Self-care

Associations between Parental Anxiety/Depression and Child Behavior Problems

June 10, 2018 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

In my interview on the Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder Summit (June 11 to June 20, 2018) I discuss Self-care strategies for parents that are stressed out, anxious and depressed – without using medications.

You may think “why do I need research to show what I already feel and know?” but I can share that many of the moms I’ve worked find this validating and almost a relief to know they are not alone in this.

The paper, Associations between Parental Anxiety/Depression and Child Behavior Problems Related to Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Roles of Parenting Stress and Parenting Self-Efficacy reports that

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been shown to experience increases in stress, depression, and anxiety, which are also associated with child behavior problems related to ASDs.

The paper lists some reasons for the increased parental stress, anxiety and depression:

First and foremost, the realization that there is no cure for the disorder may serve to increase parenting stress.
Aspects of the child’s behavior, specifically socially inappropriate and aggressive behaviors typically associated with ASD, have been found to be associated with increases in parenting stress… due to a lack of understanding of ASD
Additionally, raising a child with ASD typically involves allocating extra time to meet the needs of the children.

This event addresses all of the above and more by providing you with insights and tools on how to recover your child using a biomedical and nutritional approach together with traditional behavioral models (#1 addressed). This event also helps you understand what some of the underlying causes of socially inappropriate and aggressive behaviors may be – like pyroluria and low serotonin and gluten issues (#2 addressed). And finally, the planning resources that Tara offers via her coaching program help you manage your time while you’re figuring all this out (#3 addressed).

And as an added bonus you get my nutritional advice to help make you more resilient and better able to handle the stress and worry that comes with parenting a cild with ASD or other developmental disorder.

As always, I share about the amazing amino acids that provide anxiety-relief and end the overwhelm, spinning mind, second guessing from day one while you’re figuring everything else out.

In my interview (which airs on day 1), I share:

How amino acids can provide instantaneous relief to symptoms of anxiety
Low serotonin anxiety, what are the symptoms, and what nutrients can help
Low GABA anxiety, how to identify and how to help
How to trial amino acids to see if they can help you (and your child)
How caring for a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder can be equivalent to combat and result in a form of PTSD
B vitamins and adaptogenic herbs for PTSD nutritional support
The benefits of a ketogenic diet for caregivers and our children
How collagen can actually make anxiety, depression and insomnia worse.
EMFs role in our health and how they are contributing to our stress.

This event brings together 30+ of the leading doctors, nutritionists, and researchers working to help parents by sharing the latest information and strategies for achieving recovery for children with Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder.

Having a child with Autism, ADHD or Sensory Processing Disorder is challenging. Figuring out what to do to help them is just as challenging. Join us for 10 days of eye-opening information into the root causes of your child’s neurological dysfunction. Imagine learning about what may have caused their symptoms and how to address them with nutrition and biomedical approaches and leverage the power of positive neuroplasticity to improve function, health, and their lives.

Anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD-like symptoms are common in any caregiver situation, so even if you don’t have a child with a neurological disorder, this may be of interest to you if you are taking care of an older parent, a sibling, a spouse or expect to in the near future.

Hope to see you there.

Healing PCOS: a new book by Amy Medling

May 4, 2018 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

Big congrats to my friend and colleague Amy Medling on the launch of her book this week: “Healing PCOS: A 21-Day Plan for Reclaiming Your Health and Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” This is a proven 21-day diet and lifestyle plan to help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) take back control of their health and resolve their symptoms from a certified health coach and founder of the large PCOS Diva online community.

I’m excited to share this book as a PCOS resource for you because anxiety and depression are common symptoms with PCOS – as a result of insulin resistance, low blood sugar and high cortisol:

In the short term, insulin resistance is at the heart of most PCOS symptoms, including infertility, obesity, hirsutism [male-pattern hair growth in women], hyperandrogenism (elevated androgen levels), chronic fatigue syndrome, immune system defects, eating disorders, hypoglycemia [low blood sugar], gastrointestinal disorders, depression, and anxiety
many women with PCOS may naturally have higher cortisol levels. Being overweight also increases cortisol production. Raised levels of cortisol change the way your body manages other critical hormones, putting you at risk for insulin resistance, anxiety, depression, and thyroid dysfunction.

Anxiety symptoms can also be due to low progesterone, estrogen dominance, thyroid issues, and overall inflammation.

She shares so many gems: how it’s so important to begin your healing journey by establishing your PCOS Diva mindset and practicing mindfulness; that the best movement for women with PCOS is whatever you enjoy; that the best way to overcome gym anxiety is to think like a PCOS Diva i.e. don’t wait until you have lost weight and then go; the importance of the vagus nerve and improving vagal tone.

The sections on the difficulties of getting a diagnosis, testing and medications are invaluable.

The section describing the different types of inositol when it comes to PCOS is also excellent. She writes that research suggests that women with PCOS may not be able to efficiently convert other inositols to D-chiro-inositol (DCI).

