Hard days

When I woke up this morning a cloud of sadness, negativity and dread was all over me.
I knew it was going to be one of my bad days and I did not like the way I felt at all.

I pushed through, no it was not a great day for me and there were tears as usual but it is okay to cry, some days if you could just go outside and scream you may feel better. 

It is ok to have those bad days as long as the good outweigh the bad but right now I am not sure if mine do. 

Right now I am in the recovery stage, I do think last Wednesday changed my life, shutting down and blocking out the world was very hard, I did not want anyone to talk to me, then I wondered why no one was reaching out when I was struggling, but to realize I wasnt letting them in. 

the recovery road is very hard and long but I believe with the people around me, I can push thru this. 

Building a Strong Bond with Your Child

Parents spend countless hours trying to turn their children into responsible and successful adults. We try
hard to teach them to be organized, polite, and plenty of other things we think they should be. Although
all of this is important, sometimes it’s necessary to slow down and just focus on spending time with your
kids. That way they feel more like persons rather than some projects that need to be completed. Here
are some effective ways to develop a strong bond with your child.

Why is it important?

Children need to feel loved and appreciated. Parents won’t achieve this by simply giving them loads of
tasks they need to perform and not spending any time with them. Building a strong relationship with
your child helps them feel secure and valued. They feel acknowledged as persons and that their opinion
matters. Furthermore, the parent-child bond is extremely important for their future development. A
loving relationship with your child serves as a model for all other relationships your children will have
later in life and enables them to grow up into healthy individuals. There are many ways in which you can
strengthen the bond with your child. Communication is the key, as well as the time spent together.
Being honest to them and being able to laugh together are also essential for your relationship.

Establish family traditions

Established traditions and routines have a positive impact on children. Kids thrive on familiar situations
because they give them a sense of security. Create rituals like Friday night movies or Sunday pancake
time which will grow into family traditions they will always cherish. Children will enjoy these predictable
situations particularly because they will be sharing these moments with you.

Declare their special day

Assign one day in a year to be your child’s special day. This day should be something out of the ordinary
and related to their desires and interests. Let them choose all the activities and follow their lead. You
can go swimming in an indoor water park, pay a visit to a Museum of Natural History, or visit another
town by train – their wish is your command.

A play date with Dad

Even though you might feel overwhelmed with everyday obligations, don’t let them stand in the way of
building a strong bond with your child. Spare some time every day to play with your kids. You can play
football and basketball together and include their friends. This will be an amazing time to bond and
further strengthen your relationship, not to mention the exercise in the fresh air. In addition, you can
opt for a fun playgroup where you can spend time together and at the same time help your kid learn
and have a stimulating experience.

Laugh as much as possible

Children often don’t expect their parents to have a sense of humor, so you need to prove them wrong.
Let your silly side shine through and remember what it felt like to be a child. Make up funny songs, show
them some of your best dance moves (with or without music), and join your kid when they are behaving
goofy. Hire a professional comedian and turn their birthday party into a blast where nobody’s able to
keep a straight face. You can never get enough of opportunities to laugh together.

Always be there for them
Your kids need to know that they can count on your love and support for better and for worse. Life is full
of ups and downs and just as you encourage them to succeed, let them learn that failure is also an
option and be there for them with hugs and kind words.
Spending quality time with your kids is essential for their psychological development. It also shows that
you are a caring parent and that’s the most important task you need to perform.
About the author:
Tracey Clayton is a mom of three girls. She’s passionate about fashion, home décor and healthy
living. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.”

Identifying signs of depression in foster kids

Identifying Signs of Depression in Foster Kids

Making a place in your home for a child from one of the adoption agencies Florida, or wherever you are, or even fostering them on a less permanent basis, is truly a wonderful thing to do that brings with it so many rewards. However, fostering is not an easy job as it brings with it various challenges. One such challenge is identifying mental conditions like depression in foster kids. Although psychiatrist help can be useful in some cases, most of the time it is up to foster parents to recognize the problem. If you are a foster carer looking for help in this regard, this blog can help you. 

What Causes Depression/Anxiety in Foster Kids?

Although there’s not a particular thing that causes depression in foster children, there are life events and personal concerns that are believed to trigger the condition.

