RECENT ARTICLES
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Reader Views Bronze Award: "The Power of Piggie Bear"
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MHA Award: Mara James & Extraordinary Lives Foundation receives nomination
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South County Magazine
May 1, 2022
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Innovator of the Year Award Nomination - Orange County Business Journal - Airing September 24, 2020
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"We need to prepare for the mental health effects of coronavirus on kids"
Click Here to Read Full Story in Los Angeles Times
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Read Full Story at NPR.com
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Laguna Niguel Lifestyle: Community Outreach
May 1, 2020
Extraordinary Lives Foundation
+ WHAT IT IS: Serving Children’s Mental Health and Wellness
+ WHO IT’S GOOD FOR: Families with children experiencing mental health challenges
+ WHERE IT IS: Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo
Mara James founded Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF) in 2015. The organization promotes children’s mental health and wellness while supporting families with awareness events, education and resources.
Mara and her family (three children and husband Kenneth) relocated from New York to Laguna Niguel in 2007. With degrees in Psychology and Economics from the University of Rochester, Mara initially helped establish her husband’s OBGYN practice and recently shifted her focus to running the foundation fulltime.
As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, this is the ideal time to focus on removing the stigma associated with mental health challenges. Mara encourages families to reach out for help before their emotions spiral out of control.
In 2018, Mara wrote the children’s book “The Power of Piggie Bear,” to help children identify and manage their emotions in a fun and mindful way. Piggie Bear teaches children to love themselves and know they are truly amazing - just the way they are!
The book highlights three important tools that anyone can use during times of stress and anxiety:
Piggie Bear's deep belly breathing
Piggie Bear's self-hug
Piggie Bear's empowering words "I am amazing!"
Manufactured by Build-a-Bear, the adorable Piggie Bear plush is available online along with “The Power of Piggie Bear” book. Proceeds fund the donation of the Piggie Bear products to at-risk children in hospitals, shelters, foster and military families. ELFempowers.org
Read full article in City Lifestyle HERE.
See original article in Laguna Niguel Lifestyle HERE.
+ WHAT IT IS: Serving Children’s Mental Health and Wellness
+ WHO IT’S GOOD FOR: Families with children experiencing mental health challenges
+ WHERE IT IS: Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo
Mara James founded Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF) in 2015. The organization promotes children’s mental health and wellness while supporting families with awareness events, education and resources.
Mara and her family (three children and husband Kenneth) relocated from New York to Laguna Niguel in 2007. With degrees in Psychology and Economics from the University of Rochester, Mara initially helped establish her husband’s OBGYN practice and recently shifted her focus to running the foundation fulltime.
As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, this is the ideal time to focus on removing the stigma associated with mental health challenges. Mara encourages families to reach out for help before their emotions spiral out of control.
In 2018, Mara wrote the children’s book “The Power of Piggie Bear,” to help children identify and manage their emotions in a fun and mindful way. Piggie Bear teaches children to love themselves and know they are truly amazing - just the way they are!
The book highlights three important tools that anyone can use during times of stress and anxiety:
Piggie Bear's deep belly breathing
Piggie Bear's self-hug
Piggie Bear's empowering words "I am amazing!"
Manufactured by Build-a-Bear, the adorable Piggie Bear plush is available online along with “The Power of Piggie Bear” book. Proceeds fund the donation of the Piggie Bear products to at-risk children in hospitals, shelters, foster and military families. ELFempowers.org
Read full article in City Lifestyle HERE.
See original article in Laguna Niguel Lifestyle HERE.
ARTICLES
Orange Coast Magazine: Comedy Night Fundraiser
February 26, 2020
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Parenting OC Magazine: Emotional Special Needs: Mental health challenges can hide in plain sight.
Mar 26th, 2020 by Mara James
Special needs are often associated with physical disabilities. While not as visible, special needs also includes learning, emotional and behavioral challenges. Common mental health challenges are anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and (obsessive-compulsive disorder) OCD. There are different levels of emotional challenges ranging from mild and moderate to more severe.
Mental health challenges in children often go under-diagnosed for different reasons. Parents might unintentionally ignore their child’s needs as they think their child is just acting out and may not realize that there is an underlying issue. Teachers most often have not been trained to identify emotional needs in their students. For example, they might not realize that when a student raises their hand often to go to the bathroom, there can be an underlying emotional issue in the classroom. There can be breakdowns in communication with a child and their parents, teachers and pediatricians. If the child doesn’t understand or cannot verbalize their emotions, the adults may not be fully aware of the child’s emotional distress. And finally, there is still a stigma associated with mental health issues, which might prevent parents from reaching out for help.
Rates of children and adolescents with mental health disorders are increasing dramatically. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six U.S. children aged 2 to 8 years old has a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder.
Dr. Jessica Borelli, associate professor of psychological science at the University of California, Irvine and advisory board member of the Extraordinary Lives Foundation in Mission Viejo says, ”The best way to know if your child is hurting is to stay in close emotional contact with them. Make space for your child’s thoughts and feelings in your daily life by carving out time to talk to your child every day. Express an interest in knowing what is really going on inside of them and show them that you can handle their biggest feelings when they have them.”
Experts agree that early diagnosis and treatment for both children and their families are key.
“It takes a village to raise a child.” This famous African proverb certainly applies to children with emotional special needs. It’s critical for community collaboration so children can grow up in safe and healthy environments. A child’s core support team -- parents, caregivers, physicians and teachers — should be familiar with warning signs that help detect emotional challenges sooner than later. For example, a shift in a child’s behavior can mean that they are experiencing an emotional challenge. A quiet child might seem more agitated or aggressive whereas an outgoing child might withdraw and isolate themselves. Children might experience physical ailments such as stomach issues or headaches, which could indicate an underlying emotional cause. They might also engage in escape and avoidance behaviors, which will get them out of an environment that is causing them stress or distress. A student may frequently ask to be excused in class or want to stay home if they are experiencing negative emotions at school.
The key is open and honest communication between parents, educators and health professionals. By identifying early signs of emotional distress, the issues can be brought to light and treated. Many resources are available to children and their families through the county and mental health community partners. Pediatricians and schools are a great first line of defense to evaluate and guide families on their journey to obtain help. The OC Health Care Agency (855-OC-Links) provides phone and online support for anyone seeking information or referral to any of the Health Care Agency’s Behavioral Health Services for both children and adult mental health.
Extraordinary Lives Foundation was formed five years ago to address mental health issues in young children. The Orange County-based nonprofit published “The Power of Piggie Bear” as a teaching tool to empower children and increase their emotional intelligence. It focuses on self-acceptance and self-love while helping children to identify their emotions and comfort themselves. One of the tools is Piggie Bear’s deep belly breathing to create an internal feeling of calm.
The book was instrumental in helping a Lake Forest family whose preschooler was threatened at school and literally given methods to end her life by a group of 3- and 4-year-old boys. “The Power of Piggie Bear” helped the 4-year-old girl decrease her anxiety, and identify and talk about her emotions. The family has also used therapy and other forms of holistic healing.
The Piggie Bear plush animal is utilized with the book to provide unconditional love, comfort and support for children in hospitals, foster care, military families and children’s shelters.
Extraordinary Lives Foundation is currently working with several health-related professionals to create a curriculum for the perinatal, prenatal and postpartum stages of pregnancy, geared toward parents helping their children. The organization also guides parents to alternative healing modalities to help their children live happier and healthier lives.
Read full article in Parenting OC here: https://parentingoc.com/2020/03/shedding-light-on-emotional-special-needs/
EVENTS
Let Laughter Shed Light
Mar 14th, 2019 by Jane Noble
On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, laughter rang around the Irvine Improv at our first annual Comedy Night entitled Let Laughter Shed Light. Mental illness is no laughing matter, yet love and laughter enable us all to cope better with what life throws at us. There was a wonderful sense of camaraderie at the event and a true feeling that we are all in this together.
The fun started with guests being enthusiastically greeted by a life size Piggie Bear and volunteers dressed in black with a touch of green to represent mental health. Barely a person passed up the opportunity to pose for a photo with Piggie Bear.
Silent AuctionOnce inside, there was a buzz of activity and anticipation as guests perused the many fabulous items on offer in the Silent Auction. There were gifts certificates for yoga, gym memberships, restaurants, the Lakers, singing lessons, golf lessons and massage, as well as for the many wonderful healers that ELF is connected to. The tables were laden with stunning fine jewelry, bubbly and bath products, perfumes, Scotch & chocs to name but a few.
The Pre-showYoung performers from the Center Stage Studio warmed up the audience as they shared their talent for singing and dancing in lively routines. Joe Grande, master of ceremonies extraordinaire kept the pace moving with his own inimitable style and good humor.
The ComediansStand up comedy is not an easy discipline but these professionals had the audience eating out of their hands. First up was Mary Kennedy, best known for “New Fiona” on Shameless, Conan and being a regular at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Mary is hilariously self deprecating as she made fun of her post baby body and had every woman in the room nodding helplessly in agreement.
Eric Deskin has an edgy, observant brand of humor and the audience lapped up his East Coast take on California. At one point in his life Eric was a lawyer and while rumors of his disbarment have been grossly exaggerated, he advised the audience to ask him for legal advice at their own peril!
Francis DiLorenzo is tall and slender and a magnificent physical comedienne. The laughter built as she told tales of dating shorter men. My personal favorite was her impersonation of her 6’3” son and his similarity to an air filled dancing balloon man. Hilarious!
You can see why next up Justine Marino was selected as the New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Festival and laugh we did. Who else do you know who fantasizes about having a Jurassic Park wedding? “I dino…”
To close out the evening Sam Fedele made sure that our jaws ached from laughing. Sam developed his high-energy style of comedy growing up in the mean streets of New Jersey. He spent six years honing his skills in the United States Marine Corps, after which neither Sam nor the Marine Corps would ever be the same again.
ELF sends out a huge thank you to all the fabulous entertainers for sharing their talents and shedding light on mental health. The entertainers, guests and volunteers made the evening a spectacular success.
He expresses his fears and feelings on mental health and recounts how experiencing his wife’s personal struggle has made him more understanding and compassionate.
“May is Mental Health Awareness month. Five years ago this month my life turned upside down.
When I was in medical school, I spent 2 months doing a psychiatric rotation at a V.A. Hospital. This was a requirement. I had no interest in psychiatry and honestly never even thought about mental health disorders before medical school, especially during the first 2 years of school. Sure, I learned about the disorders, neurological pathways, possible causes and pharmacologic treatments but I thought of it as a fiction novel not real disorders that happen to real people.
My rotation was during a frigid winter at the V.A. Hospital in Chicago. We were introduced to the in-patient ward staff, instructed on areas to go to and avoid and then assigned our patients to follow.
I remember sitting in my first interview with an inpatient. When I arrived at the physician’s consultation room, the patient was already there sitting opposite the doctor. The patient had schizophrenia and was heavily medicated. He seemed harmless, cooperative and sedated. The session lasted 30 minutes with lots of questions about his medical progress, relationship with other patients, satisfaction with his accommodations and goals to accomplish. When we were done, I stood up to say goodbye and open the door for him. When he stood up, I realized he was over 6 feet 10 inches tall and towered over me like a giant. I immediately went into fight or flight mode. I started sweating, was anxious, nervous, fearful and terrified all at the same time. I felt threatened that he was going to lash out at me. There was no basis for this fear. This was a fantasy I immediately fabricated in my mind from watching too many horror movies in the 70’s. He politely grunted goodbye and was escorted back to the common area by a hospital orderly. It was at this exact moment that I realized I would either fear these patients or learn compassion. I chose fear.
As the rotation continued, I found myself (and my fellow students) spending more time in the V.A. gymnasium playing basketball than seeing patients. We would study diseases and treatments over breakfast, then play hoops for 2 hours, then lunch and home. I knew the names of all the diseases, symptoms, possible causes and treatment options; I just couldn’t put a face to each disorder because I was afraid of being with people who were psychologically different, diseased or afflicted. Bipolar, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorders and PTSD were cool to talk about and learn the medications that control the symptoms, but to see a person express these disorders live frightened me. Therefore, I avoided patient care for the remainder of my rotation. Sad, but true.
My experience in medical school, where it was a requirement to see and interact with psychiatric patients is not that different from any of us who interact with friends, family, neighbors, work mates or strangers who have similar emotional or diagnosed psychiatric conditions. At first it is frightening and uncomfortable. How can someone be there physically but not there mentally or emotionally? It takes time to adjust to and tolerate people with mania, narcissism, or dissociative behavior and to see the real person underneath the disorder.
In May of 2014, my wife Mara of over 20 years experienced a manic episode. Looking back, I should have seen it coming like a dark rain cloud before the storm but mostly I just accepted her increasingly bizarre behavior as eccentric. She always had a type A, outgoing and friendly personality. She has always had a lot of friends, been extremely cordial to everyone and made everyone in her presence feel loved and wanted. As her mania slowly progressed, I noticed that many of her friends were not around. Maybe they were growing weary of her changing personality and possibly frightened by her overly talkative behavior and odd mannerisms. Her obsessions with objects, people, and certain situations were bordering on psychiatric and then BAM!
I was away the weekend of May 23, 2014 with my parents and brother at a retreat in Colorado. It was one of the few times I had gone away without her. The first night I was gone, she reached the pinnacle of her disease and by the next day I was on a plane home. At 8 pm we embraced. I didn’t want to let her go because I would then have to make some very difficult decisions. With the help of a dear friend who is a psychologist, we decided that she should see her psychologist and a psychiatrist the next day and we would hopefully be able to keep her from being admitted to an inpatient setting. Luckily, with the help of her providers, she was started on medication and started to heal.
