Reducing Anxiety for Modern Parents

Parenting 

Guest Post

by Ania Wysocka, Founder

Simply Rootd Media, Inc

Anxiety Impacts Modern Moms, Dads

Anxiety is the world’s most common mental health disorder, affecting approximately 301 million people in 2019 around the globe. The National Institute of Health estimates that a third of the population, including many parents, will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives and that 19.1% of the U.S. has struggled with one in the last year. 

The reasons behind this surge in anxiety and panic attacks are multifaceted, ranging from financial and housing concerns to the competitive job market, the overwhelming flow of information, constant connectivity, and the pressures of social media. In today’s fast-paced life, it can feel impossible to take time for self-care, but not doing so also only compounds these stressors. 

In today’s uncertain and rapidly evolving world  there is nothing more anxiety-provoking than being a parent. Multitasking parents are confronted with a wide array of challenges, including the need to ensure their family's financial well-being, finding the right equilibrium between work commitments and moments with their family, and the daunting task of understanding and managing the impact of modern technology and social media on their children. 

According to Pew Research Center, 38% of parents state that working makes it harder for them to be a good parent, and 27% feel that being a parent makes it harder for them to advance in their careers. The digital challenges are compounded by the fact that parents themselves did not grow up in the era of omnipresent digital technology and social media, leaving them without a clear frame of reference for navigating its potential long-term effects on development and well-being. 

Tips for Parents to Address Anxiety

The desire to be exemplary parents while also finding time for self-care also creates a challenging paradox. In order to be the best possible parents, individuals must carve out time to prioritize themselves. However, self-care often gets neglected in the face of other more urgent-seeming tasks, heightening anxiety. Additionally, research shows that children with anxious parents are between two and seven times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder later in life, which may raise fear in parents, thereby perpetuating a cycle of stress and worry.

Ania Wysocka, the founder of the mental health app Rootd, insightfully addresses the unique pressures faced by parents today. She remarks, "In an age where parents are bombarded with information and societal expectations, finding peace in one's parenting choices is crucial. It's vital to understand that taking care of one's mental health is not selfish but essential for the well-being of the entire family."

To combat these pervasive feelings of anxiety, adopting practical strategies for managing stress becomes paramount. Parents are encouraged to educate themselves on child development to make informed decisions that align with their values and the needs of their children. It can also be useful to periodically implement a digital detox for the entire family, limiting screen time to emphasize the importance of meaningful interactions and reduce the negative impacts of constant connectivity. 

Integrating mindfulness and self-care into daily routines is essential. Simple practices, such as exercise, meditation, or enjoying a hobby, can significantly alleviate stress. Furthermore, building a supportive community of fellow parents can offer both emotional support and practical advice, reminding parents that they are not alone in their struggles. Incorporating family activities into anxiety management strategies can further strengthen bonds and reduce collective stress. Going on nature walks or hikes, playing board games, or finding new hobbies together can provide opportunities for connection and relaxation. Additionally, developing an environment where mental health is openly discussed with children promotes a supportive atmosphere, ensuring that mental health is not stigmatized within the family. 

Mental health apps like Rootd offer a convenient and accessible tool for managing anxiety, particularly for busy parents. Taking the time to seek out mental health resources can feel daunting to overwhelmed parents, but downloading an app is much more manageable. These apps provide immediate resources for calming techniques during moments of panic and promote the development of healthy habits for managing stress. Wysocka emphasizes, "Having mental health resources readily available on your phone is invaluable for parents. It ensures that support is always just a few taps away, allowing for a few moments of peace amid the chaos of daily life." 

 While the challenges of parenting in today's world are manifold, there are strategies for managing anxiety that are both practical and accessible. By prioritizing their own well-being and taking advantage of tools like mental health apps, parents can navigate the complexities of modern parenthood with greater ease and confidence. As society continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to managing anxiety, ensuring that parents and children alike are equipped to face the future with resilience and hope.