Life Events

Most children in foster care have suffered some kind of trauma in the past which in turn might have led to anxiety in them. While the variety of trauma varies from child to child, there are some common events experts believe can result in the condition. These are:

• Isolation: Foster children suffering from depression might have been neglected at their home. This feeling of loneliness can result in low self-esteem and worry which in turn might have caused depression in them.
• Abuse: Abuse whether emotional or physical can result in depression in anyone and foster kids are no exception. Such type of behavior leaves deep scars in an individual and makes them suffer mentally, physically or both.
• Bullying: Studies have shown the impact of bullying on one’s health. So, if your foster child suffers from depression, bullying can be the reason behind it.
• Other Reasons: Other reasons like fear of being taken away from family, homesickness etc. can also lead to depression in foster kids.

Personal Issues

There are a variety of personal factors which tend to influence a foster child’s likelihood to endure depression.

• Genetics: Those born in families with a history of depression are likely to l
• Illness or medical Issues: Medical conditions, long-term illness or disability can also lead to depression in many foster kids.
• Personal Traits: Children who are introverts by nature are more at risk of depression. Their personalities can result in low self-esteem, worrying and anxiety, all of which are by-products of depression.

Spotting the Warning Signs of Depression

If a foster kid shows negative behavior for a longer period of time, chances are he/she might be living with depression. Some of the warning signs of depression to check them in are:

• Anger or irritability, especially at small things.

• Constant feelings of sadness
• Isolation or social withdrawal
• Excessive tiredness or sleeplessness
• Appetite changes
• Lack of concentration
• Unexplained guilt
• Low energy levels

The signs of depression vary from person to person, so it’s important for you to recognize the exact sign. And identifying the sign will take a lot of patience. As a foster parent, you should always be ready to take help from the required entities such as the foster agency of the child, his/her birth family, your friends, doctors, social workers etc.

Being vulnerable

So my counsellor says I need to be more vulnerable and to really share my heart, soul and mind and it is ok if it is real and raw because it is life and life is not meant to be perfect.  I struggled with seeing a counsellor in person but there is an option for an online counsellor

Life is messy and at times we do not understand things that we go thru, but as long as we have people cheering us on and coaxing us to keep going, we can and will make it.

That being said this blog is hopefully going to see me around more with heart felt thoughts and really sharing the darker places of me.

Hi, im Terri and I struggle daily with anxiety and depression.  My life is not as perfect as one would think or assume.

Yes, I have much to be thankful and grateful for and when I look deep inside I dont have a reason to feel like this but I am not in control, my brain is and right now it isnt in a good place.

I feel like because of past hurts, I have built a wall and I am scared to let people in... But maybe it is best if I try and succeed at making that friend for life then not trying and staying miserable and feeling alone.

So, I will be sharing more of my story from time to time- more often than not... as I do need these thoughts out and talking or writing is a huge help and outlet for me.

Love,
Terri

Tips to avoid stomach troubles when travelling

There is nothing as exciting as traveling and exploring new destinations. However, there are some things you need to be aware about to ensure a fun trip. The best part of visiting new destinations is their cuisine. But trying new cuisines can also give you a stomach ache if you do not take necessary preventive measures. There are certain things you can do in order to ensure that you enjoy the trip without letting stomach issues turn it into a disaster.

Motion Sickness

Motion sickness may not have anything to do with food but it is a common issue among travelers. Motion sickness will occur due to inner ear disturbance which you experience when traveling in a vehicle or on a plane. This can cause dizziness, vomiting and nausea. There are some ways you can deal with it. Try looking at the horizon or consider taking a nap. If you are traveling in a vehicle or in a train, open the window to get fresh air. Alternatively, you can chew gum or use ginger. There are also medications you can take for motion sickness and they should be taken about half an hour before you begin traveling.

Diarrhea

A traveler’s diarrhea can happen due to eating or drinking bacteria contaminated food or water. It is very common in a lot of countries and many travelers often experience it. You can avoid the issue by avoiding beverages or food which is unpasteurized, avoid fruits and vegetables which are peeled or have no skin. Avoid street food and ensure that the meat is cooked and very hot when you are served. Always use bottled water to drink and to brush your teeth. If you suffer from traveler’s diarrhea, you need to avoid greasy foods or any food that is high in fat or fiber. Avoid caffeine and do not consume any type of dairy products. You should not consume a lot of sugar and ensure that you are well hydrated. Diarrhea can cause dehydration and you will have to drink a lot of liquids to ensure that the issue does not worsen.