Over the next 6 months she underwent her own type of transformation. As she proclaims: ‘I went from medication to meditation’. She finished a short course of medications and therapy and then started alternative treatments. Between hypnotherapy, crystals, shamans, yoga, meditation and religious counseling she was transformed. She is back and better than ever!
Mara took her experience and decided to help others. She started a mental health awareness foundation called Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF) in 2016. The mission of the foundation is to raise awareness around mental health issues concentrating on children and adolescent youth. Her belief is that mental health issues begin in adolescence and worsen over time if not recognized and treated. She has run several awareness events in our community and around the country and is currently promoting awareness at several Major League baseball stadiums throughout the nation.
ELF volunteers get people actively involved in spreading the word that May is mental health awareness month by hi-fiving everyone admitted to the stadium with large foam hands. I remember the first game we attended down with the San Diego Padres. The volunteers were nervous and anxious about how to spread the word. I picked up 2 large foam hands and just started hi-fiving everyone I saw. This became contagious. At the Angels game 2 weeks later, I counted over 10, 000 fans I slapped hands with and over a dozen who made contributions to our foundation. Last year we went to Atlanta and New York and this year Mara is hitting all 5 California Major League stadiums and a minor league stadium in Sacramento. Eventually the goal is to make May as visible as October is for Breast Cancer awareness. Imagine an annual mental health awareness day at every stadium where players dress in green to represent mental health. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Mara has attended several city council committee meetings all over Orange County. Through her efforts several cities have declared May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. This is another step towards helping people recognize that the mental health of the nation is a national emergency and that funding is vitally needed to give sufferers the help they need.
Mara has written and self-published a children’s book: The Power of Piggie Bear. This is a wonderful, fun and informative book which teaches children (and adults) how to recognize their emotions and then how to control them through 2 simple exercises. First: deep belly breathing (yoga style) and second: a self-hug releasing natural good feeling chemicals through your body. This really works. Like exercise, if you do it every day, you will see a difference. Mara has donated books to all our local elementary and middle schools.
As you can tell, this is a very personal and important topic for me. I encourage an open dialog with my patients andI discuss and offer help when needed. recommend therapy with psychologists, psychiatrists, hypnotherapists, alternative healers, clergy: anyone or any approach that they choose. Many of my patients are surprised when I ask about multiple alternative topics to routine obstetrics and gynecology. Topics including family life, sex, work and of course their own well emotional well-being.
If you don’t ask , you will not know
and if you don’t know, you can never help guide others to heal. Please speak out. Ask for help. Recognize that others are suffering and offer help. This is our obligation as both healers and human beings. “
The fun started with guests being enthusiastically greeted by a life size Piggie Bear and volunteers dressed in black with a touch of green to represent mental health. Barely a person passed up the opportunity to pose for a photo with Piggie Bear.
Silent AuctionOnce inside, there was a buzz of activity and anticipation as guests perused the many fabulous items on offer in the Silent Auction. There were gifts certificates for yoga, gym memberships, restaurants, the Lakers, singing lessons, golf lessons and massage, as well as for the many wonderful healers that ELF is connected to. The tables were laden with stunning fine jewelry, bubbly and bath products, perfumes, Scotch & chocs to name but a few.
The Pre-showYoung performers from the Center Stage Studio warmed up the audience as they shared their talent for singing and dancing in lively routines. Joe Grande, master of ceremonies extraordinaire kept the pace moving with his own inimitable style and good humor.
The ComediansStand up comedy is not an easy discipline but these professionals had the audience eating out of their hands. First up was Mary Kennedy, best known for “New Fiona” on Shameless, Conan and being a regular at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Mary is hilariously self deprecating as she made fun of her post baby body and had every woman in the room nodding helplessly in agreement.
Eric Deskin has an edgy, observant brand of humor and the audience lapped up his East Coast take on California. At one point in his life Eric was a lawyer and while rumors of his disbarment have been grossly exaggerated, he advised the audience to ask him for legal advice at their own peril!
Francis DiLorenzo is tall and slender and a magnificent physical comedienne. The laughter built as she told tales of dating shorter men. My personal favorite was her impersonation of her 6’3” son and his similarity to an air filled dancing balloon man. Hilarious!
You can see why next up Justine Marino was selected as the New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Festival and laugh we did. Who else do you know who fantasizes about having a Jurassic Park wedding? “I dino…”
To close out the evening Sam Fedele made sure that our jaws ached from laughing. Sam developed his high-energy style of comedy growing up in the mean streets of New Jersey. He spent six years honing his skills in the United States Marine Corps, after which neither Sam nor the Marine Corps would ever be the same again.
ELF sends out a huge thank you to all the fabulous entertainers for sharing their talents and shedding light on mental health. The entertainers, guests and volunteers made the evening a spectacular success.
He expresses his fears and feelings on mental health and recounts how experiencing his wife’s personal struggle has made him more understanding and compassionate.
“May is Mental Health Awareness month. Five years ago this month my life turned upside down.
When I was in medical school, I spent 2 months doing a psychiatric rotation at a V.A. Hospital. This was a requirement. I had no interest in psychiatry and honestly never even thought about mental health disorders before medical school, especially during the first 2 years of school. Sure, I learned about the disorders, neurological pathways, possible causes and pharmacologic treatments but I thought of it as a fiction novel not real disorders that happen to real people.
My rotation was during a frigid winter at the V.A. Hospital in Chicago. We were introduced to the in-patient ward staff, instructed on areas to go to and avoid and then assigned our patients to follow.
I remember sitting in my first interview with an inpatient. When I arrived at the physician’s consultation room, the patient was already there sitting opposite the doctor. The patient had schizophrenia and was heavily medicated. He seemed harmless, cooperative and sedated. The session lasted 30 minutes with lots of questions about his medical progress, relationship with other patients, satisfaction with his accommodations and goals to accomplish. When we were done, I stood up to say goodbye and open the door for him. When he stood up, I realized he was over 6 feet 10 inches tall and towered over me like a giant. I immediately went into fight or flight mode. I started sweating, was anxious, nervous, fearful and terrified all at the same time. I felt threatened that he was going to lash out at me. There was no basis for this fear. This was a fantasy I immediately fabricated in my mind from watching too many horror movies in the 70’s. He politely grunted goodbye and was escorted back to the common area by a hospital orderly. It was at this exact moment that I realized I would either fear these patients or learn compassion. I chose fear.
