Better Parents Better Kids Weekly Newsletter Issue #17

Note From Tanis Nicole Wright

Welcome To The Better Parents, Better Kids Newsletter #17

Continuing with our 5 Part Anxiety Series the following is Part 4 which deals with Physiological reasons for Anxiety.

Anxiety - Part 4 - Physiological Reasons

Anxiety may not necessarily be caused by the following physiological factors, but the following factors can definitely play a big part in feeding into anxiety.

At our Centre For Life Management /LMC Relationship Centre, we have what we call the 4 Staples of Life. Without the Four Staples of Life, it is hard for us to be healthy and functional. Not paying attention to the 4 Staples of Life can greatly increase one's anxiety level.

So the following is an explanation of what the 4 staples are and some suggestions as to what to do to increase or follow them.

SLEEP: Is the First Staple - sleep is needed in order for the body to rest, regeneration, recharge the nervous system, allows the brain to filter all the experiences of the day and is the only way the brain chemical Serotonin - the feel good chemical that creates a feeling of calm and well-being can be produced (It is produced during the R.E.M. cycles of sleep.) So you can imagine how anxiety can be produced if your child is not getting enough sleep.

Every person, whether it is a child or adult needs a different amount of sleep, and the amounts may very, but in any case support your child in getting lots of sleep -

explain to her how she will feel so much better with sleep and she will be able to function much better during the course of the day.

Also encourage your child to listen to her own body and sleep or rest if she feels like it, whenever she feels like it when that is possible.

Special note about Serotonin: The following are foods that help support the production of Serotonin: The Restoring Unity to the World Website (RUWC) http://www.restoreunity.org/blocking_reabsorption_of_seroton.htm in their article called "Blocking Re-Absorption Serotonin Levels - Natural Methods." say the following about serotonin and foods: "Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. Thus to produce serotonin, you need tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that you can only obtain by consumption. Therefore you want to consider eating foods containing sufficient levels of tryptophan to help replenish your serotonin levels each day."

The following is a list:

Cottage cheese.

Brown rice.

Avocados.

Bananas.

Walnuts.

Tomatoes.

Soy protein.

Meat.

Turkey "is probably the highest serotonin containing food. Eat turkey to help increase serotonin levels." There are also nutritionals that you can take for Serotonin.

Teresa Gallagher from the website BTE Born To Explore The

Other Side of ADD who wrote an article called "Brain Chemicals and Modern Life" (http://borntoexplore.org/neurochem.htm ) the following nutritionals for serotonin: "Take stress vitamins: the B vitamins (especially B6), E, and C. B6 is used to create serotonin. Chromium is important for lowering insulin levels. Minerals are important in serotonin production such as are magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron; people are often deficient in magnesium. Don't take iron supplements unless you know you're anemic (typically women). Excess iron has been implicated in heart disease and other conditions."

WATER: A lot of water is needed for the brain to function; it is also needed for the body to digest and to flush toxins out of the body. Water also acts as a way to ground a person's nerves, so you can imagine how anxiety can occur if your child is not getting enough water.

So people say 6-8 glasses a day for an adult others say 1 oz of water for every 2lbs a day - the important thing is to encourage your child to drink water as often as possible.

Two Special Notes: When replenishing, encourage your child to drink water, not any other types of beverages because water will be diverted to assist in digesting whatever the beverage is made out of, so not all the water is being used to fully re-hydrate the body.

The second note is to encourage your child to drink before she feels thirsty because if she is feeling thirsty she is already dehydrated.

NUTRIENTS: For a multitude of reasons, there is not as much nutrients in our foods today, so just eating healthy and a multi-vitamin may not be enough for a child to get all their nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

There are certain vitamins and minerals that support the nervous system and prevention of anxiety, so not only is it important to taking these vitamins and minerals, you may need to put your child on extra supplements to compensate for the nutrients that would have been there naturally in the foods and drinks that we ate in the past.

So for nutritionals, have your daughter take the same stress vitamins and minerals as suggested for Serotonin such as the B vitamins (especially B6), E, and C and minerals such as Chromium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese.

CIRCULATION: Circulation can mean several things, whether that is circulation of your child's muscles, blood, releasing of emotions or even toxins out of the body.

One of the best things for a child's body is exercise, for circulation as well as for the production of Dopamine and Endorphins which are both feel good brain chemicals.

Is your child getting enough exercise? Encourage your child to participate in sports and exercise that feels good to her - challenging, but not stressful, since the last thing a child needs with a stress and anxiety disorder is more stress - exercise should be fun.

Circulation of emotions, in particular the release of emotions, also helps lower anxiety levels, and promotes health.

So encourage your child to express her emotions, and find functional healthy ways to release such emotions and fear, such as exercise, having a good cry (there has been studies conducted that have proven that crying releases toxic hormone chemicals out of the body caused by emotional stress) and even having a good laugh since laughing also releases the Serotonin that is produced while your child is sleeping.

In our next Newsletter, we will go over Part 5 of our Anxiety Series about "Attachment"

Best Wishes,

Tanis Nicole Wright and

Melody Chase

One Last Note From Tanis

Do you have a parenting question that you would like answered?

Send in your parenting questions to "Ask Tanis" at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will be happy to answer your questions as part of our "Ask Tanis" Q & A section here in our Newsletter.

Best Wishes To You and Your Family,

Tanis Nicole Wright

Director/Head Coach

The Better Parents, Better Kids Program

http://www.betterparentsbetterkids.com

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(204)475-0323