Explore the best techniques for parenting your anxious child, learn tips straight from Dr. David & Dr. Chris, and see the program at work.
This was really hard for me. My daughter struggled with panic on and off for about 4 years. She wanted comfort and reassurance that everything would be okay. I gave her that reassurance. Was that the right thing to do? Maybe, maybe not. Let me explain.
President Obama is his new budget proposal calls for children to begin school at age 4 but is that the best thing? Recent brain development research shows that children are not ready for school until at least age six. Finland, which consistently scores in the top 3 for high-school math and language scores waits till age seven to start their children. In this interview, Dr. McCarthy discusses this research and other things to consider before starting your child is school. For this link: When To Start School
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Anxiety has it’s own unique set of “operating rules.” These are not obvious and sometimes opposite of what one might think. That leads to all kinds of information that is mistaken. Well-meaning but wrong. The Anxiety and 
Depression Association of America is offering a free webinar on April 17th called Common Myths About Anxiety Disorders. This is a quick preview of some of the common “myths” about anxiety.*
Myth 1: If you have an anxiety problem you should avoid stress or anything that will cause anxiety.
Read ArticleDo you struggle getting your child to get up in the morning and prepare themselves for school, do their chores, or get ready for bed? Dr. McCarthy talks on Charlotte Today about the importance of routines and how to establish them.
Follow this link: Childhood Routines
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Anxiety treatment is stressful. From, “Where are my keys!” all the way to what my friend John would say, “I'm on a balcony 30 floors up with one foot on the rail 
and the other on a banana peel!” Your child’s anxiety WILL go up if you get them treatment. We often get the question regarding our anxiety program, “Will starting Turnaround cause my child to get more anxious?” and, “Will being exposed to the fears of other kids in the program give my child some new things to worry about?” Our answer: "Yes. It might." Anxiety treatment causes anxiety. If this is the point that you think, “Cause more anxiety? Why would I do that,” then you have just discovered the reason why anxiety is so hard to overcome.
Let me say right up front that what I am writing about is straight out of Sonja Lyubomirsky’s book on happiness. In her book she writes about 12 activities that are strongly supported by scientific evidence to 
boost happiness (although I suspect all our grandmothers knew it already). The first is the practice of gratitude. According to Dr. Lyubomirsky gratitude is “…wonder; it is appreciation; it is looking at the bright side of a setback; it is fathoming abundance; it is thanking someone in your life; it is thanking God; it is counting blessings. It is savoring; it is not taking things for granted; it is coping; it is present-oriented.” If that is not enough to persuade one to develop this practice she offers eight benefits of practicing gratitude:
I have been reading a very interesting book that summarizes research on happiness. As I go along I will try to blog about some of the really amazing information the author reports after devoting her life to the study of happiness. Here is just a brief excerpt about some of the behavior and thinking of the happiest people in the world:
Watch Dr. McCarthy's latest interview regarding child anxiety, stress, and how to help children deal with it. Many issues are contributing to children feeling stress- Helicopter Parenting, Helicopter Schooling, No Child Left Behind testing, etc. Children are more stressed than ever. Dr. McCarthy discusses the different factors affecting children and what parents can do to help their anxious, stressed-out child.
Click HERE to watch interview.
Read ArticleKids Still Love It!
We've had Turnaround for a couple of years and my four children still enjoy listening to it. I've even noticed one of my kids repeatedly listening to specific sections related to something difficult she was going through. Great product!
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Without question, one of the hardest things to do when you are anxious is to voluntarily face your fear. It is the last thing in the world you want to do. Everything in you wants to do just the opposite. Therapists spend a lot of 
time in treatment trying to persuade clients to face their fears. As a parent, this is a huge issue. How many hours have we all spent trying to get our kids to not be afraid and do the things they need to do? Here are few things that may help:
