by Dr. Jerri Gledhill, LPC | Oct 7, 2022 | children
Synthetic opiates (pain-killers) that are 50-100 times stronger than the analgesic and narcotic drug obtained from opium and used medicinally to relieve pain are increasingly available to our communities. These synthetic opioids are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. The Mississippi Opioid and Data Collaborative reports that in 2021, 280 overdose deaths in Mississippi involved the most common of opioid drugs used in the treatment of severe pain, representing an 18% increase in just one year. It serves as a cheap additive for street drugs.
These drugs can be pressed into counterfeit pills disguised as Xanax, Hydrocodone, and other pills with street value, and some traffickers have now started disguising these drugs in popular candy brands and in rainbow-colored pills in an attempt to appeal to young children and teens and move them across our country avoiding detection. This is alarming in so many ways!
Parents, teachers, faith leaders, coaches, … if you have talked with your kids, talk to them again, and then maybe one more time for good measure. If you suspect someone you care about may be using any substances, we are here to help. It is never too early to intervene, but it can be too late.
by Dr. Alyssa Killebrew | Apr 14, 2022 | children
As a widowed mother of two small children and a psychologist trained in dialectical behavioral therapy, I think it is harder and harder to guide the next generation towards resiliency with all the negative victim and herd mentality. I have been reading the book 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do (2017) by Amy Morin. Morin has done a commendable job bullet pointing the things I practice in my own household and those I attempt to teach my patients. I do believe that we have things in our lives that hurt and cause pain. I also believe that we have a great opportunity to bounce back from hardships and grow even stronger through utilizing techniques that may seem difficult, but are actually very simple in concept. These are a few tips that I am learning that I want to share with my fellow parents and guardians.
Our children are mentally strong and very capable of coping with life’s disappointments. We need to teach our children that they can control their emotions so that later their emotions don’t control them. Teach them that emotions are normal experiences and come and go. They are not who we are. They are just feelings.
- Show them how to take positive action replacing negative black and white (All or nothing) thoughts with more realistic thoughts.
- We validate and we also discourage the victim mentality.
- We feel our feelings, but we remain solution focused.
- Do not parent out of guilt. Our children are not victims. They are strong, resilient brilliant humans born at the exact right time.
- Be assertive with them and make them take responsibility for their part in the household.
- Don’t let fear dictate your choices.
- Give your children 2 options to chose from.
- Your child is not the center of the universe or your household.
- WE don’t blame each other for our feelings, we take responsibility for them and we don’t shield each other from pain. It is part of life. Parents you are not responsible for your children’s emotions and they are not responsible for yours.
- Allow your child to make mistakes. Some of life’s greatest lessons are through doing things imperfectly.
- Discipline is so important. It is not punishment. Don’t take shortcuts to avoid discomfort.
- Household Values are very important and need to be clearly established in monthly family discussions. Honesty, Hard-work, integrity, teamwork, loyalty, etc. Splitting and demonizing each other within families can cause a myriad of mental health conditions. Sometimes if we can see things through another person’s point of voice (non-polarizing) we can work together to resolve the problem. Talk about the problems together not in silo or small groups but all together.
There is always a silver-lining to any situation. Ask yourself, “What is one good thing that has come out of this? What is a positive way to look at this situation?”