Constipation

Travel can make it difficult for you to stick to your diet and this can lead to constipation. If you experience constipation, it will lead to gas, an abdominal pain, bloating or even discomfort. You need to try to eat on schedule so as to avoid the situation. You also need to remain cautious with regard to the medications or supplements you take. They can induce constipation in people. Ensure that you drink a lot of water and consume a lot of fiber regularly. It is also a sign that you need to cleanse your gut with a diet or through probiotics.

Heartburn

This situation can be really miserable and slightly difficult to handle. You need to ensure you keep heartburn under control whenever you are traveling. Always avoid the food or drinks which can trigger a heartburn. Do not sleep within three hours of eating and always try to eat smaller meals as compared to large ones. Do not smoke and avoid alcohol. Try to prop your head up on an extra pillow when you go to sleep and stick to bland foods as long as heartburn remains present. Dairy products can worsen the heartburn, hence always be careful with them. You can opt for medication in case the heartburn persists. If it becomes a chronic issue, you might need to speak to the doctor about preventive medicines which you can use on your travels.

Bloating

Bloating and gas can cause pain and could make it hard for you to get comfortable. If you consume a lot of fiber or eat a lot of greasy foods, it can cause bloating. You need to know which foods will trigger the bloating and avoid them. Consider the symptoms and see what leads to gas and bloating. It is advisable to stick to healthy foods in order to reduce the risk of bloating. Make sure you consume a lot of water instead of beverages. There are medicines available for bloating and gas and you can take them as a preventive measure.

When traveling, you need to watch what you eat. This will help ensure that you do not have any tummy troubles and your trip is not ruined. Try to eat less and always drink bottled water. If you maintain basic hygiene at all times, you will be able to avoid any stomach problems while traveling.

Love Yourself By Loving Your Physical And Mental Health

Picture Source

It’s hard to feel confident in your own skin, whether you lack self-esteem with regards to your body or your mind. But the best way to start feeling happier with the reflection in the mirror is to focus on your wellbeing. Keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy is the key to truly loving yourself. This is something that’s difficult to appreciate in modern society because there are so many “quick fixes” pushed in our faces. We’re told to look and feel a certain way by taking shortcuts to get the appearance of lifestyle we want, but the best way to be happy is to simply take care of yourself. Let’s talk about improvements you could make to your physical and mental health so that you can start to love yourself.

Focus on eating whole foods.

Let’s start by talking about the difficult task of following a healthy diet. The only reason it’s so difficult is because of the options we have in front of us. That might seem like a strange thing to say, but it’s true. We have so many options out there, when the healthiest diet is often the simplest. Instead of opting for processed food, you should opt for organic whole food. That’s always better for you than manufactured food. No matter how healthy processed food might seem, it’s always lacking in nutritional value we truly need. But whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes are packed full of the protein, iron, and other important vitamins and nutrients we need. These are natural foods that are full of goodness.

The key to eating well is maintaining a diet of filling meals that give you the sustenance you need. The problem is that the media pushes fad diets onto us. Denying yourself the nutrition you need is dangerous. Undereating is as unhealthy as overeating, after all. Make it your goal to adopt a well-balanced and nutritional diet. Even if you achieve your weight goals more slowly, you’ll be healthy. And that’s the important thing. Eating well improves your emotional wellbeing as well as your physical wellbeing. Our guts influence our thoughts, after all. Once you started cooking nutritious homemade meals that are full of all the food groups you need, you’ll notice an improvement in the way you think and feel.

Dress well.

This might seem like an insignificant piece of advice, but the clothes you wear have a big impact on the way in which you perceive yourself. Even if you’re not interested in fashion, you should put some love and care into the way you dress. Accentuate your strengths. We’re all born in different shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t matter. Anybody can look good in the right attire. The key is wear well-fitted clothing. If your outfit looks tailor-made to your physique then it creates more of an impact. Your look will be more powerful because it’ll appear intentional and well-considered. If you struggle to fill your wardrobe with clothing that’s right for your figure then you might want to check out these comfortable classy clothes to fit any shape. T

Value your mental state.

At the heart of it all, you have to love yourself mentally in order to love yourself physically. There’s a big link between your body and your mind, as this article has probably made clear. This is worth understanding if you want to love yourself by loving your physical and mental health. The mental side of your wellbeing is just as important as the physical side. In some ways, it’s more important. By working on your psychological health, you can often improve your bodily health. You should start doing some real research on the subject of self-confidence to start changing the way you think. Even small things such as complimenting your reflection in the mirror can have a big impact on your emotional wellbeing.