Parenting

Join us for an extraordinary episode as we delve into the world of autism and discover the transformative power of early intervention, the significance of community and support for autism families, and the untapped potential of individuals on the Spectrum. Our special guest, Eustacia Cutler, renowned as Temple Grandin's mother, will share her invaluable insights and experiences, shedding light on the journey of raising a child with autism.

This smoothie is not only delicious but also includes ingredients that are known to have a calming effect. Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, which can help to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Blueberries are high in antioxidants and have been shown to improve...

For many years, scientists have warned us about the dangers of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are found in the environment and everyday products. These chemicals can interfere with the body's hormonal balance and lead to a range of health problems, from reproductive issues to cancer. But how do EDCs affect our health, and what can we do about it?

If winter has you feeling cooped up, it might be time to figure out tome ways to reconnect the family and find some relief form the winter blues. Here are 10 ideas for things that might bring your family some fun and create memories:

Join us as we talk to returning guest Jennifer Giustra-Kozek, LPC about this study and ask her the question that is on all of our minds; Will this new study change the way depression is treated moving forward?

Sugar's daughter loves Neural Balance because it helps her but it doesn't change her. We don't see autism as a defect, but we do understand that anxiety, poor sleep, sensory overload, lack of focus, and many of the difficult attributes of autism (and PANS, MTHFR, ADHD, etc.) can make life more difficult than it needs to be. 

On and off the Spectrum, life is easier when a person can deal with anxiety, get a healthy night's sleep, process sensory stimuli, and focus on the task at hand. We see the positives and the negatives of autism/being autistic so we simply want to offer support and help where needed without changing the person or turning them into a zombie.

Watch the video up here ⬆️ or listen to the podcast right here ⬇️ Join my guest Jennifer Kozek as we talk about depression in younger kids and teens: How to recognize the warning signs and what to do about it.

Join us and special guest Brittny Schwartz, founder of This Chick is RAW, as we learn more about how fermented foods can benefit everyone but be ready to take notes as we discuss:

By nature, kids aren’t the best communicators when it comes to their feelings. It takes time along with trial and error to learn how to express negative emotions in healthy ways. Plus, most people would agree that they aren’t always perfect when it comes to dealing with their own anxiety. Kids with behavioral problems often struggle with anxiety. However, parents can be left scratching their heads wondering why their kids are acting out without realizing that anxiety could be the source of the behavior. Here are ways that anxiety often shows up in disruptive behavior in kids.

Oppositionality

Sometimes, kids may suddenly refuse to clean up after playing, refuse a learning activity, or just seem to not know any word other than “no” without any apparent reason. You may notice behavior or language that seems to have no purpose other than getting under your skin. These perplexing moments are understandably met with frustration, but there is often more happening under the surface. Whether or not your child has Oppositional Defiant Disorder will be determined by a professional, but these sorts of moments are also commonly caused by spikes in anxiety. Take the extra time to ask your child what if anything is making them anxious and look for stressors if they can’t seem to identify the source of their anxiety.

Meltdowns

Children with autism or sensory processing disorder can often display behavior that looks and sounds like a tantrum when feeling anxious. Other kids may also have meltdowns when they are feeling anxious for reasons related to sights, sounds, or smells around them. Sometimes, a tantrum is simply a tantrum and you should follow through with your system of discipline and rewards. However, if there seems to be no reasonable explanation for a tantrum, such as if there is nothing clear that they are trying to gain or they typically behave well in the situation, they could be having a meltdown from anxiety.

Aggression

Whether it’s something small such as angrily throwing an item or blatantly aggressive actions like hitting, aggressive behavior should always be taken seriously and dealt with as soon as possible. This type of behavior can be especially frustrating, but it’s important to remain patient to figure out why the aggressive behavior is happening. One of the most common reasons for child aggression is anxiety. Sensory overload, external stressors, anxious thought patterns, or physical factors can all manifest themselves in aggressive behavior in kids.

Of course, you should always address the behaviors themselves by not rewarding poor behavior but be sure to recognize when there are signs of anxiety in order to find the best natural ways to deal with anxiety. Being direct with your kids about talking about their feelings will go a long way in preventing some of the guesswork.

Look for ways to model healthy coping skills for your kids while also encouraging healthy coping skills like mindfulness, physical activity, art, and yoga. You should also consider how natural supplements can help your child feel calm and find the options that work best. There are also plenty of ways that changing your child’s diet can help them feel calm as well.

Don’t get discouraged if you notice disruptive behaviors in your kids. Discover the best ways your child can feel calm in order to help them thrive. Neural Balance contains the patented ingredient Anandanol, and supports natural calm and focus, natural social interaction, and normal sleep patterns. View our products to find out more about how Neural Balance can help your family.

The quote, “We don’t want to make your children “manageable”.  We want to help them be who they are.”, comes from our desire to help support natural calm, focus, and sleep that doesn’t diminish the creativity and intelligence of a person. We don’t want to sedate; we want to support balance.

It’s the time of year where families start solidifying plans to gather with relatives and family friends for the holidays. While there’s plenty to enjoy about this season, it also certainly comes with its fair share of stress. In particular, holiday family gatherings can cause extra anxiety for kids who have to cope with unfamiliar situations, crowded rooms, and a break from their structured routine.

It isn’t always obvious if your kids aren’t getting enough sleep at night. While it’s good to check in on them by asking how they slept, you can’t always rely on kids to be very forthcoming about it. Many kids, especially younger kids, may not have a good grasp on whether or not they are actually sleeping well at night.