As the rotation continued, I found myself (and my fellow students) spending more time in the V.A. gymnasium playing basketball than seeing patients. We would study diseases and treatments over breakfast, then play hoops for 2 hours, then lunch and home. I knew the names of all the diseases, symptoms, possible causes and treatment options; I just couldn’t put a face to each disorder because I was afraid of being with people who were psychologically different, diseased or afflicted. Bipolar, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorders and PTSD were cool to talk about and learn the medications that control the symptoms, but to see a person express these disorders live frightened me. Therefore, I avoided patient care for the remainder of my rotation. Sad, but true.
My experience in medical school, where it was a requirement to see and interact with psychiatric patients is not that different from any of us who interact with friends, family, neighbors, work mates or strangers who have similar emotional or diagnosed psychiatric conditions. At first it is frightening and uncomfortable. How can someone be there physically but not there mentally or emotionally? It takes time to adjust to and tolerate people with mania, narcissism, or dissociative behavior and to see the real person underneath the disorder.
In May of 2014, my wife Mara of over 20 years experienced a manic episode. Looking back, I should have seen it coming like a dark rain cloud before the storm but mostly I just accepted her increasingly bizarre behavior as eccentric. She always had a type A, outgoing and friendly personality. She has always had a lot of friends, been extremely cordial to everyone and made everyone in her presence feel loved and wanted. As her mania slowly progressed, I noticed that many of her friends were not around. Maybe they were growing weary of her changing personality and possibly frightened by her overly talkative behavior and odd mannerisms. Her obsessions with objects, people, and certain situations were bordering on psychiatric and then BAM!
I was away the weekend of May 23, 2014 with my parents and brother at a retreat in Colorado. It was one of the few times I had gone away without her. The first night I was gone, she reached the pinnacle of her disease and by the next day I was on a plane home. At 8 pm we embraced. I didn’t want to let her go because I would then have to make some very difficult decisions. With the help of a dear friend who is a psychologist, we decided that she should see her psychologist and a psychiatrist the next day and we would hopefully be able to keep her from being admitted to an inpatient setting. Luckily, with the help of her providers, she was started on medication and started to heal.
Over the next 6 months she underwent her own type of transformation. As she proclaims: ‘I went from medication to meditation’. She finished a short course of medications and therapy and then started alternative treatments. Between hypnotherapy, crystals, shamans, yoga, meditation and religious counseling she was transformed. She is back and better than ever!
Mara took her experience and decided to help others. She started a mental health awareness foundation called Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF) in 2016. The mission of the foundation is to raise awareness around mental health issues concentrating on children and adolescent youth. Her belief is that mental health issues begin in adolescence and worsen over time if not recognized and treated. She has run several awareness events in our community and around the country and is currently promoting awareness at several Major League baseball stadiums throughout the nation.
ELF volunteers get people actively involved in spreading the word that May is mental health awareness month by hi-fiving everyone admitted to the stadium with large foam hands. I remember the first game we attended down with the San Diego Padres. The volunteers were nervous and anxious about how to spread the word. I picked up 2 large foam hands and just started hi-fiving everyone I saw. This became contagious. At the Angels game 2 weeks later, I counted over 10, 000 fans I slapped hands with and over a dozen who made contributions to our foundation. Last year we went to Atlanta and New York and this year Mara is hitting all 5 California Major League stadiums and a minor league stadium in Sacramento. Eventually the goal is to make May as visible as October is for Breast Cancer awareness. Imagine an annual mental health awareness day at every stadium where players dress in green to represent mental health. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Mara has attended several city council committee meetings all over Orange County. Through her efforts several cities have declared May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. This is another step towards helping people recognize that the mental health of the nation is a national emergency and that funding is vitally needed to give sufferers the help they need.
Mara has written and self-published a children’s book: The Power of Piggie Bear. This is a wonderful, fun and informative book which teaches children (and adults) how to recognize their emotions and then how to control them through 2 simple exercises. First: deep belly breathing (yoga style) and second: a self-hug releasing natural good feeling chemicals through your body. This really works. Like exercise, if you do it every day, you will see a difference. Mara has donated books to all our local elementary and middle schools.
As you can tell, this is a very personal and important topic for me. I encourage an open dialog with my patients andI discuss and offer help when needed. recommend therapy with psychologists, psychiatrists, hypnotherapists, alternative healers, clergy: anyone or any approach that they choose. Many of my patients are surprised when I ask about multiple alternative topics to routine obstetrics and gynecology. Topics including family life, sex, work and of course their own well emotional well-being.
If you don’t ask , you will not know
and if you don’t know, you can never help guide others to heal. Please speak out. Ask for help. Recognize that others are suffering and offer help. This is our obligation as both healers and human beings. “
PRESS COVERAGE
Staying Sane During The Holidays
Dec 11th, 2018 by Jane Noble
The Foundation is delighted that CBS News turned to ELF founder, Mara James, to share some tips and advice on how to navigate the holiday season. It is not easy staying sane during the holiday period. It becomes even more difficult for people who have mental health issues. What should be a joyful and exciting time can easily become stressful and filled with anxiety.
Piggie Bear was created to help children manage their emotions, yet we as adults can also benefit from Piggie Bear’s teachings. Emotions can be calmed and controlled through deep, belly breathing. If you feel your emotions racing out of control, just take yourself to a quiet place and breathe deeply for 5 minutes. For anyone feel a little sad and lonely, Piggie Bear teaches us to love ourselves and give ourselves a huge hug. Holding that hug can release oxytocin which helps fight off depression.
As parents it is important to remember that children are like sponges when it comes to absorbing other people’s emotions. The calmer and happier the parents are, the calmer and more contented the children. Mara reminds everyone that it is more important to spend quality time with family and friends.
If sending holiday cards is causing anxiety, then don’t send then. Simplify your life and focus on what is most important.
Piggie Bear was created to help children manage their emotions, yet we as adults can also benefit from Piggie Bear’s teachings. Emotions can be calmed and controlled through deep, belly breathing. If you feel your emotions racing out of control, just take yourself to a quiet place and breathe deeply for 5 minutes. For anyone feel a little sad and lonely, Piggie Bear teaches us to love ourselves and give ourselves a huge hug. Holding that hug can release oxytocin which helps fight off depression.
As parents it is important to remember that children are like sponges when it comes to absorbing other people’s emotions. The calmer and happier the parents are, the calmer and more contented the children. Mara reminds everyone that it is more important to spend quality time with family and friends.
If sending holiday cards is causing anxiety, then don’t send then. Simplify your life and focus on what is most important.
Heads Together: The Duke Of Cambridge Launches 'Mental Health At Work'
Sep 11th, 2018 by Jane Noble
In partnership with the mental health charity, Mind, Heads Together and The Royal Foundation have launched a new online platform, Mental Health at Work, which brings together a wealth of resources, training and information to help people make their life better at work - for themselves, and for their colleagues. No matter the size of your workplace, and no matter where you work, mental health is essential to our daily well being. Mental Health at Work aims to change the way the workplace approaches mental health and eliminate the stigma that accompanies admitting all is not well.
