Tammette Chitwood

The holidays are often portrayed as a time for family gatherings, festive meals, and a sense of togetherness. But for some of us, this season can highlight feelings of anxiety brought on by loneliness, especially if circumstances leave us without loved ones nearby. If you are spending the holidays alone or you're battling with loneliness and anxiety, remember this: you are never truly alone. God is always with you, and He can use this time to fill your heart

Because neuroscience is always changing, it’s important to understand that there are no longer different types of autism. In 2013, the diagnostic manual used by the mental health industry in the U.S. reversed outdated information that classified autism into separate categories. Today, mental health professionals provide a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, which can vary in its level of diagnosis. Instead of different types of autism, there are now levels one, two, and three, which are divided based on

Mental health is an important aspect of a healthy life. It is how humans process thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. However, just as adults can develop a mental disorder, children are also susceptible. Many mental disorders begin developing during childhood and the teen years. Know what common symptoms of mental disorders to be aware of in children. What are the common symptoms of childhood mental disorders? Each mental disorder has its own symptoms, but many of them overlap. The problem

For many years, people with disabilities, learning differences, or mental and emotional health challenges have been stigmatized. Often, the ways that society has emphasized and measured intelligence and skill are not consistent with the way that God views us, especially where ADHD in children is concerned. Unfortunately, the environments structured to unlock our potential in childhood, at the most vulnerable time of life, often do the opposite. Sometimes they squash our inquisitive nature instead of unleashing God’s creativity in

Change isn’t always easy to make sense of or adjust to. The disruption of familiar patterns can be confusing to navigate, and it requires you to be resilient and highly adaptable to cope. The adolescent years are characterized by several things happening all at once, but those mostly boil down to one thing: change. These years are a time of transition toward adulthood and gaining deeper self-understanding and identity. They can be a difficult time. As one can imagine,

Autism is a developmental disability that primarily affects social interactions and communication skills, and typically includes fixations with routines, restricted interests, and repetitive patterns of behavior. Before 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognized four different types of autism based on specific sets of symptoms affecting a child’s development. Each one was given a unique diagnostic label in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) with the intent of helping medical professionals, educators, and parents understand the

The teenage years are a notoriously turbulent time, as young people seek independence and look to assert their unique identity, often without yet possessing the right emotional and life skills to effectively do this. One area parents can particularly struggle with is teen anger management, which can appear in many shapes and forms and usually hints at an underlying issue. While deep emotions are difficult enough to deal with, it sometimes seems impossible to break through the angry façade,

Teenage life is often a lot of fun and there are many articles discussing the positive developments that occur in the life of a teenager. It is equally important to be aware of the issues, sometimes big issues, that can make a teen swerve into unhelpful behavior and development. Some of these teenage problems will include the risks of body shaming, bullying, anxiety, and social media, to name a few. A strong family environment and culture will certainly assist

The holidays bring a string of values and emotions to many: thanksgiving, love, kindness, generosity, and wonder. But, unfortunately, to some, it also brings stress in the form of financial budgets, gift-giving, and unavoidable toxic extended family members. Your mental wellness is an integral part of your overall health. Yet, people spend three months in a stressful fight or flight response to the holidays every year. Make this season different. Enjoy the holidays for the real reason we celebrate:

Every relationship experiences challenges in one season or another, including the ones we consider healthy. When we encounter this with our teens, we need not be shaken by this. Our adolescents are emerging into adults. The transitions that they endure produce growing pains. Some, we see and are privy to, and others are private. While we experience the tumult of the teen years with our sons and daughters, it can feel as if we are going through our own

Children feel anxious just like adults do, though many adults don’t recognize it as such or know how to help their children manage it. It is normal for children to feel fear or worry about some things. They feel anxious in the dark, around strangers, or maybe when they are away from their caregivers for a while. As they grow and mature, many of these fears will subside, but they can become more severe and need more attention from

Did you know that you can journal for better mental health? Research shows that it is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. You can journal in different ways to process your emotions and gain peace and healing. Though most of us spend our days interacting in the electronic world, writing on paper can be soothing and therapeutic. You don't have to get fancy to get the benefits of journaling. A simple spiral notebook is perfectly fine.