If Your Child is Moody, Then it May be Time for a Break from the Screen

on May 1, 2020 at 1:35 PM /

When our kids’ school switched to online learning, I thought it’d be for a short time. Now their school has extended it for the rest of the year, and I’m noticing just how much time they spend on their laptops and phones. At first, it was no big deal since they have nothing of great importance to do here at home other than schoolwork. But now my husband and I have noticed that they have even less motivation than usual and are often more bad-tempered. I think it has to do with all the time they spend online, especially playing...

Getting Outside Again: The Benefits of the Outdoors for Your Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 24, 2020 at 2:32 PM /

When the stay-at-home order was first put in place, my family and I made the best of it. We were lucky enough to have our jobs switch to work-from-home, and my husband has taken responsibility for helping our kids with their online schoolwork. As the weeks went by, though, we all became incredibly lethargic from being inside all day. One day, we decided to spend an afternoon in the backyard away from our laptops, phones, and tablets. It felt great! I did some gardening, my husband did some yard work, and the kids tossed the ball around and made up...

The Benefits of Keeping a Four-Legged Friend Around During Home Isolation

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 17, 2020 at 3:25 PM /

The first couple of weeks of my city’s stay-at-home order were rough. I’m single with no kids, so my apartment was quieter than I could have ever imagined while working from home. It got so bad that I started feeling stressed and anxious from being cooped up all day. During a call with my sister, she suggested adopting a dog. She owns one, or actually tells me that her dog owns her, and says that there’s never a dull moment in her home. I went to my local animal shelter and came home with the cutest dog! Eloise is small,...

Lockdown Blues: COVID-19, Its Effects, And How It’s Being Processed

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 3, 2020 at 3:15 PM /

It’s been about six days since my boyfriend and I have been outside. The first couple of days were fine, fun even. We watched a few movies, played some games, and even had a few drinks. But things are definitely changing now. I’ve been on social media almost non-stop, reading about all the new cases, the deaths, the economy, and everything else related to the virus. I’m a puddle of anxiety, convinced I will be the next to get sick. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. At times he’s optimistic or...

Stress at Home: Dealing with Emotions and Responsibilities During the COVID-19 Outbreak

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 20, 2020 at 3:34 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. With COVID-19 spreading, I have to work from home. In addition to this, I now have my kids at home full time. Since school has been canceled, I’m about to start being their at-home teacher, social director, and all-day companion! As a single mom, you might say that I’m completely overwhelmed. There aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of this! I usually take deep breaths throughout the day to manage my stress, but lately, it’s been impossible. And my work, health, and parenting are suffering because of...

COVID-19: What to Expect During a Period of Uncertainty and Potential Panic

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 13, 2020 at 11:26 AM /

As a parent, worrying about the flu or common cold every year is nothing new. My husband and I are always prepared, but this year is different. COVID-19 caught us off guard and we aren’t quite sure what to do. Not only is the possibility of catching the virus scary, but it’s also causing our kids to ask a lot of questions that we don’t know how to answer. Also, my parents are getting older and they seem to be at the highest risk. Between news outlets, social media, and our friends, we hear so much conflicting stuff, and I’m...

A Few Topics That Millennials Often Bring Up in Therapy

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 27, 2020 at 12:31 PM /

I’m proud to be a millennial. I love feeling empowered when standing up for what’s right and enjoy the freedom my generation has to speak our minds. While I feel grateful for being a part of this wonderful generation, I’m also starting to feel the massive pressure that comes with it. I’m so stressed about my student loan debt, the cost of living, and saving for my future. When I try to escape reality by watching TV or browsing social media, it seems as if it all highlights the division in our country and the negative issues plaguing society. It's all...

The Benefits of Breaking Your Daily Routine and Trying Something New

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 20, 2020 at 12:49 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My husband and I were talking about our individual daily routines. Every day, we do the same thing: wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed. While we both enjoy the structure of our daily routines, we could really use some excitement in our lives! We talked about some things we've always wanted to do but have been too afraid to try, such as taking dancing lessons (me) and learning to rock-climb (him). So, we got online, found some places that offer these activities, and we...

Complex ADHD: New Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 13, 2020 at 11:45 AM /

Recently, my husband and I noticed that our 9-year old daughter was having difficulty paying attention, and she’s rarely able to sit still. At school, her teacher notified us that she was falling behind in class and recommended setting up a meeting with the school psychologist because she believed she might have ADHD. After some testing, she was officially diagnosed. To say that I’m scared is an understatement. What does this mean? How will this affect her life? The school psychologist informed us about some new ADHD guidelines that might find more behavioral issues. I’m so grateful that her ADHD...

Bullying: A Viewpoint from Both Sides

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 31, 2020 at 12:05 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. "I'm really worried about my son. Lately, it seems his personality and demeanor have changed, and I can’t figure out why. He's always been a happy kid, but now he just comes home from school and goes straight into his room, shuts the door, and doesn’t want to come out. I try to talk to him to see what the issue is, but he's just so closed off. At dinner, he hardly eats, and I can barely get two words out of him. I'm so worried and don’t know what...