Tag: Parenting Struggles

Circle of Hope Counseling Services, End the Stigma

Mental Health for Challenging Kids and Their Parents

Brandi C

mental health and kids

Mental Health for Challenging Kids and Their Parents

Parenting is a journey filled with love, joy, and challenges—especially when raising a child who struggles with mental health or behavioral difficulties. Some days, it feels like a rollercoaster of emotions, and as a parent, you may find yourself exhausted, second-guessing your choices, or simply trying to make it through the day. You are not alone because mental health for challenging kids and their parents is a real thing.

Supporting your child’s mental health doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means creating a foundation that helps them feel safe, supported, and understood. Here are a few key ways to do just that:

1. Keep Everything Simple

When life feels overwhelming, simplicity is key. Kids—especially those with anxiety, ADHD, autism, or other challenges—can struggle with too many choices, complex instructions, or chaotic environments. Break things down into small, manageable steps. Use visual schedules, short and clear directions, and predictable routines to help reduce stress for both you and your child.

2. Allow for Play

Play is a child’s natural language, and it’s also a powerful tool for mental and emotional health. Whether it’s imaginative play, sensory activities, or outdoor exploration, giving kids space to play helps them regulate emotions, process their experiences, and build important coping skills. Even older kids and teens benefit from activities that let them be creative and express themselves.

3. Keep a Routine

Children thrive on routine, especially those with anxiety or behavioral struggles. A consistent daily structure helps create a sense of security and predictability, reducing stress and emotional outbursts. Try to keep wake-up times, meals, and bedtime as consistent as possible. When changes need to happen, prepare your child ahead of time to ease transitions.

4. Watch for Warning Signs

Sometimes, kids express emotional distress in ways that don’t look like sadness. Watch for signs of anxiety, depression, or distress, including:

  • Increased meltdowns or irritability
  • Changes in sleep or eating habits
  • Avoiding activities they used to enjoy
  • Increased aggression or withdrawal
  • Physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches) with no medical explanation

If you notice these warning signs, don’t brush them off. Early intervention matters. Reach out to a therapist, counselor, or pediatrician to get support for your child—and for yourself.

Taking Care of You

Parenting a challenging child takes patience, resilience, and so much love. But it’s important to remember that your mental health matters too. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Find moments to breathe, lean on your support system, and remind yourself that you are doing the best you can.

If you need guidance on parenting strategies, mental health support, or simply a safe space to talk, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation or schedule an appointment today (Kentucky residents). You don’t have to do this alone.

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Integrity

Medical, Reuben Schwartz & Jake Shirk Amish Iridologist

Amish Iridologist In Pictures

Brandi C

Amish Iridologist In Pictures

Here is our visit to the Amish Iridologist In Pictures.  I do not take pictures of the Amish because they do not want their pictures taken.  This is a respectful thing and I choose to honor what they asked of me.

We stayed in a little town about 45 minutes from Hestand, Kentucky.  When I requested an appointment, I didn’t specify a time.  I couldn’t have made the trip in a day but they gave me an 8 am appointment time.  The drive is about 5 hrs from where I live, so I spent the night.  When we make a follow-up appointment with Jake Shirk and Reuben Schwartz, we will request a specific time.

Amish Iridologist Jake Shirk is in training.  Reuben has been training him for several years. This is because, at some point, Reuben will retire.  He wants to pass on his knowledge of Amish Iridology to young Jake.

Frisked at the Dollar General

I went by myself, on this trip.  Later, we all came.  Our hotel was right behind a huge Dollar General store.  H was not well.  Rages were common.  I had to carry him everywhere.  Potty training was non-existent and I was a bucket of nerves.

I thought I would run into the DG and pick up some food to eat on the way to Mr. Reuben the next day.  H was hysterical.  I was exhausted.  We got there, and with him screaming, I put him in the cart while he was screaming.  Then, he proceeded to crap from stem to sternum.  All the diapers and wipes were in my hotel room.

Amish Iridologist In Pictures

Never Touched a Thing

I went up one aisle and down another. At no time did I ever look at or touch anything. I couldn’t do it. I got H up out of the cart, with crap everywhere, him screaming, and I was flushed and irritated. As I walked out the door, the checkout girl asked to frisk me and check my purse.

Anger ensued. I just looked at her. In the store, I didn’t even look at anything. Did she want to smell him? What about checking his crappy diaper? Oh, there is the poop that was smeared all over me. She checked my purse and said I was okay. I told her in the morning that she would not be okay because I would be back to talk to her manager.

Conversation

Sure enough, I returned the following day, but my temper had settled. I told the manager what had happened, and she was mortified. She asked me not to call the corporate office and that she would handle that young lady. I asked her to please not fire her because she was young and probably needed the job. Luckily, she didn’t though that was what she wanted to do. Crisis averted.

Peek Inside and Amish Iridologist Office

I will keep these pictures larger so I can see what is in them. This is direct to the right after you walk into the door. That table has papers for the person to fill out to give to Reuben Schwartz. On the other side of the desk is the hallway to his office.

That giant shelf is across from the tables in the first picture. This is where they keep some homemade goodies you can buy. Behind this shelf is another wall with tables set up with more homemade goodies. To the back is the room where they keep all the herbs and supplements. If it is super busy, someone sits at the desk you see straight ahead, and there are two other desks to the left. This place can get packed quickly.

Amish Iridologist In Pictures Amish Iridologist In Pictures

Peering Out the Window

The house looks relatively new!  It is nice.  There is a full-length front porch with rocking chairs on it for the overflow.  It is out in the middle of nowhere and on a gravel road.  If you are looking straight at the front porch, to the left is the main road.  To the right, there is a garden and a place for the horse and buggies.  If you keep going down the driveway, you will run right into Abraham’s farm.  He is one of Reuben’s 12 children.  Lovely man.  He does leatherwork.

Amish Iridologist In Pictures

Getting in Contact

You must write a letter to Mr. Schwartz. Expect a reply back within a couple of weeks.  If you want a specific day/time, put that in your letter.  You do not have to go into detail about what is wrong, it isn’t necessary.  They handwrite you a letter back.  You can just show up but if he is booked with appointments, he will honor those first.  They do not work over!

Reuben Schwartz

1205 Radure Rd.

Hestand, KY 42151

Money

They take cash only!  Be aware and bring around $300.  I’m not saying you will spend it all but it is better to have it if you need it.  There are some herbs/supplements that he doesn’t have.  He will mark that on your sheet of information.  You will go down the hill to Mountain Air Herbs.  They can complete your order.  Mountain Air Herbs is not run by the Amish, but they do help Reuben out. They do take credit cards!

Please Note:

I cannot and do not make appointments for them.  We have simply been there 2 times.  Once for H and me.  The second time, we brought all of our children.  I am happy to answer any questions that you might have.