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The Lighthouse Center The Lighthouse mental health and wellness clinic Dubai

The LightHouse is a community mental health and wellness clinic providing quality psychological and ... more

The LightHouse is a community mental health and wellness clinic providing quality psychological and psychiatric care to children, adults, couples and families. Located in central Dubai, The LightHouse brings together an international team of licensed psychologists and psychiatrists offering a range of treatments. The LightHouse is also home to the Raymee Grief Centre, which provides free grief support services to anyone living in the UAE. Our modern, friendly clinic is an ideal setting where you’ll feel safe and confident to explore your mental health and emotional issues. Licensed by the Dubai Health Authority, The LightHouse was founded in 2011 by clinical psychologists Dr. Saliha Afridi and Dr. Tara Wyne, whose shared mission and vision is to make the region happier and healthier. less

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Questions & Answers
Depression after giving birth to a stillborn
Anonymous posted in Well Being
Answer

I am so sorry to hear of your great loss. Dealing with a stillbirth can b... more

I am so sorry to hear of your great loss. Dealing with a stillbirth can bring forth an array of difficult emotions and can be a devastating experience, not only for you as the mother, but others who have been there throughout your pregnancy too. Given that I require more information about the duration of time since the stillbirth occurred, I am limited to the suggestions which I can offer here. I would like to encourage you to do the following:
1. Contact The LightHouse Arabia to schedule a free-1 hour-grief consultation with Dr. Ottilia Brown (Clinical Psychologist & grief specialist)
2. Once you have attended the grief consultation, you will be advised whether to attend the online Little Lifetimes Support Group.
3. Be gentle with yourself during this time, and approach your day in blocks of time, tending & nurturing yourself from moment to moment (e.g. make yourself a cup of tea, take warm baths, confide in a trusting friend, take short walks outside, eat wholesome foods, use lavendar pillow spray in the evenings before bedtime, etc.).
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The Lighthouse Center mental health and wellness clinic
2 years ago
Negative feelings while breastfeeding
Anonymous posted in Parenting
Answer

A: It is very common for women who experience difficulties or disruptions with breas... more

A: It is very common for women who experience difficulties or disruptions with breastfeeding to experience postnatal mental health disorders, particularly if they were intending to breastfeed prior to giving birth. Many mothers and professionals are under the misconception that as long as the mother can (physically) breastfeed, they should. It is key to take the mother's mental health into account, as we know it has a significant longterm impact on a child's emotional wellbeing, social functioning (attachment style), and their overall growth and development. Therefore, if you're not doing well emotionally, it may be time to consider a change.
1. I'd encourage you to speak to a mental health professional about these feelings to evaluate if they are above what is expected for your stage postpartum.
2. You may choose to pump and offer milk through a bottle, particularly if you are finding the unpredictability or intimacy of breastfeeding to be challenging. Someone else giving a bottle will also introduce opportunities for breaks.
3. If pumping and BF both do not feel like a right fit for you, and with your doctor's approval, you may choose to explore other formula options (like goats milk or dairy-free formula).
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The Lighthouse Center mental health and wellness clinic
2 years ago
Toddler stubborn attitude & tantrums
hanane fariji posted in Parenting
Answer

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It is important to first learn that temper tantrums are a typical phase of toddlers' development hence the infamous “terrible twos”. Temper tantrums usually peak in the 24 -36 months of age .

There are 3 factors beneath the surface:

  1. At this age children’s separation anxiety peaks and they become aware that they are differentiated and separate from their parents. Toddlers feel overwhelmed and a variety of emotions and tension starts simmering under the surface.

  2. Children’s communication is still developing. Tantrums are their way of expressing their feelings where they don't have enough words to express them.

  3. Toddlers operate from their downstairs brain while their upstairs brain is still developing. This part of the brain is not capable of skills such as reasoning, logical thinking, understanding consequences, and emotional regulation.

Strategies to support you through this phase:

  1. Welcome their feelings but limit the behaviors. When your child is in the middle of the tantrum, they are offline. Let them go through it while trying to contain the behavior by moving away whenever possible to safer, less corded, and calmer spots at home or in public.

  2. Spend more time engaging in brain friendly  toddler activities together (sensory play, active outdoor play). This can support their emotional regulation as their brain is developing.

  3. Replace reasoning and giving directions with simply labeling what you see. Help them co-regulate by saying out loud what you're seeing and labeling things for them instead of logical reasoning with them  and wait for the storm to pass. (e.g., “ I see that you want to get your toy and it’s making you upset that it’s not here”).

  4. Prepare. Reflect on places, items, or needs that frequently trigger their tantrums and work around them whenever possible.

  5. Children thrive in routine. Establish a predictable routine for their needs and activities. Attending nursery can add more structure to their day.

  6. Take care of yourself. This is an overwhelming experience for both you and your toddlers. Your feelings of anger, helplessness, or frustration are valid. Practice self-regulating techniques during the tantrum (e.g., belly breathing, recall what is in your control and what isn't).

When to seek professional help?

With all the above in mind, if tantrums become more frequent, intense, last longer, cause them harm or injury,  you find yourself losing control or struggling with frequent feelings of anger or loss of control consider consulting with an early childhood specialists such as child and parenting psychologists, pediatric occupational therapist, or speech and language therapists if there are communication difficulties.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Speech & Language Therapist, Dalia Alzyod at The Lighthouse Center

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The Lighthouse Center mental health and wellness clinic
2 years ago
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