 

Ania Wysocka, Founder of Rootd

About Ania Wysocka 

Ania experienced her first panic attack in her fourth year of University, and has not stopped fighting to help others avoid or overcome similar situations since. Based on her personal experience with anxiety, she founded Rootd, designing and creating all of the app’s content, as well as leading the business. Her unique combination of graphic design skills and subject matter expertise provide Rootd with its unmistakable personality, and unreplicable differentiation from competitors. Among Ania's most notable recognitions are being included in Apple Developer Spotlight's "30 Under 30" and being selected as one of the best apps for anxiety by a wide variety of national consumer publications including Healthline, Cosmopolitan, and Women's Health, in addition to being featured in the Time Magazine special edition: "The Age of Anxiety".  

To learn more about Rootd visit the company's official site Rootd.io as well as follow the brand @rootd_app on Instagram.

White Bird Movie Review

Movies

by Janis Brett Elspas, Editor

Mommy Blog Expert

MBE partnered with Kingdom Faith for this review, post contains affiliate links

New Family Friendly Film Release

The new movie White Bird (Rated PG-13) now on the big screen, is the long-awaited sequel to the movie Wonder (2017). It is inspired by New York Times Bestseller graphic novel author R.J. Palacio's book Wonder (2012), which helped jumpstart the Choose Kind movement. White Bird is showing nationwide across the U.S. now, check local schedules to find a theater near you.

White Bird: Kindness is Forever

White Bird is a must-see, beautifully depicted period film for older kids and their parents of all backgrounds and faiths that's set in war-torn France. During the course of the movie viewers will learn about what the horrors of the Holocaust and the Nazi's siege over much of the Europe continent was really like with a spotlight on how it affected Jewish kids and the righteous non-Jewish peers who helped them. 

The cast is lead by Dame Helen Mirren, winner of an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the movie The Queen, along with promising teenage American actors Ariella Glaser (Radioactive) and Orlando Schwerdt (Children of the Corn) with Bryce Gheisar (A Dog's Purpose), who is expelled from his school for bullying, playing the grandson who is about to learn an important life lesson from his Grandma (Mirren's character) in the feature film.

The Story Line

Sensitively written and directed, this feature film shot on location in the Czech Republic and New York City, thankfully manages to keep the show of violence and otherwise graphically upsetting scenes to a minimum. Instead the action focuses on successfully getting such positive attributes as bravery, selflessness and kindness across to young and older viewers alike. 

White Bird is told primarily through point of view of two innocent yet impressionable kids who could not be more different and who as the movie progresses, form the most unlikely bond and friendship. As the story unfolds, Julian Albans (played by Gheisar), a crippled gentile school boy, risks his own life in an attempt to save his able-bodied classmate Sara Blum (played by Glaser) who was never nice to the boy and is now persecuted simply for being a Jew.

As she is being hunted down by vicious Nazis and their equally vicious dogs, Julian instantaneously forgives Sara for the cruelty she (along with others) has shown toward him and risk his (and his family's) own lives to help her hide in the barn on his parent's property. Mirren narrates, retelling the story of her childhood life as Sara living in Nazi-occupied France to her modern-day grandson, sharing with him for the first-time all the details about how she survived the Holocaust in hiding (with her friend Julian's help).

With inspiring, positive young role models demonstrating the ideals of forgiveness, bravery and loving kindness through their actions, this is a movie that tweens and teenagers, along with their parents, will relate to and well as learn from.

 

More about White Bird

Now showing in theaters, White Bird is rated PG-13 with a run time of 120 minutes. See the movie trailer as well as learn more about the film by following @lionsgate @whitebirdmovie @kingdomstorycompany, as well as hashtags #WhiteBirdMIN, #WhiteBirdMovie, and #BeBraveChooseKind on social. Get your tickets now.

Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services for providing a screening of the film for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Back to School Food Allergy Solutions

Parenting

Navigating Food Allergies this School Year

Guest Post

by Rani Maskatia, MD, Medical Director

Latitude Food Allergy Care

As students head back to school, those with food allergies face a unique set of challenges. In this story Dr. Maskatia, MD, Food Allergies Board-certified pediatric and adult allergist and immunologist, and Medical Director with Latitude Food Allergy Care, provides important things to know for families with students of all ages, ranging from preschool to college, who are returning to school with food allergies this fall.

