Author: Scrambled Podcast

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Chad and Nikki have chosen to observe this month with weekly episodes about current issues in the world of mental health. In episode 19, Nikki and Chad talk about the recent uptick in demand for mental health services facing their area and others around the country. Following, COVID many people have experienced new and worsening mental health symptoms prompting an unprecedented number of referrals to counselors, therapists, and social workers. This has led to long wait lists and wait times for many people needing help right now. This episode is a list of tips for navigating the time between asking for help and actually being able to talk to a mental health professional. NOTE: While these suggestions may bridge the gap and help you prepare for your first visit, if you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call your local mental health clinic for guidance, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911.

In the 18th episode of Scrambled: The Children’s Mental Health Podcast, Chad Douglas and Nikki Shields explore the challenging topic of discipline as it relates to childhood mental health. A discussion of the purpose of discipline along with some important things to consider when disciplining your anxious child are contained in this episode. Nikki also shares some practical approaches and tips to try as well. You can find the book “No Drama Discipline” by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson at our Amazon Affiliate Site. You can also check out Nikki’s article, “I Have an Anger Problem.” 

Extracurricular activities are great ways for kids to build skills and self-confidence. But for kids with anxiety, there are some important factors to consider. In episode 17, Brad Hoyt, Director of Sportsball at John Wood Community College in Quincy, IL, joins Chad and Nikki to discuss the emotional and developmental benefits of sports, music, art, and other extracurricular activities along with proven strategies for navigating the world of competition and performance with your anxious child.

There are many places to find help for kids struggling with mental health issues and at school is one of the first places to start your search. In episode 16, Nikki and Chad are joined by Kristen, a Special Education Coordinator from a school district in their area. Kristen talks about what a 504 plan is and the process for getting one of these set up for your child. She also shares important information about Behavior Improvement Plans (BIPs) and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and the ways that these can help children with emotional, behavioral, and academic concerns. Nikki and Kristen share additional tips for navigating mental health concerns that are interfering with academic performance. For listeners in the state of Illinois, Kristen recommends checking out the ISBE website for additional resources regarding ways to access support at your school:

...Divided we fall. In their 15th episode, Chad and Nikki dive headfirst into the treacherous terrain of conflicts in co-parenting. Whether you are married to your co-parent or not, sharing a child with another person can be difficult and when that child happens to have anxiety or another mental health condition, it can be even more challenging. Nikki and Chad talk about what happens when parents aren’t on the same page and share the steps to effectively work though co-parenting disagreements so that you can show your anxious child a united front. 

Anxiety is your body’s alarm system and is designed to alert you to potential problems, and cue you to take action. In this episode, Nikki and Chad talk about what happens when you ignore that alarm system, or anxiety symptoms in children, and what can happen over time if these things are not addressed. They discuss what it looks like when emotional baggage gets carried from childhood into adulthood, and share strategies for tracking symptoms and teaching kids how to interpret their body’s messages and alerts.

One of the many important jobs of a parent is to advocate for their children, to be their voice in situations where they don’t have one. This isn’t always easy. In Episode 13 – “No More Excuses,” Chad and Nikki are joined by Chad’s wife Erica, who has been a strong advocate for both of their children. Parents and guardians often feel they are “making excuses’’ for their children when they speak up and this conversation includes tips for how to stay calm, and handle the difficult emotions that often accompany advocating for kids in schools and other settings.

Screens are all around us. In fact, for some of us, we can’t get away from them, and that’s ok. The screen isn’t what can cause problems, it’s what’s on the screen. In Episode 12 – ‘Anxiety Unplugged,’ Nikki and Chad talk about how the content you consume affects you. And that’s for everybody, but if you, or your child, has anxiety, that content can have very serious effects. We’re talking about music, movies, video games, and social media. In this episode, Nikki talks about a Daniel Tiger for Parents App. Download it in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Chad mentions Common Sense Media, a great resource where parents can get information on whether their child is ready for certain movies, TV shows, or video games. 

All parents struggle with when to step in and help your child, versus just letting them figure it out on their own. But, with kids with anxiety, it can get a little trickier. In this episode, Nikki and Chad talk about when you should swoop in and help, when you push the child a little harder to tackle a task, and when your child’s behavior is anxiety or manipulation to get what they want. In this episode, you’ll hear two tools your child should have before you nudge them along so they tackle tough situations more successfully. You’ll also pick up some advice on how to handle your child’s actions when they push you too far.

Note: This episode includes a discussion of self harm and suicidal ideation, listener discretion advised.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 988 

In this episode, Nikki and Chad discuss the role that thinking plays in childhood mental illness. Nikki shares the thoughts, feelings, and behavior triangle and provides parents with a framework for better understanding their children’s emotions and behavior at different stages of development. Nikki also introduces the different types of thinking errors or thought distortions that all people commonly use, and describes how these can contribute to anxiety and other mental health symptoms. Here is an article that describes a variety of thoughts distortion. Ways to model positive thinking for our children are also discussed. Chad and Nikki talk briefly about how thoughts of self harm and suicide can develop and how to respond if your child discloses these kinds of thoughts to you. To close out the episode, a few more strategies for shifting negative thinking in children are shared, including this worry tree where children can symbolically hang their negative thoughts on the tree at night before bed or any time they need to clear their mind.