Synergy Therapeutic Group - June/July/August 2021

Synergy Therapeutic Group - June/July/August 2021

PHONE: (618) 529-4360 FAX: (618) 529-4560

PHONE: (618) 542-8950 FAX: (618) 542-8746

1110 N. CEDAR COURT CARBONDALE, IL 62901

JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2021

Health & WWW.SYNERGYTHERAPEUTICGROUP.COM

Wellness

THERAPEUTIC GROUP

THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY

Introducing 2 Resources for Parents HERE TO HELP

The second resource is a social connection. We started a private Facebook Group called Synergy-Autism & Sensory Disorder Support . This group offers parents a network of people who “have been there” and also provides educational lessons

With our children out of the house and off at college, I thought I would have so much more time to finally sit down and get some writing done. I’ve wanted to share my experience as a mother with parents who are struggling with the same concerns,

fears, and questions I had as a mom because I realized that I can use my experience as a mother and therapist to help other parents.

and discussions. Each week, I choose one lesson to discuss within the group, offering suggestions on how to help or guide their child through this obstacle. It’s a tremendous resource. I’m proud to finally have these kinds of resources available to parents in need of support and guidance. When I was struggling with these very same problems as a young parent, a resource like this would have been extremely helpful for me. My hope is that by combining my expertise with my personal experience, families will find a sense of connection and understanding. I have been there before, so I know failure is not an option.

But I was soon reminded that my job as a mother is never quite fully done.

Yes, the children are out of the house for the first time but, they still needed me! They needed to know all of the questions children never think to ask when they are at home. You only realize you don’t know how to do something basic like schedule an appointment or buy food for yourself until you’re all alone. Like any mother, I’ve been available whenever they need me, even at 3 a.m. when my son calls from Switzerland.

We always see results. No matter what the issue is that your child is facing, be it autism, attention deficit disorders, or any other cognitive and sensory disorders, there is always a way for us to find viable, helpful solutions for your child’s needs. And through it all, you will have a group supporting you. If you believe this Facebook group would help your family, please join us by going to Facebook.com/groups/synergypediatric. You can also access my Breakthrough Parenting course by contacting the clinic. I hope you find peace and understanding through these resources, but if there is any other way I can help you and your family, please let me know.

Thankfully, I have Subrat to remind me that I’m more than a mom. He’s been a great supporter of my professional endeavors and the assistance I’ve offered to parents. He often says, “Chandana, I know you love this, and you need to remember to do this.” So, with my children gone and life returning to a new normal, I finally dedicated time to create two resources for parents, of which I am incredibly proud. The first is a parenting course called “Breakthrough Parenting .” It’s a seven-day course through which parents learn about the obstacles their children with cognitive and sensory development disabilities are facing and how to manage those obstacles. The course is designed to help parents, but it can also be catered to babysitters, grandparents, and other adults who interact with the children on a daily basis. The course belongs to each family, and they use it at any time to help create a more welcoming, understanding environment for their child.

From one parent to another, I’m here to help.

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(618) 529-4360

STAY COOL THIS SUMMER Educate Yourself on Heat-Related Illnesses

When thinking about extreme and deadly weather, most people conjure up images of massive tornadoes in the Midwest or hurricanes and flooding in the Southeast. But you might be surprised to learn that the deadliest extreme weather event is excessive heat. In fact, according to a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heat causes more deaths each year than floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. Since 2020 was the second warmest year on record and all the other years in the top 10 have occurred since 2005, it’s time to wise up about heat-related illnesses. Heat-Related Illnesses and Risk Factors According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heat-related illnesses are caused by “exposure to extreme heat where the body becomes unable to properly cool, resulting in a rapid rise in body temperature.” There are several kinds of heat-related illnesses. The least severe are heat rashes, sunburn, and heat cramps, and the most serious are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. While anyone can experience these illnesses if they overexert themselves in hot weather, some groups are more at risk than others, including: • Children under the age of 4 and adults over the age of 65 • People with preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease

• People who are overweight • People taking certain kinds of medications • Individuals who are intoxicated or drink excessively

Symptoms toWatch Out For Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke have many of the same symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and fainting. But other symptoms help differentiate the two. Heat stroke victims will have hot, red skin that may be dry or damp, and they’ll likely have a fast and strong pulse. By contrast, victims of heat exhaustion will have cold, pale, and clammy skin and a fast but weak pulse.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring professional medical attention immediately. You should also seek medical help for

anyone exhibiting the above symptoms who is also throwing up, whose symptoms are getting worse or last longer than one hour. For a complete list of symptoms and treatment for all heat-related illnesses, visit CDC.gov/disasters/extremeheat/ warning.html. Stay cool this summer and prevent heat-related illnesses by seeking shade or staying indoors on hot days, avoiding exerting yourself in the heat, and drinking plenty of water!

