The Mental Breakdown

In this episode, Dr. Berney responds to a listener question about her three-year-old son. This parent wrote:

MY SON IS THREE YEARS OLD AND LIKES PLAYING WITH LEGOS AND LITTLE MATCHBOX CARS. WHILE AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, THEY NOTICED THAT HE TENDS TO LINE HIS CARS UP. WHILE WE NOTICED THIS AT HOME, WE NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. OUR FRIENDS, HOWEVER, SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A SIGN OF AUTISM. COULD THAT BE? HE IS NOT TALKING MUCH, BUT SEEMS TO BE HAPPY. IS LINING UP CARS A SIGN OF AUTISM?

THANKS, SHANNON

Listen to this episode, as Dr. Berney talks about the common signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

In this episode, Dr. Berney responds to a listener question about her graduating son deciding not to go to college. This parent wrote:

MY SON IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND IS NOT SURE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO. WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT HIM GOING TO COLLEGE, BUT NOW HE IS NOT SURE THAT HE WANTS TO GO. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. DO WE MAKE HIM GO TO COLLEGE, OR SHOULD WE JUST LET HIM FIND HIS OWN WAY?

THANKS, DAWN

Listen to this episode, as Dr. Berney outlines the pros and cons of "forcing" your child to make decisions.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

There are times when we are our own worst enemy. Times when we not only knock ourselves over, but continue to kick ourselves when we are down. We are overly critical and refuse to give ourselves the credit we worked for a deserve.

In this episode, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard talk about our tendency to make things worse for ourselves by only focusing on the negative and refusing to accept the positive things in our lives.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

In this episode, Dr. Berney responds to a listener question about her challenges with organization and planning. This parent wrote:

MY SON WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD. AND AS I LISTENED TO THE DOCTOR TALKING ABOUT HIS SYMPTOMS, I REALIZED THAT I PROBABLY HAVE ADHD AS WELL. SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME MANAGING MY SCHEDULE AND KEEPING MYSELF ORGANIZED. I HAVE A BUSY LIFE, BUT TEND TO MISS DEADLINES AND OBLIGATIONS. WHAT KIND OF STRATEGIES CAN I USE TO HELP ME WITH THIS?

THANKS, DIAN

Listen to this episode, as Dr. Berney outlines the critical aspects of organization and strategies for improving this important executive function.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

In this episode, Dr. Berney responds to a listener question about her son's need to wear the same socks to ever soccer match. This parent wrote:

MY SON PLAYS COMPETITIVE SOCCER AND INSISTS ON WEARING THE SAME SOCKS AND SLIDING SHORTS EVERY TIME HE PLAYS. THIS, OF COURSE, LEADS TO ME HAVING TO WASH HIS CLOTHES REGULARLY, INCLUDING DOING SO BY HAND AT TIMES. HE HAS EVEN WORE THEM DIRTY BEFORE. IS THIS NORMAL? I HAVE HEARD ABOUT PLAYERS WHO ARE SUPERSTITIOUS, BUT MY SON IS NOT USUALLY LIKE THIS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

THANKS, CONCERNED MOM

Listen to this episode, as Dr. Berney outlines why superstitions have their place in sports and how this parent can minimize the negative effects.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

The sad, but realistic truth is that we get into fights and arguments with our kids. We shouldn't, but we do. Whether we are arguing over what they should wear, choices they have made, or what they choose to do with their time, arguments happen. And the way we as parents handle those arguments influence the relationship we have with our children and their success/motivation to meet our expectations.

In this episode, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about the best ways to manage arguments with our kids. While there are many things to do over the summer (see Episode 22: What Did You Do This Summer), one great goal should be to learn how to better handle conflict between you and your child. How to Fight Right. Because if you can improve your ability to handle conflict in the summer, it will make struggles during the school year much easier to manage.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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If you read the Harry Potter series, or many other fantasy series, you will likely remember the emphasis placed on words. Whether it was Hermione's emphasis on the articulation of a particular spell or the anticipated consequences for those who dared to utter the name of He Who Must Not Be Named. Words have power. And while some words have more power than they should, other words are losing their power all together.

 

In this episode, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard explore this phenomenon and talk about the consequences that result from the unbridled wielding of criticism, insults, and "curse" words. What happens when we live in a culture where anyone can say anything about everything?

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

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Please leave us a review on iTunes so that others might find our podcast and join in on the conversation!

NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

In this episode, Dr. Berney responds to a listener question about students listening to music while doing homework. This parent wrote:

MY TEENAGE SON PREFERS TO LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE HE IS DOING HIS HOMEWORK. IS THAT OK OR SHOULD I BE WORRIED THAT HE IS NOT CONCENTRATING WELL ENOUGH ON HIS WORK?

THANKS, SUSAN

Listen to this episode, as Dr. Berney outlines when to consider allowing your child to listen to music while doing homework and when it may be something to avoid.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Please leave us a review on iTunes so that others might find our podcast and join in on the conversation!

NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

In this episode, Dr. Berney responds to a listener question about setting an appropriate bedtime for a child in elementary school. This parent wrote:

I RECENTLY LISTENED TO THE MENTAL BREAKDOWN PODCAST AND HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP. MY CHILD IS 8 YEARS OLD AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST BEDTIME FOR HIM. ARE THERE ANY RULES FOR DETERMINING WHEN TO SET A BED TIME?

THANKS, JOHN

Listen to this episode, as Dr. Berney outlines the best way to create a sound bedtime routine.

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Please leave us a review on iTunes so that others might find our podcast and join in on the conversation!

NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, "With great power comes great responsibility." Many of the most well known superheroes and super villains were born out of tragedy. Whether it was Batman witnessing the murder of his parents or Darth Vader learning about - and later avenging - the death of his mother, tragedy plays a major role in the origin stories of most iconic characters.

In this podcast, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard talk about Choice Theory and the decisions we make when we experience negative life events. When we live through something "bad," we can choose to either learn from the experience or allow the event to poison us. Which will it be, the light side or the dark side?

The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Please leave us a review on iTunes so that others might find our podcast and join in on the conversation!

NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!