S-T-R-E-S-S, we all experience it and kids are no exception. School, parental expectations, EOGs, soccer, friends and time were the top reported stressors from kids ranging from elementary school through high school at A Little Counseling. Like adults, kids can put too much pressure on themselves or feel the pressure put on them by others. Under stress a child may become irritable, emotional, angry, avoidant, self-injurious, self-critical or clingy to name a few. If you recognize your child is experiencing stress and not managing it effectively, here are three important things adults can do to help kids manage stress better from the MOTT Children’s Center in Michigan, https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/aba5971:

Whether you liked it or not, there was no choice involved with many of the changes 2020-2021 brought on due to COVID-19 -- not to mention any other changes you may have experienced on top of it. Change is a part of life and also a six-letter word that many people with anxiety often go to great lengths to avoid. There’s a lot to be said about the comfort of predictability, I mean you know what you’re getting. Predictability often supersedes the adventure and advantages that come along with change to an anxious person. Change is inevitable in life and having too much resistance makes it even harder. Embracing change can be difficult at first but with time and practice, it can get better. Here are some tips for embracing change:

A long time ago…… A long time ago……. A long time ago………To you the phrase “A long time ago” may mean nothing but to me these four words were repeated about four times out of my mouth during a public speaking class in college before I pushed through the fear and started speaking fluidly! Like many, I was so resentful of that class and would have taken the opportunity to drop it in a second if there was an option. WE ALL HAVE FEARS. Public speaking, sadness, anger, rejection, embarrassment, illness, heights, public places, driving, being alone, socializing, vomit and failure are just a few common fears. With fear and unwanted emotions comes anxiety and distress.