It is fantastic that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and The Duke of Sussex are highlighting this important subject. Taking care of mental health at work makes sound business sense. It means taking care of a company’s most valuable asset - people - so that they are happy and perform at their best. Having motivated employees is a win-win for employers and customers. It is important to be observant as to how people express their stress and then have sensitive conversations and take appropriate action to ease the situation without fear of discrimination.
It is fantastic that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and The Duke of Sussex are highlighting this important subject. Taking care of mental health at work makes sound business sense. It means taking care of a company’s most valuable asset - people - so that they are happy and perform at their best. Having motivated employees is a win-win for employers and customers. It is important to be observant as to how people express their stress and then have sensitive conversations and take appropriate action to ease the situation without fear of discrimination.
ARTICLES
CHOC and ELF Go For A Home Run
May 20th, 2018 by Jane Noble
It is always so satisfying when you plan for months for an event and it all turns out so well on the day. Many months ago, CHOC Children’s decided to collaborate with ELF to highlight May as Mental Health Awareness Month at the Twins v. Angels game that took place last Saturday evening, May 12 at Angel Stadium. ELF is thrilled that CHOC is leading the way in recognizing that children’s mental health is as important as their physical health. There is no health without mental health.
The day before the game, the wind was whipping up, clouds were hurrying across the sky and much needed rain was watering our gardens. Great, but not what you want for an outdoor event! Saturday could not have been better. The sun shone, families smiled and children laughed. Before the game, it was Angels Fiesta time in the parking lot under the Big A, with mariachi bands sending out strains of salsa that your hips couldn’t resist swaying to.
ELF committee members and representatives from CHOC set up shop under a turquoise E-Z Up to welcome guests. Some supporters had purchased their tickets. Other tickets were donated to families at-risk. The message from everyone was as loud and clear as the bright green of our T shirts and sponge hands that popped against the red of the Angels’ fans. High Five for Mental Health! Away with the stigma! We are all in this together! Everyone was having fun high fiving anyone who crossed their path.
The event took place on the day before Mother’s Day and it was wonderful to see so many families with young children and teenagers at the game. You could spot the ELF/CHOC squad from anywhere in the stadium, neon shirts and hats aglow. The only thing that would have improved the evening was a win by the Angels who unfortunately lost to the Minnesota Twins 5:3 in the 12th.
The day before the game, the wind was whipping up, clouds were hurrying across the sky and much needed rain was watering our gardens. Great, but not what you want for an outdoor event! Saturday could not have been better. The sun shone, families smiled and children laughed. Before the game, it was Angels Fiesta time in the parking lot under the Big A, with mariachi bands sending out strains of salsa that your hips couldn’t resist swaying to.
ELF committee members and representatives from CHOC set up shop under a turquoise E-Z Up to welcome guests. Some supporters had purchased their tickets. Other tickets were donated to families at-risk. The message from everyone was as loud and clear as the bright green of our T shirts and sponge hands that popped against the red of the Angels’ fans. High Five for Mental Health! Away with the stigma! We are all in this together! Everyone was having fun high fiving anyone who crossed their path.
The event took place on the day before Mother’s Day and it was wonderful to see so many families with young children and teenagers at the game. You could spot the ELF/CHOC squad from anywhere in the stadium, neon shirts and hats aglow. The only thing that would have improved the evening was a win by the Angels who unfortunately lost to the Minnesota Twins 5:3 in the 12th.
ARTICLES
WOW The Wonder Of Women
May 8th, 2018 by Jane Noble
WOW is the perfect acronym for The Wonder of Women Summit that was held on May 2, 2018 in Los Angeles on the UCLA campus. WOW seemed the perfect response when looking at some of the most successful and influential women of our time coming together to unite in their common goal of promoting a better understanding, awareness and treatment of mental illness in our society. There was a huge amount of talent in one place with featured speakers including Tipper Gore, Lisa Kudrow, Goldie Hawn, Candice Bergen, Dr. Robin Berman, Susan Bookheimer Ph.D., Poppy Jamie and psychic medium Amanda Daniels to name just a few. The full speaker list and more details about the event can be found at https://www.semel.ucla.edu/wow/
Mara James, founder of ELF had the opportunity to chat with Tipper Gore about their common commitment to changing lives for the better. Tipper is a tireless advocate for homelessness and issues of mental health. She is committed to eradicating the stigma and educating Americans on the need for quality, affordable mental health care. During her husband’s tenure as Vice President, she served as the Mental Health Policy Advisor to President Clinton. A genuine trailblazer, Tipper chaired the first White House Conference on Mental Health in 1999 that interactively involved tens of thousands of Americans across the country. She is innovative and courageous, always seeking new ways to raise awareness and promote action.
What was so inspiring about the conference was the powerful message that the way we we approach mental health has to change and the determination of these extraordinary women to make it happen.
Mara James, founder of ELF had the opportunity to chat with Tipper Gore about their common commitment to changing lives for the better. Tipper is a tireless advocate for homelessness and issues of mental health. She is committed to eradicating the stigma and educating Americans on the need for quality, affordable mental health care. During her husband’s tenure as Vice President, she served as the Mental Health Policy Advisor to President Clinton. A genuine trailblazer, Tipper chaired the first White House Conference on Mental Health in 1999 that interactively involved tens of thousands of Americans across the country. She is innovative and courageous, always seeking new ways to raise awareness and promote action.
What was so inspiring about the conference was the powerful message that the way we we approach mental health has to change and the determination of these extraordinary women to make it happen.
EVENTS
ELF Goes National!
May 16th, 2018 by Mara James
Wow! It is hard to believe that this is our second year hosting Mental Health Awareness Events at MLB stadiums and we have already gone national! This was not part of the original plan but when I received notification of a suicide in New York and another one in Atlanta, I felt compelled to take action. I have family and friends in both locations so knew we could make something happen. I got on the phone with the NY Yankees and Atlanta Braves and they were both on board with helping up host an event. We were at SunTrust Park on May 4th and Yankee Stadium on May 6.
The energy at both stadiums was amazing! There were only 50 of us at each game, but our enthusiasm made up for numbers and I know that we made a BIG impact in bringing awareness to May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. You couldn’t miss us with with our large, fun sponge hands along with our neon green ELF hats.
I owe my hubby a big thank you for all of his support in my endeavors and for being the BEST high-fiver I could ever ask for. I would also like to thank our sponsors and my friends for donating to my birthday fundraiser which paid for at-risk children and their families to attend our events.
The energy at both stadiums was amazing! There were only 50 of us at each game, but our enthusiasm made up for numbers and I know that we made a BIG impact in bringing awareness to May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. You couldn’t miss us with with our large, fun sponge hands along with our neon green ELF hats.