When I shared the new book announcement on Facebook, Katie Moon Bodily posted this:

I love the opening paragraph that defines what a PCOS Diva is. She is full of hope, chooses to thrive, takes charge, advocates for herself, and looks beyond physical management and also cares for her mind and spirit. I love that Amy starts with retraining the mind before she dives in to making physical changes—unless you change the way you think, the changes won’t last. Her words are full of hope and encouragement. She holds your hand through the changes so that you do t get overwhelmed and start to feel like “hey, I CAN do this!” Everything she does impresses me, and it’s so exciting to see it all compiled into one book!

I have to agree! As well as being a fabulous practical PCOS resource, it is a wonderfully hopeful and encouraging book and you can feel her warm support with you throughout the book. I really love the opening pages where Amy says this:

I deserve to be a PCOS Diva. I need to be a PCOS Diva.

A PCOS Diva is a woman with hope. She has taken charge of her health and happiness and takes steps every day to enhance both. She chooses to thrive with PCOS and is empowered by the knowledge she gathers as she educates herself about PCOS.

Here is the official blurb:

“PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders, and the most common cause of female infertility, affecting roughly five million American women. Because it’s symptoms are widespread—including stubborn weight gain, acne, mood swings, abnormal hair loss or growth, and irregular menstrual cycles—women suffering from PCOS are often misdiagnosed and treated with “Band-Aid” pharmaceuticals with uncomfortable side effects that only mask PCOS’s root causes. While there is no cure for PCOS, women can learn to control their symptoms naturally. In this welcome guide, Amy Medling shows how to combine an anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing diet, daily movement, and stress-reducing self-care to successfully treat their PCOS.

Grounded in the latest medical research and filled with the knowledge she’s acquired dealing with PCOS herself and working with thousands of women, Healing PCOS offers women small, manageable steps that help alleviate their symptoms and control the inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and insulin resistance that underlie the condition. Amy’s revolutionary program consists of:

A 21-day anti-inflammatory, hormone-balancing and gluten-free meal plan, including meal prep and plan-ahead tips to make eating this way simple and fast
85 delicious recipes—half fan favorites and half new dishes
Daily self-care exercises, including meditation and journaling prompts

Amy has helped tens of thousands of women with PCOS take back control of their health and their lives through lasting, healing, and sustainable lifestyle change. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have struggled with PCOS, her revolutionary program can now work for you.”

Get access to chapter 1 of Healing PCOS here

Grab your copy of Healing PCOS on Amazon (my link)

Feel free to post questions below and do let us know which steps have helped you (or your patients/clients).

Laughter, self-compassion and appreciation: Global Stress Summit

May 1, 2017 By Trudy Scott 1 Comment

Laughter, self-compassion and appreciation: 3 wonderful tips for reducing stress and anxiety in your life – from experts in the Global Stress Summit, hosted by Heidi Hanna.

#1: Laughter and mirth

Heidi Hanna’s wise words:

I have three things I do every morning to prime my brain. One is movement. One is meditation. And one is mirth

Heidi and neurohumorist Karen Buxman talk about the many benefits of humor and laughter during Karen’s interview What’s so Funny About Stress? It’s one of my favorites in the summit!

Laughter and humor boost resilience, affect gene expression and generate gamma brain waves in a similar way that meditation does, acting as a brain tonic. People who experience this gamma wave pattern find that

Food tastes better, things look more appealing and colors look brighter

I’m with them and HAVE to laugh every day – what about you?

#2 Self-care and self-compassion in times of loss

Ken Druck, PhD shares this in his interview on Courageous Living: Turning Adversity into Opportunity

There is no time at which we are more brutal, bullying, unforgiving, impatient, judgmental and critical of ourselves than in times of loss

This could be the loss of someone we love or a living loss like a divorce or break-up. He goes on to say:

It’s a teachable moment in our life to learn self-care and self-compassion. The practice of self-compassion is the basis for surviving through these hard and rough stretches in our lives

#3 Appreciation for your loved one every day

Arielle Ford shares this in her interview with her husband Brian on Positively Resilient Relationships

I try to give him 5 appreciations every day, just things that he’s doing and acknowledging them

She shares how research shows that doing it in public in front of other people wins millions more brownie points!

Arielle and Brian also share how they lighten up stressful situations with laughter and humor. I love their “Sheila” and “Wayne” tip when either of them are being too bossy (Sheila is Arielle’s mom and Wayne is Brian’s dad).

Arielle also offers these wise words: instead of being annoyed with something Brian is doing she changes the way she perceives the behavior.

It’s encore day of the Global Stress Summit so you can watch these and all the speakers today. If you haven’t already signed up you can still do so – just register here)

If you’re considering purchasing the series for your learning library be sure to do so today before the price increase. Here is the link to learn more and purchase.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!