If you have school-age children, there’s a chance that they have already talked with classmates about the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. How do you mold the conversation or inform your children about what happened? Every parent will handle the conversation differently, as the pain of the grieving families is every parent’s worst nightmare. It triggers fear 

in both the children and parents. Could it happen at the school your children attend? This is why having an open dialogue about the situation is necessary. 

In case you haven’t seen the news, nineteen children and two adults were killed during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The Uvalde shooting came just 10 days after a shooting at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people died. These horrific events brought trauma and anxiety to many people around the country. Unfortunately, these incidents are not the only two that have happened this year. According to Education Week, there have been 27 school shootings with injuries or deaths in 2022. On top of that, the United States surpassed 200 mass shootings this year, counting 212 shootings since January 1st, 2022. 

How Do You Talk With Kids About What Happened?

The key to talking with kids about this type of situation is communicating relational safety. This can only happen if you listen to their fears and co-regulate their responses to what you say. But first, parents will have to process their own feelings and work through emotions related to the tragic event. If your kids come to you with questions about the event, though, ask them about things that they heard about. Tell them to tell you what they know and do your best to provide simple facts that are age appropriate. 

If you have teens or tweens, it’s possible that they received information via TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram. Not all of the information on these platforms accurately depict the situation, and this can be confusing, conflicting, and incomplete, in regards to news coverage. When you communicate with teens, stick to facts and answer the questions they ask. If you don’t have the answer to one of their questions, it’s perfectly acceptable to tell them that you don’t know the answer. No matter the age of the children, though, take a break from social media and the news to decompress. Nobody benefits from that much exposure to information about tragedy. 

Talk To Your Children

It can be scary to discuss school shootings with your children. You don’t want to scare your children, even though many children are aware of school shootings nowadays. The attention that the media brings to these events makes them ever-present, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Discussing the topic in a relaxed way can help alleviate anxiety and make your children feel more at ease. 

If you aren’t sure how to start the conversation, ask your children if they have any questions about the event. Because children, especially young children, have a wild imagination, you should not use fuzzy language or euphemisms. Be clear with what you are saying without stepping over the line into the inappropriate realm. For example, truthful answers are direct and clear, but use discretion when necessary. 

For The Kids Who Were Present Or Heard On The News

19 children being gunned down is an unacceptable situation, and there are no rules about how to grieve. It may take some time to process the situation. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the symptoms you experience, as symptoms of trauma can often mimic those of depression. Anxiety, sleep disturbances, changes in eating habits, or mood swings are all common things to experience after a traumatic event. If your children start experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to them about what’s going on. They may occur immediately after the event or several weeks later. Children can experience gains and loss as they work through a tragic event. You may even want to seek help from a licensed child psychologist to better handle the situation.

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A new spike in COVID-19 cases can be attributed to the more transmissible delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The surge caused more hospitalizations and deaths, especially in areas with lower vaccination rates. Although it was first identified in India, the delta variant is currently in at least 77 countries and now accounts for more than 20% of all U.S. COVID-19 cases. 

What Is The Delta Variant?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the delta variant will probably become the dominant coronavirus strain in the U.S. Since half the country remains unvaccinated, it’s possible that it could cause a COVID-19 resurgence in Fall 2021. The delta variant is 40-60% more transmissible than the alpha variant, which scientists identified in the U.K. The alpha strain was 50% more transmissible than the original strain detected in Wuhan, China. 

The delta variant seems to be spreading rapidly in the U.S., and the rise in cases has prompted some city officials to reinstate indoor mask guidances. Because the delta variant is hypertransmissible, experts say it is the most contagious version to date. Additionally, it may increase the severity of symptoms or illness after contracting the variant. According to a study in Scotland, the hospitalization rate of people who contracted the delta variant was 85% higher than people with the alpha variant. 

Do Vaccines Protect Against The Delta Variant?

