Bumpanxiety

18/10/2025

"For so long, many of us have tried to motivate ourselves with pressure, demands, and criticism. But research is showing us what our hearts already know: self-compassion is the deeper motivator. When we encourage ourselves with kindness and hope rather than harshness, we tap into a well of resilience and sustainable energy that supports our growth and goals.

Need support cultivating self-compassion? Learn more about our program, The Power of Self-Compassion, here: https://bit.ly/powerofselfcompassion

18/10/2025

OCTOBER IS PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH

💛 Continuing Bonds 💛
When a baby dies through miscarriage, TFMR or stillbirth, the baby often lives on in mind in the imaginings of the mother and father. While the baby’s life has ended, the relationship continues. People develop an array of creative ways to continue their bonds with their baby after s/he has died. These include:
~ talking to their baby (as in this illustration)
~ looking at photos from scans (if they have them)
~ keeping items of clothing they had bought or been given for baby
~ planning for the anniversary of their scheduled birth date
~ creating rituals or traditions to include the deceased baby in their day or life (eg, lighting a candle, planting a remembrance tree)

The idea of ‘Continuing Bonds’ suggests that not only are these behaviours normal, but they may help with the grief, that is, they are potentially healing and therapeutic.

🫶 We invite you to share the ways in which you continued your bond with your baby after a perinatal loss – what helped you?

Illustration created by Bronwyn Leigh, Carla Anderson, Charise Deveney & Julie King;
Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft of Jesses Mess - Illustrations

08/10/2025

I know how tempting it is to snap when your kid talks back, refuses to put on their shoes, or melts down over the “wrong” cup.

In the moment, it feels like they’re just being difficult. Disrespectful. Defiant.

But what if there’s more to the story?

What if that sass is actually sadness?
What if the refusal is really anxiety?
What if the meltdown is your child saying, “I don’t know how to handle this, please help me”?

The truth is: behavior is communication.

So instead of jumping to conclusions, pause and ask yourself...

🟡 What’s behind this?
🟡 What might they be trying to tell me without words?

Your curiosity doesn’t excuse the behavior.
It helps you understand it.

And that’s what gives you the power to respond, not just react.

Connection first. Correction second. That’s how we lead with love.

Save this for the next hard moment. You're doing the brave work. 💛

07/10/2025

Research reveals how secure attachment can protect children from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

26/09/2025

23/09/2025

The Trump administration has made highly controversial claims about the causes of autism and ADHD, asserting that paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) use during pregnancy increases the risk of children being diagnosed as neurodivergent.

RANZCOG joins leading clinicians and scientists worldwide in rejecting these claims. Scientific evidence shows no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD during childhood, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting the administration’s statement.

The causes of neurodivergence are incompletely understood and remain complex, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Earlier studies raising concerns about paracetamol could not determine whether the medicine itself was responsible, or whether other factors explained the association.

A much larger and stronger study, published in 2024 by Ahlqvist and colleagues, looked at 2.5 million children in Sweden. When they accounted for important factors like family history of autism/ADHD and sibling comparisons, they found no link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and children developing autism or ADHD.

The use of medications during pregnancy should always balance the potential benefits against any potential harms - both of the medication and of the condition being treated - to the mother and the fetus. The Ahlqvist study provides conclusive evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy does not increase the chance of neurodivergence in the offspring and therefore should be considered safe to use in pregnancy where there is a clear reason to do so.

People who are uncertain about medication use in pregnancy should discuss this with their doctor or midwife.

Learn more in a statement on the College’s website: https://ranzcog.edu.au/news/paracetamol-use-in-pregnancy/

22/09/2025

22/09/2025

5 things to remember when working with challenge behaviors!
--->> https://amzn.to/3V7tZIj (affiliate)

via National Center for Youth Issues

20/09/2025

DBT Skills. Consciously & systematically increase happiness by adding positive experiences to your life. Must be done regularly/daily to see results.


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💠 A reminder about our DBT Membership Subscribers Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/469904102596793

20/09/2025

Perfectionism has a role to play in emotion regulation/dysregulation.


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💠 A reminder about our DBT Membership Subscribers Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/469904102596793