Category: Anxiety

A sudden traumatic experience in early childhood can create long term changes in the brain. Recent research suggests that trauma such as physical or sexual abuse can affect our bodies and minds in ways we could not have predicted, and it raises the need for treatment of PTSD.

Whenever we read about or hear of a story involving child abuse, people often feel repulsed and horrified with how someone could harm a child. In seeking to understand what makes people harm others, many therapists and mental health professionals often struggle with the possibility that the perpetrator was a victim themselves, or that a recent victim of abuse is at high risk of becoming a perpetrator themselves unless they get treatment. Therapists specializing in trauma work with people of all ages to resolve how trauma is affecting their lives, which includes difficulty in having relationships, drug addiction, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD is commonly observed and evidenced by a loved one seeing threats where there are none, overreacting to situations, and being triggered in emotional distress by everyday things.

Research in Switzerland by behavioral geneticists has pointed out that early traumatic experiences can actually cause long term effects in the brain that exhibit in aggressive behavior in adulthood. This is an important finding when also taking into account how social learning may result in abused children being at risk of being aggressive as they grow up. Research conducted in a study placed rats in stressful and fear-inducing situations during puberty and showed high levels of aggression later in life. The scared rats used in the study showed changes in brain activity, hormone levels, and genetic expression that are eerily similar to traits being observed among troubled and violent people with a history of childhood abuse. The adult rats showed increased aggression toward other rats that weren’t aggressive, and the traumatized rats showed signs of anxiety and depression such as a lack of interaction with other rats, low interest in food, and being passive and freezing when faced with a challenge.

The study shows that childhood trauma can affect how the brain is wired and how traumatic experiences can cause long lasting changes in children’s brains. The human brain functions in a way that allows it to be rewired, so that people can adapt and survive threats experienced both in the past and possibly in the future. Unfortunately it also results in genetic alterations such as how the brain functions and the risk for certain diseases. Genetic alterations are being researched in cases of PTSD with a history of childhood abuse, researchers found that how the brain functions changes and the risk for certain diseases increases. For example, studies are showing that people with a history of childhood trauma respond less to anti-depressant medication. Medication alone is not effective in resolving the root of the problem, which is the trauma that was experienced. Until it can be talked about and explored in a safe and supportive way, there are many that may continue to suffer.

Understanding how much of an impact trauma can have in a person’s life, raises the question of what treatments are effective in preventing long lasting effects. Evidenced based approaches in therapy such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) focus on processing memories of trauma so that a person doesn’t have to struggle with feelings when the memory is brought up. Another widely used approach utilized by many mental health professionals is TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which helps children and teens overcome beliefs involving guilt and blame, while providing a supportive environment for children to talk about their traumatic experience. TF-CBT is effective in also assisting parents (not abusive) to cope with their own distress and to develop skills to support their child or teen. The more people become aware of how childhood trauma affects brain development and behavior in life, the more likely they are to seek treatment.

We hear more and more about life coaching in the media every day.

Maybe you aren’t quite sure exactly what it is?

When most of us hear the word “coach” we visualize someone with a whistle, out on a playing field, maybe shouting and waving a clipboard. He or she will guide the team through different plays and exercises, always with the idea that the end result will be a win.

Well, part of that description is true in life coaching as well.

However, life coaches don’t wear whistles, are usually seen in an office, never shout and i personally don’t think I’ve ever seen one wave a clipboard… Although I have seen some use them to lean on to take notes with a client.

What is true about life coaching and sports coaching is that both are working towards the same end: a win!

The difference is in the plays and exercises!

A life coach will help your teen find balance in daily life, assist them in planning the future, increase their self-esteem and self-confidence, help them find tools to simplify their lives, as well as getting them to tune in to their best qualities. Setting obtainable goals and honing their attributes and skills are also “plays” that a life coach will use to get a client where he or she wants to be and should be.

Back to the question at hand: “would my teenager benefit from life coaching?”

The answer is absolutely!

The young person who has enough self-esteem and self-confidence today is a rare find. Additionally, he or she often doesn’t have any clue what they want to do in life and the few that do, are not sure how to achieve that dream or lack the belief in themselves that the dream can become a reality. Teenagers are disorganized by nature and tend to complicate things that are simple and simplify things that are complicated. These are all areas in which a life coach is trained to help a client.

It is not unusual to find that teens will listen and react more effectively to an “outsider,” like a coach, before they will agree with or follow the suggestions of a parent. Life coaching is not therapy; therapy deals with the past. Instead, it is about the present and the future. Who is more interested in that then someone between the ages of 13 and 19? What parent doesn’t want to give their child every opportunity to be all that he or she can be and enjoy success as an adult?

A coach is an un-biased partner who will support your teen as he or she works toward adulthood, helping them deal with any road blocks that come their way and helping them to celebrate the “win!”

At some time in their lives, most parents or individuals have experienced the sadness, anxiety, and pain of a sick or hurting child. While most children periodically suffer the discomforts of common ailments, others are faced with a more severe and challenging illness where there may be little or no hope for recovery. Receiving such news can be devastating and cause the child to feel extremely fearful and anxious.

Other situations can also trigger distress and sadness in a child. They can suffer emotional anguish when mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer, dad is in the hospital and needs surgery after a car accident, grandpa is struggling with a worsening heart condition, or a sibling broke a leg while playing soccer. Perhaps the child has experienced a devastating situation and is facing placement in a foster home. Young children may react differently to these scenarios, but all need to know that someone cares for them. A great way to calm their unsettled emotions is by providing them with a cuddly stuffed cotton animal to hug and hold.

Many police and fire departments as well as ambulance services carry small stuffed animals to give to children during a traumatic event. Though they may be experiencing the pain of an accident or illness, a cute and huggable stuffed cotton animal of their own to hold, hug and snuggle with, can help calm a fearful child.

There are many fabrics one can use to create a snuggly cuddly stuffed animal, but cotton seems to be the best fabric to use because of its soft texture and availability in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Another benefit to using cotton fabric is that one type or another can be found on sale throughout the year. The scraps of cotton left over from a previously crafted stuffed animal can be used for the eyes and mouth on a bear or rabbit, and the yellow scraps can be used for the next frog’s stomach to really bring him to life! Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a stuffed animal with a real personality when their medical provider informs them that they are in need of a shot or surgery, or a parent has just been sent for chemotherapy treatment.

A simple pattern can be used to make a dog, rabbit, horse, zebra, or any type of animal. Cut two pieces of cotton fabric, sew on the eyes or other details of the animal to give it character, then sew the two pieces of fabric together, leaving a small area unsown to stuff with batting. Once the batting has been inserted, sew around the entire edge with either a matching or contrasting thread. Any pattern or color of cotton fabric can be used and the patterns can be as simple or complex as you’d like, depending on your sewing skills.

There are many individuals who may not be as fortunate as you or those around you and a cuddly stuffed cotton animal may be just what they need. Won’t you be an angel in disguise and help those children who feel alone, scared, and have nowhere to turn? Stuffed cotton animals can bring comfort to sick children around your community. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you have helped a small child in a big way? Consider donating you time and talents and stitch together a mixed menagerie of cuddly cotton critters to be given to children during their time of need. Contact your local emergency rooms, clinics, hospitals, police stations or schools and find out if they could use your creations, or perhaps, if they don’t currently have a program in place, if they’d be willing to start one. Whether you donate your time and talent in a very small way or in a substantial amount, it all adds up and it does make a difference. In the words of Garrison Keillor, “Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted.”