Raising a teenager comes with a unique set of challenges, but when your teen struggles with anxiety, the push-pull of independence can feel even more intense. One moment, they need you; the next, they’re shutting you out. It’s a confusing and sometimes heartbreaking process.
If you’re waking up every morning to tears, battles, and overwhelming guilt as you try to get your teen to school, you’re not alone. Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is a growing challenge for many families, leaving parents feeling helpless, judged, and exhausted.
Parenting an anxious teen is an emotional rollercoaster. You want to support them, ease their worries, and be their safe place. But at the same time, you know they need to build confidence, independence, and resilience to face life’s challenges. Finding that balance—between helping and letting go—can feel impossible some days.
This month, I’ve shared posts about three key strategies for supporting an anxious teen:
Are you feeling distant from your teenage child and hoping that Christmas might give you an opportunity to reconnect, but you are unsure how? This article will provide you with 5 actionable tips to help you.
For many mums, the overlap of challenges between parenting their teen and managing their own midlife wellbeing can be overwhelming.
The truth is, midlife mums and teenagers have more in common than we think. You’re both experiencing a season of growth, uncertainty, and transformation. So, how can you find balance when your own emotional journey seems to clash with your teen’s? In this article, we’ll explore the challenges of being a midlife mum and parenting a teenager, and provide practical tips to navigate this complex phase with grace and connection.
As a parent, watching your once-social teen retreat from friendships can be both bewildering and deeply worrying. You may wonder if it’s just a phase, if something is wrong, or how best to help without overstepping. Rest assured, you are not alone in these concerns, and there are constructive ways to approach the situation.
In this blog, we’ll explore some common reasons why teens withdraw from their social circles, when to worry, and how you, as a parent, can provide the support they need during this time.
Teenage years can be a whirlwind of emotions, growth, and self-discovery. It’s a time when your child is navigating significant changes in their body, mind, and environment. For some teenagers, these years may also bring the onset or intensification of mental health challenges, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). As a parent, it can be challenging to distinguish between typical teenage behaviours and signs of a deeper issue like OCD.
Understanding how OCD manifests in teens, recognising its symptoms, and knowing how to approach your child compassionately are crucial steps in ensuring they get the support they need.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects millions worldwide, yet it remains widely misunderstood. Popular culture often portrays it as a quirky obsession with cleanliness or organisation. In reality, OCD is far more complex, often debilitating, and deeply personal. For those living with it, the experience can feel like being trapped in an unending cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions. If you’re reading this and you live with OCD, know that you are not alone, your struggles are valid, and there is hope for a better tomorrow.
When your child is struggling in school or resisting going, it can feel incredibly stressful as a parent. Besides worrying about your child's emotional well-being, you might also experience feelings of blame or criticism from school or other parents. Unfortunately, you are not alone in this situation. Persistent school non-attendance is common and growing in concern.
Parenting is a complex and rewarding journey, but when your child is struggling with anxiety, it can feel especially overwhelming. As a parent, your instinct is to protect and support your child through every challenge they face. However, when your child is anxious, this can be an emotional and mental strain, leaving you feeling drained, worried, and unsure of the best ways to help.
While your child’s mental health is a top priority, it’s equally important to take care of your own well-being. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and the more supported and balanced you feel, the better equipped you’ll be to help your child through their anxiety. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can look after yourself whilst being there for your anxious child, providing you with practical strategies for maintaining your own mental and emotional health.
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, distressing thoughts or images that can pop into our minds without warning. For people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), these thoughts can become all-consuming, leading to cycles of anxiety and compulsive behaviour. Intrusive thoughts in OCD are more than just fleeting worries; they can create significant distress and often contradict the person's values and beliefs, causing confusion and emotional discomfort.
In this blog post, we will explore what intrusive thoughts are in the context of OCD, how they manifest, the common themes, and how treatment can help individuals manage them more effectively.
Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child can be a pivotal moment in your family’s life. As parents, you may experience a range of emotions, from relief at finally having an explanation for the challenges your child is experiencing to anxiety about what the future holds. One question you may have after receiving the diagnosis is how to talk with your child about it.
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