say to my teenage son?”  

“How can I even bring it up?”  

These are just a few of the questions parents ask when their child is given a diagnosis of anxiety or depression.

How to Understand Your Child’s “Anxiety Monster”

As a child psychiatrist who’s seen patients in many different settings, including doing psychotherapy and managing medications, I’ve found that talking about anxiety with kids and adults alike is hard to do in a way that helps them understand what anxiety is, while preparing and motivating them for what can be a difficult treatment journey.