Readers Note: This guest post is for informational purposes only and it is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Tips to Support Kids As They Grow

Reducing the risk of exposure to allergy triggers is often easier said than done. What can families do to help their children prepare for the uncertainties that come with the school environment? Read on to learn about what different things a parent and/or student do, based on the child's age group, whether they are preschool or elementary school age; middle or high school age; or college or university age.

Preschool and Elementary School Ages

The focus for the youngest age groups is reducing external risks and building an environment that keeps children as safe as possible through awareness, communication, and clear emergency action plans. 

Communicate with the teachers, principal and other staff who will be with your child during the school day. Let them know what are the triggers, symptoms and emergency actions for your child’s specific food allergies. Submit requests for reasonable accommodations in writing. Ask questions about the school’s policies for students with food allergies. Remember that it’s a partnership, and everyone wants to create a safe environment for every child. 

Importantly, an emergency action plan should be in place starting at the start of another schoolyear. Providing this plan and updating school forms each year is a critical part of managing food allergies. If you need updated testing, physician signed forms, or an updated prescription for epinephrine, keep in mind that back-to-school time is a busy time for any medical office. FARE's Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan outlines recommended treatment in case of an allergic reaction. The Dept. of Education also lists modifications schools can be required to provide to students with food allergies. 

Middle and High School Students

Tweens and teens who may have been living with food allergies since childhood, are now old enough to begin to advocate for their own needs. Some schools may still require paperwork and a written emergency action plan. Ideally students are beginning to manage their own self-care, including self-carrying EpiPens at all times. 

Parents can empower their children at this stage of life to recognize the signs of a reaction, understand the difference between self-carrying and self-administering of epinephrine, and plan ways to stay as safe as possible in unpredictable environments. Encourage your son or daughter to ask questions, read labels, and avoid peer pressure when it comes to anything they will eat or drink.

College and University Ages

When going away to college, parents can talk through lifestyle scenarios that differ from living at home including life with roommates, eating in a cafeteria setting, going in parties, and potentially, drinking alcohol, etc. At this stage, self-care and self-advocacy may already be second nature for incoming college and university students with food allergies, but the typical daily routines and group environments will be new. 

A few things to remember: 

1. EpiPen prescription renewals are the student’s responsibility when he or she turns 18 years old. If they’re going away to college, they should bring more than one set so there is always a backup in their dorm room, know where to get refills, and where to get an appointment with a doctor if an emergency arises while away from home. Students should also know which medical services exist on and around campus (a good tip for college students in general). If necessary, they'll need to plan for getting refills with your home care team while classes are on break or if they will be going to a university abroad program.

2. Communication with peers and restaurants on campus is the student’s responsibility. So is filling out medical forms and making appointments (unless they’ve provided health proxies). If any of these things are new to your college student, help walk them through different scenarios and what-ifs, so they can mentally prepare for their new life on campus. 

3. As always, remember it's wise for the student to have two Epinephrine autoinjectors on hand at all times (even parties), and to consistently check ingredients whenver they eat or drink.

Conclusion

At any stage of “back to school," testing and treatment can reduce the burdens on students as well as parents. Since food allergies can develop and change at any time, periodic testing with an allergist is critical throughout childhood. Any transition to a new school offers an ideal time to make sure your child’s food allergies haven’t changed since the previous test, and to ensure that they are not unnecessarily avoiding foods that they’re no longer allergic to. In the long-term, treatment with oral immunotherapy (OIT) and XOLAIR (omalizumab) are options for patients of any age to provide an extra layer of protection to go back to school with much less worry for everyone.

About Latitude Food Allergy Care 

Latitude Food Allergy Care, founded in 2018 by mom Kimberly Yates, is comprised of a network of clinics providing testing and treatment, including oral immunotherapy (OIT), to help families with children of any age who are coping with food allergies to live more freely. Latitude has four clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area, a clinic in New York City, and a clinic in Brooklyn. Latitude is affiliated with UCSF Benioff Children’s Physicians and Weill-Cornell Medicine and partners with Columbia University Medical Center and Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University. For more information, visit Latitudefoodallergycare.com and follow Latitude @LatitudeFoodAllergyCare on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.