I owe my hubby a big thank you for all of his support in my endeavors and for being the BEST high-fiver I could ever ask for. I would also like to thank our sponsors and my friends for donating to my birthday fundraiser which paid for at-risk children and their families to attend our events.
PRESS COVERAGE
Voyage LA Selects Mara's Inspiring Story
Jan 21st, 2018 by Jane Noble
We are so proud of our founder, Mara James, for being selected as one of Voyage LA’s inspiring stories for Orange County. The heart of the mission of Voyage LA is to find the amazing souls who breathe life into their community. Mara is described as a rising star and yet her only aim is to change the way we view mental health and help families and children in need. In a mere 2 years since founding ELF, Mara has achieved so much through her sheer strength and determination.
2018 is the year that “The Power of Piggie Bear” will be distributed in Orange County as a result of grants awarded to ELF. “The Power of Piggie Bear” is a therapeutic tool for children that helps increase their EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and their capacity for compassion and self-love. Thanks to the generosity of an amazing group of women known as 100 Women Who Care, Orange County, we will be donating copies of the book to CHOC Children’s and Mission Hospital’s Camino Health Center, which serves the under privileged, high risk population.
Read the full interview over at Voyage LA.
2018 is the year that “The Power of Piggie Bear” will be distributed in Orange County as a result of grants awarded to ELF. “The Power of Piggie Bear” is a therapeutic tool for children that helps increase their EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and their capacity for compassion and self-love. Thanks to the generosity of an amazing group of women known as 100 Women Who Care, Orange County, we will be donating copies of the book to CHOC Children’s and Mission Hospital’s Camino Health Center, which serves the under privileged, high risk population.
Read the full interview over at Voyage LA.
ARTICLES
Google Values Emotional Intelligence
March 27th, 2018 by Jane Noble
At ELF we believe wholeheartedly in the need to develop the Emotional Intelligence of young children. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Children who are emotionally intelligent are able to: recognize their own emotions and those of others discern between different feelings and name them appropriately use emotional information to guide thinking, problem solving and behavior be able to manage their emotions and adapt to changing environments.
Traits of people who have well developed high emotional intelligence include:
being positive.choosing to be friends with other positive people.setting healthy boundaries.being assertive when necessary not dwelling on the past.knowing how to enjoy the moment and deal with disappointments describing themselves as happy, empathizing with others knowing when to say yes or no in situations.
These are all qualities that can help children become confident, discerning and socially strong.
When you teach children emotional intelligence, how to recognize their feelings, understand where they come from and learn how to deal with them, you teach them one of the most essential skills for their success in life. Research has shown that Emotional Intelligence predicts over 54% of the variation in success for relationships, effectiveness, health and quality of life. Additional data concludes that young people with high EQ earn higher grades, stay in school and make healthier choices.
Google it appears also looks for people with well developed emotional intelligence in its hiring process. High test results in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) are not enough on their own.Google wants to know if potential employees are able to connect with others, recognize other people’s thoughts and feelings, read situations and people and respond accordingly.
The Washington Post recently reported that:
“The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well; possessing insights into others (including others different values and points of view); having empathy toward and being supportive of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem solver; and being able to make connections across complex ideas.”
By developing Emotional Intelligence in children at a young age, we can set them on a path to success in all aspects of their lives. Piggie Bear. ELF’s first therapeutic tool, can teach even very young children how to love and accept themselves as they are and not judge others, how to recognize emotions and be empathetic and provide strategies for dealing with emotions before they spiral out of control. It is time for schools to also recognize the importance of these so called “soft skills” that are not easy to develop and are currently being neglected.
Traits of people who have well developed high emotional intelligence include:
being positive.choosing to be friends with other positive people.setting healthy boundaries.being assertive when necessary not dwelling on the past.knowing how to enjoy the moment and deal with disappointments describing themselves as happy, empathizing with others knowing when to say yes or no in situations.
These are all qualities that can help children become confident, discerning and socially strong.
When you teach children emotional intelligence, how to recognize their feelings, understand where they come from and learn how to deal with them, you teach them one of the most essential skills for their success in life. Research has shown that Emotional Intelligence predicts over 54% of the variation in success for relationships, effectiveness, health and quality of life. Additional data concludes that young people with high EQ earn higher grades, stay in school and make healthier choices.
Google it appears also looks for people with well developed emotional intelligence in its hiring process. High test results in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) are not enough on their own.Google wants to know if potential employees are able to connect with others, recognize other people’s thoughts and feelings, read situations and people and respond accordingly.
The Washington Post recently reported that:
“The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well; possessing insights into others (including others different values and points of view); having empathy toward and being supportive of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem solver; and being able to make connections across complex ideas.”
By developing Emotional Intelligence in children at a young age, we can set them on a path to success in all aspects of their lives. Piggie Bear. ELF’s first therapeutic tool, can teach even very young children how to love and accept themselves as they are and not judge others, how to recognize emotions and be empathetic and provide strategies for dealing with emotions before they spiral out of control. It is time for schools to also recognize the importance of these so called “soft skills” that are not easy to develop and are currently being neglected.
ARTICLES
Flexible Seating Allows Room To Wiggle
Jan 12th, 2018 by Jane Noble
How many children do you know who like to sit still? Not many I should think. Children are bundles of energy who like to move around and flit from idea to idea and activity to activity. It is difficult for most children to remain seated for any length of time, so imagine how much more difficult it is for a child with ADHD?
Wiggle, Stretch, SprawlAs reported in the OC Register on October 15, 2017, a new seating style is spreading across Orange County schools that is giving children the freedom to wiggle, stretch, sprawl and lie on the floor, depending on their mood and the activity they are doing. This flexible seating takes the form of bouncy balls, low chairs, yoga mats, adjustable desks, floor cushions, beanbags and wobble-friendly stools. Teachers are reporting that this flexibility is having a positive impact on children’s ability to focus.
Educators are Seeing BenefitsTim Green, professor of elementary and bilingual education at Cal State Fullerton, said the popularity of flexible seating has surged in recent years owing to positive results for students and a fluid nature that complements the modern classroom. Physical education is being cut out in many elementary schools and children need to move. The classroom is no longer a rigid, teacher centered place as it once used to be. Many teachers are so keen on having flexible seating that they are initiating fundraising efforts themselves.
Helping Students with Attention Deficit DisordersWhen I taught gifted children in Vancouver, though very brilliant in a variety of subjects, many of them had difficulty focussing. We used to put elastic sports bands around the legs of the chairs so the children could bounce their legs of them to release energy. Laurel Elementary School in the Brea Olinda USD was fitted with flexible seating in all the classrooms last year. Heather Bojorquez, the Principal said giving students the freedom to sit how they want to has made a big difference for more fidgety students and those with attention deficit disorders.