As of now, vaccination appears to provide solid protection against the delta variant. People who only have one dose of the vaccine are not as protected, though. Two weeks after receiving the second dose, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has proven to be 88% effective against symptomatic infections caused by the delta variant. Alternatively, Moderna’s vaccine shows more promise against the delta variant. Laboratory studies exhibited that Moderna produced neutralizing antibodies against delta, beta, and eta variants. These results are based on blood serum tests from eight participants, one week after they received the second dose. 

Due to the fact that the delta variant is highly transmissible, it is outpacing vaccinations. Unfortunately, the longer the delta variant spreads, the more opportunities it has to mutate into more dangerous variants. The good news is that several health experts don’t expect the delta variant to cause nationwide surges in the U.S. Because of the near 50% vaccination rate, it should not escalate to the level of India’s COVID-19 case and death rate. 

What Happens Now?

Only time will tell how the delta variant affects the U.S. It will depend on different communities around the country and total vaccination rates. Parts of Texas and Arizona, for instance, still have low vaccinations rates. Local surges seem to be inevitable, but cities or towns with more vaccinated people should not experience an increase in new infection rates. In fact, it will be much harder for the variant to spread in an area of high vaccination rates. 

The goal is total containment, but this delta variant may be a slight bump in the road on the way there. Health experts hope that the country does not experience an exponential rise in cases like it did in December 2020 and January 2021. In order to combat the delta variant, it’s best to mask up when you’re in indoor public settings. Even if you are fully vaccinated, masks offer an extra layer of protection. 

Since mask guidelines have lifted in most states, there are unvaccinated individuals mixing with vaccinated individuals without masks. This also poses a risk for children and teenagers. While children and teens remain a lower risk of contracting COVID-19, it’s still possible for infection to occur. Right now, the delta variant can spread easily between unvaccinated children and teens. It doesn’t seem to cause more serious illness or symptoms than earlier strains of the virus, though. 

As long as the virus circulates in other areas, even if they are outside of the U.S., it’s possible for it to make its way here. This is especially true now that international travel continues to open back up. New mutations can occur and put more lives at risk. Stay safe and protect yourself. 

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The smartphone is an incredible tool and you can always find one in the hand of nearly every person, no matter where you go. Be they young children, adolescents, or elderly people with walkers, their eyes are glued to the screen. They swipe, they scroll, they watch, they troll, and they get pulled into the endless vortex of social media, Internet, and games. The smartphone changed our lives, but are our lives more fulfilling and peaceful? No, they aren’t. In fact, anxiety and stress levels are through the roof, and smartphones influence that more than you realize.

Why Are You So Addicted To Your Phone?

The average person checks their phone 96 times a day, which is once every ten minutes. Some people get offended when you start talking to them if they are on their phones. Many experts believe that that anger comes from the fact that you break up the dopamine rush. With every notification you check and every unlock of the home screen, you receive a sudden dopamine boost. It’s like a hit of a drug, and the brain wants more after every time you check the phone. Because of this, people can never truly relax and calm their minds. 

A recent study from the University of Arizona found that adolescents who depended on their phones were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and loneliness. This is interesting considering that people who are more depressed or anxiety-prone are more likely to engage with social media. It’s a vicious cycle and your cellphone won’t let you escape. This statistic is amplified by the increased depression and anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Couple that with increased screen time and you have a recipe for phone addiction giving you anxiety. 

What Does Your Phone Addiction Do To Your Body?

As a result of constantly engaging with the phone, your stress levels increase, your sleep suffers, and you become more anxious. All of these things actually stimulate addiction. The crazy thing is that you feel obligated to keep up with social media, emails, and whatever the world is doing. Obligation easily evolves into addiction, and addiction creates stressful behaviors. The addiction to the phone often increases feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem, both of which worsen depression and anxiety. Your phone worsens your anxiety more than you realize, and we’ve detailed that below.

