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Family Instability – Causes and Consequences

Family instability is any factor that creates additional challenges within a family unit that ultimately affects a child/children’s cognitive, behavioral and emotional development, and places their development at significant risk due to the parents’ inability to effectively manage the home and the living environment.

Family instability can come in many forms; economic, emotional, social, and physical. The challenges and struggles of family instability can be passed on from generation to generation if the instabilities are not corrected or the family and children do not receive appropriate physical and emotional assistance when needed.

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How to Recognize Depression in Others

You notice one of your coworkers has been a little less social than normal. A friend at the spin class seems sad more often, and when a favorite relative calls, all she has to say about life is negative. What are the signs of depression? When should we begin to worry or ask them to seek help? These are the questions that many people want to know, especially after the recent passing of beloved comedian Robin Williams from underlying depression — so, what does depression look like?

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How to Deal with a Child with Anger Management Issues

It is not unusual for a child to get upset or angry, but when does this anger begin to represent a problem? The first step a parent or guardian can take is to seek help from a professional counselor. A certified psychologist can help the parents and child, often more quickly, with identifying the source of the anger, and the child will feel like they have been heard in a supportive environment, free of judgment or predisposition.

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The Effects of Mental Illness on a Family

What is mental illness?

Mental illness is often called the invisible illness and it affects millions of people each year. While it may present itself in numerous behaviors and physical forms, it originates in the brain and its components; you cannot simply look at someone and determine if they have a mental illness.

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The Most Common Causes of Infidelity

Infidelity involves an action or state of being unfaithful to a spouse or committed partner. Infidelity can include emotional, mental and or physical components and is most commonly expressed as sexual or romantic deceitfulness. Infidelity can also come in the form of financial, occupational, or social dishonesty. A study conducted by the Institute for Family Studies illustrates that 16% of Americans are unfaithful to their partners with higher rates for men than women. The older the age of men the greater the likelihood of infidelity with the highest rates occurring between 70-79 years of age. Women experience the highest rate between 60-69 years of age. Cheating is linked as both precursor and a result of most separations and divorces. The foundation of any relationship is trust, intimacy and respect. Infidelity severely impacts the foundation of a relationship and is difficult to repair. With a good support system including family, spiritual and professional counseling the struggles associated with infidelity can be reduced and managed.

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What Is a Parenting Plan?

Anyone experiencing a divorce or separation involving a child/children will benefit from creating a parenting plan. A parenting plan is an agreement negotiated by the parents of the child/children and is overseen by the court system to ensure the best interests and needs of the child/children are being addressed.

A parenting plan may be different for each child and may require changes over time, it is, however, a legal document and should be carefully followed to avoid any legal repercussions or forced changes through noncompliance. A solid parenting plan avoids excessive litigation time and expense while reducing stress and anxiety on both the parents and the child/children when it comes to making urgent and major life decisions.

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How to Deal with a Child That Doesn’t Listen?

First, your child is listening to everything you say, they are refusing to comply with what you are asking or saying. Second, children learn very quickly the context and tone of words and phrases being used, even if they don’t know the full meaning or an appropriate response.

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How to Overcome Betrayal in a Relationship?

Nothing is often more painful than experiencing betrayal in a relationship. During a betrayal, it may appear as if everything comes to stop, instantly crashing down, and you can barely breathe. The pain of a betrayal touches at the very core and heart of our trust, one’s ability to bond and connect with others in a healthy and meaningful way; the gateway into one’s most intimate self.

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Divorce, the Blame Game: No Winners and the Children Are the Biggest Losers

Divorce is epidemic in the United States. Although that might seem concerning, it’s pandemic in the state of Arizona. What does that mean? It means we’ve raised the practice of the divorce blame game to a whole new level.

If you do not have children, you can get away with the blame game. However, even then, it will just show up in your next marriage. That is why we see greater percentages of failed second marriages than first marriages.

If you want to change your life and change your relationships, then start with yourself because that is where responsibility begins and ends.

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