Physicians may not know when to reach out for help: Physicians care for their patients – working long hours and extra shifts, managing all the usual hassles day after day, caring for sick and sometimes dying patients – generally without complaints. It is easy for them to ignore the effects of unmanaged stress in their…
Parents of small children are anxious
Parents are feeling anxious as they struggle to keep their children safe during this second full year of the Covid pandemic. When parents of young children are asked about their feelings, they report balancing fear of Covid with fear of isolation. Parents are feeling disconnected from prior friends because different parents tolerate risk of infection…
11 Solutions for Overcoming Burnout in Working Mothers
Here are some solutions for burnout in working mothers. They are not simple, but they work! First, create some space – some free time for yourself. This needs be a real break from work, a pause of at least two weeks (& some may need up to 6 months) to think over all your priorities….
Understanding Your Mom Stress
Understanding what causes your mom stress is crucial to your being able to manage it. Time on social media contributes to our feelings of stress. Most of us mothers are feeling short on time. Whether it’s insufficient time to get the laundry done, not enough time to play with the kids, too little time to…
Teenage Girls, Eating Disorders, and Instagram
Eating disorders linked to Instagram use. The prevalence of eating disorders is increasing, and Instagram use is contributing to anxiety among teenage girls. This should be of great concern to parents. You should be worried about your teenage daughter using Instagram. I am not only sensitive about this issue, but also pessimistic about the current…
The science behind face masks
A few of the scientific studies & publications that provide a basis for use of masks by date of publication: September 2021: A study from the Los Angeles County Dept. of Health examined Covid transmission rate during the peak, September 2020 through March 2021. Found that case rates in children & adolescents were 3.4 times…
The best face mask for your child
The AAP & the CDC recommend that children over 2 years old wear a mask in school & indoors in public spaces. This includes school, except when they are eating. The most effective mask is one your child will actually wear. You want one that fits them properly. There are 3 types: cloth, surgical, &…
Recognizing stress in children and adolescents
Parents may not know how to recognize stress in their child. Look for these signs of stress in older children & adolescents… Changes in mood (not typical for your child) – irritability, rage, & new conflicts with friends. A new nervous habit, such as nail-biting may indicate anxiety. New fears – such as fear of…
How to tell if your teenager has an eating disorder
Our adolescent girls are suffering during this pandemic. As a result, eating disorders in adolescents are on the rise. Before the pandemic, 5% of adolescent girls showed signs of an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia). Recent reports suggest the number is much higher. The mean age of onset is a young 12.5 years old. Girls…
Postpartum Depression & Major Life Events
Setting: When I turned forty, I tumbled slowly into the deep hole that is depression. While caring for a six-month-old infant, two older kids, and starting a new job, I was busy (some days nearly frantic). I had always been full of energy and drive, able to handle anything that my NICU practice or my…