Students who would normally lose focus fidgeting in a stiff desk can now wiggle on a wobbly stool, dangle their legs from an elevated chair or bounce on a ball, naturally working out their excess energy while staying focused on the work in front of them. Although classroom management may be a bit more challenging, many teachers are embracing the idea as they see improved work output and concentration.
What the Children ThinkGavin at Glenknoll Elementary in Yorba Linda says that being able to wiggle around has helped him in subjects he once struggled in. Matthias from Laurel Elementary loves the cube chair because it is squishy and bouncy!
I remember always being told to sit up straight when I was at school and sprawling on the desk was a definite no-no. But if work is being done and progress achieved, then it really doesn’t matter whether you are standing, sprawling, bouncing or sitting cross legged under a desk. With flexible seating, you will not hear a teacher asking children to sit up straight because there is no right way to sit.
Wiggle, Stretch, SprawlAs reported in the OC Register on October 15, 2017, a new seating style is spreading across Orange County schools that is giving children the freedom to wiggle, stretch, sprawl and lie on the floor, depending on their mood and the activity they are doing. This flexible seating takes the form of bouncy balls, low chairs, yoga mats, adjustable desks, floor cushions, beanbags and wobble-friendly stools. Teachers are reporting that this flexibility is having a positive impact on children’s ability to focus.
Educators are Seeing BenefitsTim Green, professor of elementary and bilingual education at Cal State Fullerton, said the popularity of flexible seating has surged in recent years owing to positive results for students and a fluid nature that complements the modern classroom. Physical education is being cut out in many elementary schools and children need to move. The classroom is no longer a rigid, teacher centered place as it once used to be. Many teachers are so keen on having flexible seating that they are initiating fundraising efforts themselves.
Helping Students with Attention Deficit DisordersWhen I taught gifted children in Vancouver, though very brilliant in a variety of subjects, many of them had difficulty focussing. We used to put elastic sports bands around the legs of the chairs so the children could bounce their legs of them to release energy. Laurel Elementary School in the Brea Olinda USD was fitted with flexible seating in all the classrooms last year. Heather Bojorquez, the Principal said giving students the freedom to sit how they want to has made a big difference for more fidgety students and those with attention deficit disorders.
Students who would normally lose focus fidgeting in a stiff desk can now wiggle on a wobbly stool, dangle their legs from an elevated chair or bounce on a ball, naturally working out their excess energy while staying focused on the work in front of them. Although classroom management may be a bit more challenging, many teachers are embracing the idea as they see improved work output and concentration.
What the Children ThinkGavin at Glenknoll Elementary in Yorba Linda says that being able to wiggle around has helped him in subjects he once struggled in. Matthias from Laurel Elementary loves the cube chair because it is squishy and bouncy!
I remember always being told to sit up straight when I was at school and sprawling on the desk was a definite no-no. But if work is being done and progress achieved, then it really doesn’t matter whether you are standing, sprawling, bouncing or sitting cross legged under a desk. With flexible seating, you will not hear a teacher asking children to sit up straight because there is no right way to sit.
ARTICLES
3 Beneficial Effects of Yoga for Children
Jan 10th, 2018 by Jane Noble
Child’s pose. What a perfect name for it! We all need to stay connected to our inner child! Yoga is becoming more popular and attracts more people every day. Yoga can offer great benefits to children and can be an antidote to our fast paced, technology driven world. Children today have to deal with so many distractions and so much stimulation in their daily lives, which is even more stressful for a sensitive child. Yoga can help them stay centered and focused.
1. Deep Belly Breathing Helps Control Emotions:
Yoga teaches children deep belly breathing which encourages relaxation. Deep belly breathing can help children control their emotions when they become overwhelming. Short, shallow breaths can cause hyperventilation and make feelings of anxiety and anger worse. Deep belly breathing can help create an internal feeling of calm.
2. Meditation & Balancing:
The very nature of yoga is meditative. Holding postures, sitting with eyes closed or moving through poses has a soothing and calming quality and helps children to be in the moment. Balance requires concentration and focus. When attention wanders, we wobble! Poses promote stillness and quieting of the mind and body.
3. Stretching & Strength:
Yoga is deceptive in the strength that it requires. It seems so easy to simply sit in a position for a few minutes! Yoga stretches the muscles, increases flexibility and also builds body strength. Good core strength helps children sit up straight, carry heavy loads like their backpacks loaded with homework and breathe better.
1. Deep Belly Breathing Helps Control Emotions:
Yoga teaches children deep belly breathing which encourages relaxation. Deep belly breathing can help children control their emotions when they become overwhelming. Short, shallow breaths can cause hyperventilation and make feelings of anxiety and anger worse. Deep belly breathing can help create an internal feeling of calm.
2. Meditation & Balancing:
The very nature of yoga is meditative. Holding postures, sitting with eyes closed or moving through poses has a soothing and calming quality and helps children to be in the moment. Balance requires concentration and focus. When attention wanders, we wobble! Poses promote stillness and quieting of the mind and body.
3. Stretching & Strength:
Yoga is deceptive in the strength that it requires. It seems so easy to simply sit in a position for a few minutes! Yoga stretches the muscles, increases flexibility and also builds body strength. Good core strength helps children sit up straight, carry heavy loads like their backpacks loaded with homework and breathe better.
VOYAGELA.COM
Meet Mara James of Extraordinary Lives Foundation
Jan 15th, 2018 by VOYAGE LA
READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON VOYAGELA.COM HERE
ARTICLES
Piggie Bear Has The Power To Empower Our Children
Oct 31st, 2017 by Jane Noble
Mara James, the founder and CEO of ELF, knows exactly what it feels like when feelings and emotions are out of control. Mara was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in May 2014 and began a somewhat scary yet incredible journey into the murky world of mental health. The manic thoughts that were racing around in Mara’s head have now been transformed into a clear vision of what needs to be done to help others with mental health challenges, particularly children.
A Child At HeartThose of you who have met Mara know that she is a child at heart, with a youthful spirit and playful, enthusiastic energy. During her manic episode she felt driven to write and could not bear to be parted from a pink cuddly pig. When someone commented that it looked more like a bear, that was the spark that inspired her to write a children’s book and create a friend for them called Piggie Bear.
Enhances Coping SkillsCuddly and cute though Piggie Bear is, she is far more than that! Piggie Bear can be a lifeline for young children who are experiencing overwhelming emotions, anxiety, stress and depression. Terri James PH.D, a clinical psychologist says: “This story can help children enhance their coping skills in a fun and loving way.” There is nothing preachy about the book and it provides very simple, practical tools that children can use to calm and comfort themselves.
