Sacred Heart - Inspiring Health

AS A PARENT, IT'S NATURAL TO WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR CHILDREN, BUT "HELICOPTER PARENTING" CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE SON OR DAUGHTER YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT. "NO PARENT WANTS their child to fail, but stopping them from making small mistakes when they are children prevents them from learning the lessons that come with each event," says Jeni Gronemus, MS, LPC, Psychotherapist at Sacred Heart Behavioral Health. "It makes sense to hover behind a wobbling toddler, but parents' involvement and control in their child's life is supposed to decrease over time so the child can become independent and self-reliant. As children grow up, it's important to strike a balance between letting them make their own decisions and providing support when it's needed." > Some of the unfortunate side effects children may experience if their parents hover are depression, defiance, and a sense of perpetual dependence that lasts late into life. Take inventory of your parenting style. If you regularly step in to do things your child is capable of doing alone, such as preparing simple meals, tackling the bulk of homework, or scheduling college courses, it may be time to reevaluate what's best for your child—and you. Our resources, including family therapy and parenting therapy, help you be the best parent you can. To make an appointment in Eau Claire, call the Sacred Heart Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic at 715.717.5899. For Chippewa Falls, call the L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center at 715.723.5585. Growing Up with ADHD ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) IS A CONDITION MARKED BY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS FIDGETY, DISRUPTIVE, AND INATTENTIVE BEHAVIOR. OFTEN DIAGNOSED DURING CHILDHOOD, ADHD CAN STRETCH WELL INTO ADULTHOOD. ALONG WITH THE usual stressors of growing up, children with ADHD face unique challenges as their body and brain chemistry change during adolescence. > "Adolescents with ADHD may have more difficulty than others regulating their impulses, even when they know their behavior is self-destructive," says Courtney Spindler, MS, LPC, Psychotherapist at Sacred Heart Behavioral Health and L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center. "This can lead to highrisk behavior such as reckless driving or substance abuse. While not all children with ADHD show self-destructive tendencies, the possibility makes it very important to have ADHD symptoms well in hand as children enter this vulnerable stage." Stimulant medication may help some children with ADHD, but it is not the solution in every case. Other treatment options such as social skills training, family therapy, structured routines, and even dietary modification can also provide relief from symptoms. ADHD commonly occurs along with other problems, including learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and disruptive behaviors. Low blood sugar, certain types of seizures, sleep disorders, and other conditions often produce symptoms similar to ADHD. Working closely with your child's healthcare team can help you tailor ADHD treatment to your child's unique situation and rule out other potential causes of ADHD symptoms. Call the Sacred Heart Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic at 715.717.5899 or the L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center at 715.723.5585 to make an appointment with a mental health professional. SAC R ED H E A RTE AU C L A I R E .O RG SAC R ED H E A RTE AU C L A I R E .O RG Curb Your´Copter 3 3

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