You Use It To Escape Reality

Many people take on a different online persona, or the very act of engaging with the virtual world is more pleasant than being in the real world. Understanding the reason you go online or check social media is very important. Do you do it to catch up with friends, stalk people, or get likes? Are you comparing yourself to others? The reason you scroll can determine how you feel after using it. Ask yourself these questions and more and you might discover a solid answer as to why your phone increases anxiety. 

It Screws Up Your Sleep

Many scientific studies show that the blue light from smartphones makes it more difficult to go to sleep. Blue light from any device inhibits melatonin production, which is a hormone that helps regulate sleep cycle. If you are scrolling through social media and stressing yourself out, in addition to exposing yourself to blue light, up until you lay your head on the pillow, you will not sleep well. A 2017 study found that smartphones are one of the primary causes of sleep problems in teens. Failure to sleep can increase stress and increase the risk for depression and anxiety.

You Don’t Give Yourself A Break

If you don’t give yourself a break from your phone, how can you expect your anxiety to calm down? If your phone is within reach, you are going to check it. Your anxiety forces you to unlock the screen and check in with the world. If you bury your phone under the couch or put it in another room, the chances of you picking it up are much less. Take it a step further by taking time off from social media apps for a week. Several studies found that taking time away from Facebook for a week improved overall happiness. Change your digital life and your anxiety will thank you.

Can You Break The Addiction?

Social media is replete with funny memes, hurtful comments, political arguments, and more. You can argue the pros and cons of social media all day long. Add the Zoom conferences and necessity to check work emails into the mix and you have a serious problem. You have to set boundaries with your phone. Figure out when it’s okay to use it and when it’s not. No phone use at the dinner table, while watching a show with family, and definitely not within the hour before bed. Additionally, don’t look at your phone for the first hour of your day. You can also try to set a time limit of phone use per day. You can use apps to time your usage, or block apps altogether after a certain time limit. It is possible to break the addiction, but you have to work at it, otherwise you’ll remain addicted and filled with anxiety.

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Most adults understand that facial coverings are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. The mask has become an extension of your being when you leave the house. You have to double-check yourself for a mask, as though you are patting your pockets to ensure you remembered your keys, wallet, and phone. And while it may be frustrating, the act of wearing a mask helps to keep you and other people safe.

It’s hard to get children to do a lot of things. Putting on clothes, brushing teeth, washing hands, saying “please” or “thank you,” or eating meals are all uphill battles. Now, we have to get children and teens alike to understand the importance of wearing masks. Challenges may present themselves depending on the child’s age, but expect there to be a long learning curve.

A Quick Note: If your child is under the age of two, do not make him or her wear a facial covering. The risk of suffocation is very high.

When Do Children Need To Wear Masks?

If you plan to have your child return to childcare or school, face coverings/masks are necessary. Most schools will require kids to have them in order to keep all them safe. Additionally, masks in schools or childcare facilities helps reduce the spread of the virus between children, or between children and the present adults. Children also need to wear masks anytime they cannot maintain a safe distance from others. If you take them to the grocery store, park, or doctor’s office, they also need to wear masks for protection.

It Will Take Time And Practice

Just like breaking in a new pair of shoes, it takes time to get comfortable when wearing a mask. As adults, we are now comfortable with them, but it may take more time with children. Explaining the reason for wearing masks will be easier or harder, depending on the age of the child. Since there are many asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, wearing masks helps reduce your risk of contracting the virus. Now, every child won’t understand what the virus is or how it spreads, but the best thing to do is to practice wearing masks with them. Start by wearing masks with your child(ren) for increasing intervals with each passing day. Eventually, your child(ren) will be able to wear a mask without any issues.

Explain The Importance Of Masks

It’s important to speak in terms that your child will understand. The words “pandemic” and “respiratory disease” may not mean anything to your child. Try to focus on germs, and explain how some germs are good and some are bad. The bad ones can make people very sick, and masks are necessary since you can’t tell the difference between good and bad germs. If the germ explanation does work, try to use the superhero analogy. Superheroes have to wear masks and special suits to keep them safe from bad guys, and masks are like superhero shields that keep bad, invisible germs away.

