by Dave Papandrea, LLC, NCC

Dave Papandrea is a Limited Licensed Counselor (LLC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. Dave’s personal counseling philosophy is that he is a traveler on YOUR journey.  He believes YOU are the expert of you, and that the power of change is already within you.  It is his goal to walk with you on your journey to wellness, allowing you to lead at your own pace, hoping to point out items in your blind spots along the way.

Did you know your brain is in your belly?  It’s true!

We have heard for some time now that obesity is at an epidemic level in our country, and our culture does not support healthy eating habits.  Further, childhood obesity and childhood diabetes are increasing at high rates.   We further accept that ultra processed foods and foods high in sugars are helping to drive those numbers.  Slipping under the radar, and likely highly correlative, are the skyrocketing numbers of children and adolescents who are suffering from mental health issues.
 
What are the correlations we can draw from food related illness and mental health issues?  Ultra processed foods frequently contain chemicals and dyes for preserving and making them appealing to the eye, that adversely impact mental health.  These products can negatively contribute to childhood ADHD and anxiety.  Consider how sugary pop (it’s not called soda) consumed in adult quantities can affect a young person’s hyper activity or trigger their anxiety.  Consider how unhealthy weight gain in a middle school student can affect self-esteem, self-image, self-concept, agency, and depression.
 
Through a different lens, food has a profound impact on the part of the brain that controls pleasure.  Studies have shown the parallel effects of sugar on amygdala and hippocampus as compared to cocaine.  Children who learn to consume a diet rich in sugar not only create a learned habit, they begin to feed an addiction.
 
The solution is not a quick or easy one, which does not pair well with our immediate gratification culture.  Meals need to be home cooked and not store bought.  We need to keep in mind the goal of restaurants is not nourishment.  It is to make their food taste so good you will want to come back.  Home cooked meals with lean meats and vegetables are shown to have the best physical and mental health outcomes.

​But what about the coveted dessert?  Fruits offer a more natural sugar as opposed to processed and refined sugars.  They also carry the sugars by way of fiber which slows the digestive process, as opposed to the rapid processing and storage of refined sugar.  You can buy popsicle forms and blend your favorite berries into a puree just right for a super healthy, super sweet treat!  Enjoy guilt free knowing you are protecting your gut, brain, and likely preventing disease along the way.

by Wendy Warner, LPC, NCC

Wendy Warner is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. In addition to working with couples, children, and individuals, Wendy also enjoys teaching the premarital classes for all couples planning to marry at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb.

I want you to think about your childhood.

What was it like as a child, as an adolescent or a teen? What did you yearn for more of from your parent or parents, family members or caregiver? Did you want more time with those you loved or did you wish for more help with school or navigating relationships? Did you wish you could talk through issues more or that there was less yelling and harsh words surrounding conflicts? Did it feel like your parents knew about your world, cared about it, supported you?
 
So many adults I work with as a counselor have had childhoods that reflect neglect, abuse, addiction in the home, or an atmosphere high on conflict and low on love. Through no fault of their own, they were given the message that they were unimportant or a burden. They lived with fear, loneliness, sadness, uncertainty and anger. That environment shapes what a person believes to be true about themselves and others. If you are raised with parents who break promises, you learn to not trust people. If you are raised by caregivers who say you won’t amount to anything, you might just live up to the expectation set for you.
 
If you are now a parent, a grandparent, an uncle or even a neighbor of a child, you have an opportunity. You can be the voice that affirms them. You can be the person who is interested in their day, their efforts and encourages them to shoot high. Research has shown it takes five positive encounters to offset one negative comment. Most kids are on the receiving end of criticism from family, peers, themselves.  What if you were the person that observed and called out the good in them? What if you were thought of as the person who is kind and gentle to them? So many adults tell kids and teens what they should do. Deeper connections are typically made when questions are asked to discover their interests, their concerns, their victories, even just from this week.
 
The bottom line is that childhood is rough at times for most of us. Some kids however are really struggling. Struggling to feel worthy of love, to feel safe, to be seen. If there is one strong connection pouring into that child, it can make all the difference in how they view themselves and others in future relationships.