SUCCESS STORY PATIENT

“Synergy has helped my son immensely. He has only been coming for a few months, and he has improved both physically and emotionally. He has learned not to walk on his toes and is even using the potty now. Synergy has also taught me how to help my son when we are at home and also some things that help at school — teaching me how to communicate better, have confidence in my child, and even find different ways to do homework! I am very happy with his progress so far, and even when we didn’t have insurance, my husband and I made sure he could keep coming to therapy as one of our top priorities. Ethan is much more confident, and I can tell his self-esteem is much higher than ever before.” –Amanda H.

“We have been going to Synergy for a little over a month now, and we have seen such a dramatic difference in our child’s behavior. Doing daily grooming tasks (brushing teeth, combing hair, or cleaning her face) was a big struggle. Now we can do these tasks with much ease. We’ve also seen the number of tantrums our child has decrease as we started attending therapy. I can tell her overall well-being is better since attending. They also have amazing staff that really listen to you and your situation. From our initial visit, we felt heard and understood. They constantly check in to see how things are progressing at home, not just during therapy.” –Jazmine L.

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A SIMPLE WAY TO AVOID THE ‘SUMMER SLUMP’

Many parents worry about the “summer slump” — a systematic reversal in the lessons children learned during the school year during the months away from the classroom each summer. It’s not uncommon to worry if your child is going to forget what they learned in math or if their progression in reading will flounder in a new school year, but it may not be that simple. Multiple studies across more than 20 years have found that what’s lost during summer can vary by the child, the home situation, the family’s monetary standing, and any interventions in learning during the summer. This means that your child’s situation and summer activities could play a role in what’s lost in the summer months, so reading, math, and other educational programs at school and at home can prevent or limit this.

And while you may not be a science or history expert, you can have an impact on how your child learns this summer through one simple action: making sure they eat a healthy diet. Just as there are foods that are better for your heart health and your waistline, there are also foods that improve your brain function. Opt for meals that are high in unsaturated fats, like avocados and nuts, and try to avoid meals that focus on simple carbohydrates and sugars, like refined pastas, white bread, and treats like chips, candy bars, and cookies. It’s also beneficial to eat colorful fruits and vegetables, which are often packed with nutrients our brains love. Dairy and processed sugar should be avoided as much as possible. (Standard servings of sugar found in fruit are okay.)

These foods can make children tired, lethargic, and supplied with “fake energy.” They may be bouncing off the walls after a few cookies, but they will crash. That’s not real, healthy energy. The key to maintaining a proper, healthy diet and affecting your child’s ability to retain information is to stick to a routine. Children thrive in a routine, and unfortunately, summertime complicates that. They’re no longer in school, regimented by learning and playing with their friends. Find the routine that works for your family, incorporate some learning and good food into it, and you will find that the summer slump isn’t a concern.

PLANT-BASED BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

WORK YOUR BRAIN

Inspired by MyDarlingVegan.com

It’s blueberry season! Whip up this simple muffin recipe to celebrate in style.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup soy milk • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar • 2 cups flour • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp canola oil • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Zest of 1 lemon • 2 cups fresh blueberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a muffin tin and set aside. 2. In a bowl, combine soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside. 3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 4. In a third bowl, combine sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Add milk mixture and stir, then add flour mixture. Stir to combine until well-incorporated but not smooth. Fold in the blueberries. 5. Spoon batter into muffin tin, filling each well 3/4 full. Bake 20–25 minutes, cool, and enjoy!

SOLUTION ON PAGE 4

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1110 N. CEDAR CT. • CARBONDALE, IL 62901

(618) 529-4360

THERAPEUTIC GROUP

INSIDE We Have Created 2 Resources to Help Parents 1 What Are Heat-Related Illnesses? Hear From Our Clients! 2 Establish a Routine and Help Your Child Learn This Summer Plant-Based Blueberry Muffins 3

Is ‘Hammocking’ a Better Way to Sleep? 4

IS ‘HAMMOCKING’ A BETTER WAY TO SLEEP?

(THEORETICAL) BENEFITS OF SLEEPING WHILE SWINGING

Pressure Point Relief A good mattress can reduce pressure on the shoulders, back, and butt, while a bad mattress can do the opposite. Some hammock advocates claim that a hammock’s more flexible surface means pressure is spread more equally across all parts of the body. However, this benefit is purely theoretical and more study is needed to confirm the hypothesis. Deeper Sleep According to a study from 2011 where 12 men took two 45-minute naps — one in a regular bed and one in a swinging bed — results showed the men fell asleep faster in the swinging bed and that they had a longer light sleep before they entered a deep sleep. However, because the size of this study was so small, its conclusions need more verification. Until more >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

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