Have Your Kids Decorate Their Masks

A personal touch always helps a child feel better or more confident. Let them take a little ownership of the masks and it may help them get more comfortable wearing them. Depending on the material, you can let your kids paint the masks, draw on them with markers, or place stickers on them.

Model Good Mask-Wearing Behavior

Kids often learn by example, and they are more likely to get excited about something if they see others doing the same thing. You can explain that you also wear a mask to keep yourself and your friends safe from germs. Kids, especially kids between the ages of four and eight, have a better understanding of caring for others. They want to do the right thing, and if they see your good mask-wearing habits, they’ll follow suit.

It will take time for children to become accustomed to facial coverings, and they may get upset or react negatively towards them at first. Accept this reaction and let them express themselves. They’ll eventually warm up to the new way of life.

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A new article by Stephan Guyenet posits a new theory as to why kids are going through puberty sooner (and why my cousin – 9, not pictured – is already filled with adolescent angst). He says that while there are many theories for the decline in the age of puberty in girls and boys, the answer is really pretty simple:

Explanations abound for the decline in the age of puberty in girls and boys.  Some contend it’s due to the artificial hormones in conventionally produced milk.  Others attribute it to estrogen-like endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastic and agricultural chemicals.  But there’s a much simpler explanation that also happens to have some very convincing evidence behind it: we’re bigger and fatter than we used to be.

He goes onto to discuss a variety of studies that found that the more the subject ate, the sooner it began its adolescence. We think the amount you eat isn’t the entire story. It’s not only about how much but also — what. A diet consisting of whole fruits and vegetables, regardless of the amount, won’t set pubescent kids’ clocks in motion. It’s when kids eat junk, foods loaded with fat and artificial sweeteners that disrupts their natural processes.

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There are few things in life as profound for our health as exercise. As physical education courses get cut all across the country, new research indicates it may be an important way for bullied kids to take care of their mental health and feel better.

A new study from the University of Vermont found that bullied kids who exercised at least four times per week, experienced a 23% reduction in suicidal thoughts and attempts. Nationwide, nearly 20 percent of student reported being bullied on school property.

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A nocturnal emission is an involuntary emission of semen during sleep. This is also referred to as a wet dream. This is very common in pre teen and teenage males. During puberty, boys are likely to have nocturnal emissions. However, the emissions may happen into a man’s adult life.

The emission can happen with or without an erection.

Causes

Nocturnal emissions usually have little to do with semen production. Instead, they occur as a result of a nervous system response to inflammatory hormone production. This is a natural way for the body to relieve excess sexual tension. The more a man ejaculates during sexual intercourse, the less likely he is to experience nocturnal emissions.

These emissions are not harmful to the body. However, they can be a nuisance.

Natural Solutions

Since there is no danger in nocturnal emissions, it is not crucial that you find a solution. If the condition is bothersome and is causing you stress, there are some ways to help alleviate the condition.

By voluntarily ejaculating, you can control when the act happens. A healthy sex life includes intercourse. Through intercourse with your partner, you can be in charge of your emissions. This will reduce the occurrence of nighttime emissions.

If you do not have a sexual partner, masturbation will achieve the same thing. We caution you to use masturbation only when you feel necessary. Many people believe the ritual can become habit forming and can lower your interest in finding an actual partner.

Try to get to the root of your stress. Learn how to tame and control the stressors of your life. This will help you feel less compelled to masturbate. Ask yourself if you are sexually repressed or suppressed. If you feel you are, learn why and how to move forward in dealing with that repression.

Essential oils can be helpful in reducing our stress. When inhaled, these scents can calm the body and help to release built up mental and physical tension. Marjoram oil is very beneficial.

Some herbs that can do the same thing include:

• Black Walnut Hull
• Lycii berry
• Tribulis
• Epimedium

Dherbs Solutions

Dherbs.com offers many helpful formulas to assist in maintaining your sexual health.

Thank you for reading!

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