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…
A Good Mentor is Easy to Find.
What is a good mentor? Is there someone in your workplace with good leadership and communication skills, someone you see as a potential advisor, who is older than you by five, ten, or even fifteen years? Is there someone who you admire with experience to share? Finding a mentor connects you with a person more…
Seven ways to avoid being a helicopter parent
If you want to be a solidly practical, good parent, and not an overly protective helicopter parent, you might consider following these rules: 1. Do not do their homework for them. I never did homework for my kids, but I did help my child with dyslexia & ADHD learn to spell words. Once I helped…
Stress & alcohol use
Most of us drink alcohol to be sociable or/& to relieve stress. Stress gives us muscle tension & headaches, jaw clenching & teeth grinding, irritability, impatience & negative thinking. It makes us feel tired, like we have low energy. We may feel unable to relax. Stress may cause indigestion, acid reflux, or nausea. When we…
The stages of a woman’s life.
What stage of life are you in? The photo below was me at 59, on vacation, thinking about turning sixty. My son snapped the shot & told me later he thought I “seemed pensive, but was aging well.” As women, we go through so many life stages: Adolescence brings those hormones & body changes. We…