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Moving forward after an allergic reaction

7/26/2020

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If you've ever experienced an allergic reaction, or witnessed your child experiencing one, then you're likely familiar with how it can feel afterwards - once the reaction is over. These emotions and thoughts may include feelings such as fear, worry, sadness, or even guilt, and explorations to try and understand what happened in order to prevent it from happening again.
For some, they may process through this phase quickly, while others take longer. Some may even find themselves becoming stuck along the way, unable to find their way back to navigating food allergies confidently. 

New podcast episode on this topic!

In episode 9 of the Exploring Food Allergy Families podcast, I'm joined by fellow allergy-informed clinician, psychologist Fawn McNeil-Haber, PhD.

​Together, we explore common feelings and thoughts that many may feel for days, weeks or even months after a reaction. We explore how those emotional reactions may lead to common behavioral changes and actions. Additionally, we share strategies to help people through this while on the journey back to confidently managing food allergies. [These tips may be helpful for parents and allergic kids, teens, and adults].
Listen to Episode 9 here, or find it via your favorite podcast app!
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​Helpful Resources: 

Below are helpful resources mentioned during our chat, as well as others that may prove useful after an allergic reaction:
  • Brave Minds Psychological Services YouTube Channel
  • How to Find an Allergy-Informed Counseling Provider (FAC blog post)
  • Food Allergy Emotional/Mental Health Resources (FAC resource page)
T.R.A.C.E. Post-Anaphylaxis Tips PDF - Tamara Hubbard, LCPC
File Size: 49 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

I.D.E.A.L. Problem-Solving PDF - Tamara Hubbard, LCPC
File Size: 160 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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New Podcast: Exploring Food Allergy Families

4/25/2020

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I'm very excited about this announcement. Not only does it relate to topics I am passionate about, but it's also a resource that I think will be enjoyable to listen to and learn from. 
Introducing.....
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So why did I create this podcast? 

Well, you'll have to listen to the brief preview episode to hear that answer!

But I'll share why I think you'll enjoy this new podcast....

Exploring Food Allergy Families
 is a podcast with real talk, relatable conversations, and practical tips focused on navigating the impacts that food allergies have on families, mental health, and emotional well-being. 
Building resilience and an empowered mindset are key pillars of this podcast. 

With episode lengths of 30 minutes or less, they're perfect to listen to while going for a run, walking the dog, or enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning (or wine at night)! 

This podcast aims to share and explore: 
  • "Bite size" chunks of knowledge on various topics, with tips you can use
  • Interviews with allergy-informed allied and mental healthcare providers 
  • Guidance on a variety of food allergy, relationship, and life stresses
  • New thought processes that help you co-exist with or flip inner worry voices 
  • Strategies to assess and address increased anxiety, emotions, and stress 
  • Perspectives on how food allergies impact family systems and relationships
  • Building an empowered mindset to help gain confidence and build resilience
  • Honest conversations with families at various stages of their allergy journey
  • Reassurance that you're not alone in your thoughts and feelings
  • Parenting guidance to help determine if you're on track with food allergy parenting goals in different stages of development
  • Fun chats, because sometimes we just need to lighten the mood and laugh
  • And SO much more, because this is just the beginning!

Also, for episodes focused on skill-building and strategies, there will be additional follow up resources available on this website for those topics, should you want to apply and practice the concepts discussed. 
So there you have it! Check out the first episode - a short preview and introduction, which explains why I decided this podcast was so important.

Then be sure to subscribe to Exploring Food Allergy Families (wherever you listen to podcasts) so you don't miss future episodes!

Trust me, you won't want to miss any episodes, especially the next one, Exploring Food Allergy Dads' Experiences, where I will share insights from the recent survey, relevant guidance/tips, and chat with one of these amazing food allergy dads!
​
​So, let's explore food allergy families together!
 
​

Podcast Episode site: https://exploringfoodallergyfamilies.buzzsprout.com/
Podcast Info: www.FoodAllergyFamilies.com (or Podcast section on this website )

- Your feedback is a gift that I truly value, so please feel free to share thoughts, topic ideas,
​or feedback on whether topics explored on the podcast have been helpful. - 

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A helpful parenting framework: Galinsky's stages of parenthood

2/29/2020

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When a child receives a food allergy diagnosis, it's common for parents to feel overwhelmed. Worrying thoughts may fill parents' minds with doubt and concern about how (and if) they will be able to prepare their food allergic child well enough to navigate this world on their one day. 
It's important for parents to remember that time plays a key factor here! 
It takes 9 months for a baby to develop and be ready for the outside world.

A kindergartner has over a decade of schooling to prepare himself/herself for college or work. 

​Similarly, food allergic kids acquire their skills over time, learning and applying them during each phase of development. 

GALINKSY'S SIX STAGES OF PARENTHOOD
The childhood stages of development can provide parents with benchmarks to help assess their own child's growth and progress. While this is useful information, it doesn't necessarily help parents understand their role at each stage of development. 

Ellen Galinsky, president and cofounder of the Families and Work Institute, conducted research that led to the development of the six stages of parenting. These six distinct stages offers parents a framework to help them understand not only what's happening during that age range, but what their tasks and goals might be. 

Taking this information one step further, I created the image below as part of a food allergy parenting webinar I presented in 2019, which includes a basic overview of the food allergic parent's tasks for each stage of parenthood. Additionally, I added descriptive titles (in bold) for each stage to help highlight the parenting role for each stage. 
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how is a parenting framework helpful? 

While the parental task list in the previous image seems simplistic, and certainly would include more than is listed above, this framework can help parents assess things such as: 
  • Am I helping my child develop the skills appropriate for this age/stage? 
  • What are my overall parenting goals for this current stage? 
  • Should I be focusing more on skills that will help my child transition to their next age/stage? 
  • Am I still doing too much for my child at their age, hindering them from learning age-appropriate skills they need to acquire? 
  • Am I spending too much time worrying about things that are in a future stage?

​A framework such as this is a helpful reminder that as parents, the goal isn't to teach kids every skill they need right away. A child's age, stage of development, and personality helps guide when and how to teach necessary life skills. 

It's also a reminder that what parents teach their children in one stage sets the foundation for teaching the skills within the next stage of development and parenting. Kindergarteners managing food allergies build upon the basic skills parents have taught them as preschoolers. Food allergic high schoolers are learning additional skills and practicing strategies needed for them to develop into young adults that know how to manage their own healthcare needs.


​So remember parents....
Rome wasn't built in a day, nor is a fully-prepared young adult managing their food allergies. Use the gift of time and reminders of your parenting role at each stage of your child's development to help guide your skill-building activities.....and hopefully help your worried mind believe that you can do this!
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