Believe it or not, I hate shots. As someone who works with kids on managing needle phobias, you’d think that maybe I’m a hypocrite. But I find that my needle anxiety not only helps me emphasize with frightened youngsters, it also makes me work hard to come up with ways to make it less stressful. And if you’ve been around me for longer than a few minutes, you would know that one of my favorite ways to relieve stress is to dance.
Enter the “Flu Shot Dance”. Yes it is a thing. Or if it’s not, I will make it a thing! Part of the reason why injections hurt is because the medication is sitting in the muscle and takes awhile to be absorbed by the body. But when you exercise the muscle the medication is able to be absorbed quicker. (Think about the difference between just placing lotion on your skin versus rubbing it in.) And who doesn’t like turning on some tunes and doing a little dance?
So when your little ones get their flu shot this year, have a flu shot dance to celebrate their bravery as well as to help decrease that annoying arm ache! Here’s my flu shot dance of 2020, what does yours look like?
Everyone has different levels of pain and stress tolerance. A blood draw is easy for one child, but it may be a fate worse than death for another. Regardless of the medical procedure, I’ll assist your child or teen in recognizing what lies at the root of the anxiety and find a solution to keep everyone as calm and relaxed as possible during that scary medical experience.
After a chronic diagnosis, returning to school can be more difficult than it appears. Between deciding how much the school should know and whether a 504 plan is necessary, a parent can forget that the student is wondering what classmates are thinking and whether a full school day is feasible. Creating a plan that considers all the aspects of returning to school will help your student feel confident when walking back into the classroom.
Sometimes, it’s hard to follow the doctor’s orders – especially if they involve not doing something you enjoy or frequently experiencing something painful. I’ll help your child or teen find a way to follow medical treatment plans without the stress or fuss.
Ready for your child to transition away from liquid medicine? How do you help them master swallowing those huge pills? With practical techniques and a step-by-step approach, your child will be proud of his adult skill.
Research has shown again and again that a prepared family is a calm family. By knowing what to expect throughout a medical experience, you’ll be in control even when things get hard.
When you understand what is happening to your body, you’re better able to handle it. I adjust education so that each person can understand. Toddlers and teens will learn about the same concepts but in different ways.