Your Zen Friend

Send Lauren a text! In this final part of our series on Anxiety, Physical Symptoms, and Chronic Pain, I’m sharing my own journey with chronic pain—what I’ve learned, how I’m doing now, and what I’m still working on. Stay tuned for "What’s Bringing Me More Zen" this week—believe it or not, it’s social media-related! Highlights: My Story: How chronic headaches began 10 years ago and the pa...

Send Lauren a text! In today's episode, we're talking all about chronic pain, what it is, why it happens, and, most importantly, how you can find hope and healing! I'll start this episode by telling you how anxiety and pain act like alarm bells, signaling danger even though it is sometimes a false alarm. I'll tell you why the brain can incorrectly send out danger signals and ex...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer parents some needed support and self care. This mediation is perfect to do anytime you (or your tween or teen) are experiencing pain, anxiety or uncomfortable physical sensations. Ideally you want your symptoms to be at a 6 or less when rating your symptoms fr...

Send Lauren a text! In this episode, I tell you what anxiety and has in common with pain and physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches and back pain —not just in kids, but adults too. I’ll break down the concept of neuroplastic pain, which happens when the brain misinterprets safe signals as dangerous, causing physical discomfort. I'll also provide practical tips on how to help yourself,...

Send Lauren a text! Welcome to your Zen Bonus Boost! This is a short (and hopefully sweet) episode designed to offer support, strategies and tips for parents of anxious tweens and teens. On this episode I'll tell you what I wish more parents would for their tween or teen to help them decrease their anxiety. This strategy is easy and free but many parents resist it. If you are looking for supp...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I'll tell you how the language you use with your tweens and teens and the things you say to them everyday could be increasing their anxiety. And have no fear because I'll tell you what you can say instead! Parenting an anxious tween or teen is challenging! This podcast is dedicated to helping parents support their anxious tween or teen while also offer...

Send Lauren a text! Welcome to your Zen Bonus Boost! This is a short (and hopefully sweet) episode designed to offer support, strategies and tips for parents of anxious tweens and teens. On this episode I'll tell you why being less positive with your tween or teen can actually help them when they are stuck in a bad mood. If you are looking for support for your tween or teen and live in Connec...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode, licensed clinical social worker, Mary Kate Robb is here to talk about the connection between autism and anxiety. She will tell us what recent research says that could explain why it is common for individuals with autism to also have anxiety. Mary Kate will also talk about whether or not it is in a teen's best interest to be told about their autism diagnosi...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer parents some needed support and self care.  This mediation is perfect to do anytime you are feeling overwhelmed with all the efforting of life.  Enjoy!  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for di...

Send Lauren a text! Have you ever been given a hot potato by your tween or teen? I bet you have! Especially if you have a tween or teen with anxiety. On this episode I'll tell you why kids give hot potatoes to their parents and what you should do if you if you get one. And stay tuned till the end of the episode when I tell you What's Bringing Me More Zen. This includes some singing so yo...

Send Lauren a text! Welcome to your Zen Bonus Boost! This is a short (and hopefully sweet) episode designed to offer support, strategies and tips for parents of anxious tweens and teens.  On this episode I'll tell you why it can be helpful to lose it with your kids from time to time. And I'll give you an example of how to repair after you've lost it.  This podcast is for information...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode my daughter Leena joins me to talk about the benefits of making healthy choices for managing anxiety. We talk about how challenging it can be for tweens and teens to do things like limit phone use and get enough sleep. Leena shares how she has learned to care for herself in ways that keeps her anxiety low. She tells us what she currently does for regular self ca...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer parents some needed support and self care.  This mediation is perfect to do anytime you would like to connect with your inner strength.  Enjoy!  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis,...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen is challenging. Especially when your child has anxiety! So on this episode I will tell you what you MUST DO in order to have more enjoyment during these often difficult years. And stay tuned till the end of the episode when I tell you What's Bringing Me More Zen.  It has to do with boundary setting and I have a funny story to share with you about...

Send Lauren a text! Welcome to your Zen Bonus Boost! This is a short (and hopefully sweet) episode designed to offer support, strategies and tips for parents of anxious tweens and teens.  On this episode I'll tell you why it's important to set healthy boundaries with your anxious tween or teen.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a repl...

Send Lauren a text! *****REPLAY EPISODE Anxiety symptoms in children often look different from what we imagine. Parents are sometimes surprised at how some of their children’s behavior, especially their  misbehavior, comes from their anxiety. On today's episode I will tell you about some symptoms I commonly see in kids and teens who are experiencing anxiety. The symptoms I'll tell you ab...

Send Lauren a text! Welcome to your Zen Bonus Boost! This is a short (and hopefully sweet) episode designed to offer support, strategies and tips for parents of anxious tweens and teens.  On this episode I'll tell you why it's ok for you to show emotions as a parent. And I'll talk about the importance of letting your kids feel uncomfortable too.  This podcast is for informational an...

Send Lauren a text! I am excited to share this episode of the Good Enough-ish podcast where I had the honor of being a guest co-host with Brooke Forry. Brooke and I dive into some good enough-ish parenting methods and talk about how we can feel amidst information overload as well as societal pressures as parents.  Brooke then shares an unexpected joy-sparker that has removed so much friction in th...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is stressful! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer parents some needed support and self care.  This mediation is perfect to do anytime that you would like to check in and connect with yourself. It's also a great meditation for difficult days. Enjoy!  This podcast is for informational and educational purpose...

Send Lauren a text! It's that time of year once again that kids are returning to school! This can be a challenging time for kids with anxiety. Tweens and teens have lots of worries when it comes to returning to school. Will they have friends in their classes, what if they get a mean teacher, will they get to classes on time (these are just a few common worries). It's understandable that...

Send Lauren a text! Welcome to your Zen Bonus Boost! This is a short (and hopefully sweet) episode designed to offer support, strategies and tips for parents of anxious tweens and teens.  On this episode I'll tell you why your anxious tween or teen is even more emotionally dysregulated than other tweens and teens. And I'll give you a tip to help you stay calm and not join your child in b...

Send Lauren a text! Teens often struggle with emotional regulation. They can have big reactions to small problems and sometimes act irrationally. This is hard on parents and they can feel disrespected when their teen is being reactive. On this episode Ann Coleman, parent educator and host of the podcast, Speaking of Teens is here to help! Ann will tell us what goes on in the brain of a teen that c...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is stressful! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer parents some needed support and self care.  This mediation can be done anytime you are able to get comfortable and close your eyes. It is designed to help you get to know an emotion or a part of you that is currently present. It is based on the therapy technique...

Send Lauren a text! Have you seen the movie Inside Out or the sequel Inside out Two? In these movies feelings are shown as parts. When the feeling anxiety gets introduced to the main character, teenage Riley, chaos ensues! The way anxiety is portrayed is very relatable. And using the idea of feelings being just parts is a great way to take some of the fear and intensity out of anxiety. On this epi...

Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is stressful! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer parents some needed support and self care.  This mediation is perfect to do when you want to relax deeply, take a nap or prepare for bed and a restful night of sleep.  Enjoy!  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be...