Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry

Hurray for January as we reset and move forward! In this episode, Lynn and Robin double down on six key anxiety-busting (and preventing) practices that can guide your parenting. If you want smoother days and better moods, listen up! WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The discussion tackles the complex nature of bullying in schools, emphasizing that not all bullies fit the same mold. Personal experiences highlight the emotional toll of bullying. Lynn explains the critical roles of bystanders and the need for adults to recognize and effectively intervene. Three distinct types of bullies—socially dominant, marginalized, and impulsive aggressors—are examined, each requiring tailored responses. Parents are encouraged to equip kids with language to report incidents and build a supportive framework for addressing bullying.

Discover how externalizing worry can revolutionize family dynamics. Lynn explains techniques to recognize and manage strong emotions, helping both kids and parents understand their worry patterns. Concrete steps for externalizing make it playful for younger children while engaging tweens and teens effectively. Learn the importance of modeling emotional conversations and how consistent family responses can prevent anxiety-driven decisions. This insightful discussion reshapes the way families approach worry, making emotional intelligence a shared journey.

Explore the essential strategies for managing anxiety in families. Discover why parents should embrace worry instead of dismissing it, and learn the importance of modeling nervousness to validate children's feelings. Lynn highlights the drawbacks of excessive reassurance and encourages open discussions about real-world concerns. Delve into practical exercises to normalize anxiety and build confidence, all aimed at transforming anxious dynamics within the family.

In this discussion, the hosts explore how parents can unintentionally enhance their children's anxiety by 'doing the disorder.' Lynn highlights the dangers of over-planning routines, excessive reassurance, and distraction tactics that keep kids from tackling their worries. She warns against medicalizing physical symptoms and emphasizes the importance of consistent, action-oriented therapy. The conversation concludes with practical steps to help kids engage in real-world activities, fostering resilience against worry and depression.

Lynn is joined by psychologist Dr. Ali Navidi who specializes in the brain gut connection. So many anxious kids have tummy aches and gastrointestinal symptoms. And sometimes an episode of food poisoning or the norovirus can set off an anxious spiral that turns chronic. Lynn and Ali talk about how to interrupt these patterns, their mutual love of pediatric hypnosis, and the myth that progress needs to be made slowly. Visit Ali's website: gipsychology.com WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for the holidays, we welcome psychologist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish to talk about her new book: You, Your Husband, and His Mother: Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Mother-in-Law--and Your Spouse--in Five Simple Steps. Tracy gives us the keys to handling this tricky dynamic with the goal of connection. And Lynn (whose mother-in-law does not listen to the podcast) has fun role playing. And check out Tracy's podcast: Dear Dr. Tracy WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Human beings are judgy creatures. It’s part of being social animals. But want to guarantee conflict during the holidays? Start judging other family member’s parenting. Too much sugar for your cousin’s toddler? The horror! Not enough emotional expression allowed by your brother-in-law? Disappointing! Whether you are the judge or the judged (and we’re often both), shifting your approach during holiday gatherings will benefit everyone. Let’s talk strategy, reality, and talking at least 85% less. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 15% off Oak Essentials with the code [FLUSTERCLUX15] at oakessentials.com/FLUSTERCLUX15. Just for listeners of FlusterClux, get 20% off sitewide and a FREE travel case and countertop stand at GETQUIP.COM/FLUSTER. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Parents of Anxious Kids, Start HereWIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE!VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Lynn and Ed as they bond over fainting stories, setting a humorous tone. They dive into the complexities of distraction, distinguishing between helpful and harmful strategies. Lynn discusses 'destructive distraction' and its risks, while offering 'unhooking' techniques like the alphabet game to combat rumination. They explore fun, engaging activities for kids to shift focus away from anxiety and emphasize the importance of modeling healthy responses as parents. A thought-provoking conversation that highlights moving from distraction to meaningful action!

In this conversation, the hosts highlight the importance of unstructured hanging out for teens' social development. They discuss how the pandemic shifted interactions to virtual format, limiting essential in-person social skills. The benefits of messy experiences are emphasized, as they teach vital life lessons like conflict resolution. Scheduled activities are seen as a barrier to free play, which is crucial for fostering social competence. Lastly, the impact of screen time on connection and the challenges teens face with driving are explored, offering parents practical support tips.