It’s OK to Be DifferentThe fact that Piggie Bear is neither pig nor bear immediately conveys the message that it is OK to be different and to love yourself just the way you are. Children are very sensitive and astute. They are like sponges with mega antennae that pick up signals and ideas from everyone around them. The more positive reinforcement they hear and receive during their earliest years, the better they will be able to cope with the natural challenges of life that lie ahead. Piggie Bear tells children they are amazing and perfect just the way they are. This is a very empowering statement and something we all need to hear and believe every single day.
Mindful Breathing Provides Children with a Practical ToolThere are some days, however, when children may not feel amazing. Children do not understand why they feel worried or frustrated or sad and can feel overwhelmed and out of control. Piggie Bear puts a name to these emotions and shows children how to breathe deeply and mindfully, slowly filling the belly with air and exhaling through the mouth, in order to induce a feeling of calm. One of the first things someone usually says to a person who is getting agitated or angry or emotional is - just breathe. However, breathing into the top part of the chest rather than the belly can actually increase anxiety. Mindful breathing helps everyone feel more at peace and has been shown to increase motivation and attention. Yoga has become hugely popular in the US, particularly in California. Many young mothers do yoga on a regular basis but I wonder how many have thought to pass on what they are learning to their children?
Some Tender Loving CareWe all want and need to feel loved. Imagine being able to give yourself some self love to boost confidence and release feelings of wellbeing any time of the day or night. Piggie Bear teaches a big self hug to create warm, fuzzy feelings inside. Something as simple a giving oneself a hug has been shown to release oxytocin, known as the love hormone, and be an antidote to depressive feelings.
Practice Makes PerfectStudies show that the brain is strengthened by positive early experiences and is most receptive while the neural pathways are still flexible before the age of approximately eight years old. Piggie Bear’s story is not one to be read once and put aside. Used on a daily basis, Piggie Bear’s simple yet powerful teachings can build resilience and will start to feel so natural that eventually children will turn to these coping skills on their own. You may need to reach out for professional help for your child, depending on the nature of his or her particular struggle, but creating some special Piggie Bear time together is an excellent bonding, learning and healing experience.
Piggie Bear’s Main Teaching PointsIt is OK to be different. You are amazing just the way you are. Deep, mindful belly breathing can help you feel calmer and more incontrol. Love yourself unconditionally and give yourself a huge hug every day.
A Child At HeartThose of you who have met Mara know that she is a child at heart, with a youthful spirit and playful, enthusiastic energy. During her manic episode she felt driven to write and could not bear to be parted from a pink cuddly pig. When someone commented that it looked more like a bear, that was the spark that inspired her to write a children’s book and create a friend for them called Piggie Bear.
Enhances Coping SkillsCuddly and cute though Piggie Bear is, she is far more than that! Piggie Bear can be a lifeline for young children who are experiencing overwhelming emotions, anxiety, stress and depression. Terri James PH.D, a clinical psychologist says: “This story can help children enhance their coping skills in a fun and loving way.” There is nothing preachy about the book and it provides very simple, practical tools that children can use to calm and comfort themselves.
It’s OK to Be DifferentThe fact that Piggie Bear is neither pig nor bear immediately conveys the message that it is OK to be different and to love yourself just the way you are. Children are very sensitive and astute. They are like sponges with mega antennae that pick up signals and ideas from everyone around them. The more positive reinforcement they hear and receive during their earliest years, the better they will be able to cope with the natural challenges of life that lie ahead. Piggie Bear tells children they are amazing and perfect just the way they are. This is a very empowering statement and something we all need to hear and believe every single day.
Mindful Breathing Provides Children with a Practical ToolThere are some days, however, when children may not feel amazing. Children do not understand why they feel worried or frustrated or sad and can feel overwhelmed and out of control. Piggie Bear puts a name to these emotions and shows children how to breathe deeply and mindfully, slowly filling the belly with air and exhaling through the mouth, in order to induce a feeling of calm. One of the first things someone usually says to a person who is getting agitated or angry or emotional is - just breathe. However, breathing into the top part of the chest rather than the belly can actually increase anxiety. Mindful breathing helps everyone feel more at peace and has been shown to increase motivation and attention. Yoga has become hugely popular in the US, particularly in California. Many young mothers do yoga on a regular basis but I wonder how many have thought to pass on what they are learning to their children?
Some Tender Loving CareWe all want and need to feel loved. Imagine being able to give yourself some self love to boost confidence and release feelings of wellbeing any time of the day or night. Piggie Bear teaches a big self hug to create warm, fuzzy feelings inside. Something as simple a giving oneself a hug has been shown to release oxytocin, known as the love hormone, and be an antidote to depressive feelings.
Practice Makes PerfectStudies show that the brain is strengthened by positive early experiences and is most receptive while the neural pathways are still flexible before the age of approximately eight years old. Piggie Bear’s story is not one to be read once and put aside. Used on a daily basis, Piggie Bear’s simple yet powerful teachings can build resilience and will start to feel so natural that eventually children will turn to these coping skills on their own. You may need to reach out for professional help for your child, depending on the nature of his or her particular struggle, but creating some special Piggie Bear time together is an excellent bonding, learning and healing experience.
Piggie Bear’s Main Teaching PointsIt is OK to be different. You are amazing just the way you are. Deep, mindful belly breathing can help you feel calmer and more incontrol. Love yourself unconditionally and give yourself a huge hug every day.
ARTICLES
Shark Tank Fidgeter Comes Up Golden
Oct 20th, 2017 by Jane Noble
The other evening I was sitting watching Shark Tank when a particularly interesting pitch came on. It wasn’t just the product that was fascinating, but also the entrepreneur introducing it. His name is Jason “Fidgetman” Burns and his company is called Fidget Land. It sounds like the place most of us live! Jason was seeking $49,000 for 10% stake in his company.
Helps ADHD and AnxietyIt turns out that Jason suffers from ADHD and constantly needs to keeps his hands busy or his leg bouncing or his toes tapping just to stay focussed.
Jason wanted to find a way of calming himself that was more discreet. To that end he has created a range of fidgets that look like small metal puzzles and consist of a series of rings, rubber bands and small chain links that twirl and spin. Fidget Land claims that its customers have had success using its fidgets to overcome or cope with symptoms associated with ADD, ADHD, learning disabilities, sensory integration, anxiety, autism, nail biting, thumb sucking, hair twirling, trichotillomania, stress and more.
Robert HerjavecIt turns out that many of the Sharks have some sort of learning disability or mental challenge. Robert Herjavec, was referred to as hyperactive when he was young and frequently bounces his leg to stay focussed. He found the fidget very soothing and made Jason an offer.
Mr. WonderfulKevin O’Leary, a.k.a. “Mr. Wonderful,” was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was six. As a young schoolboy in Montreal, the Canadian financial guru was good with numbers but couldn’t read. O’Leary’s therapists helped him believe in himself again in a very unusual way: by convincing him to think of himself as a “mutant with superpowers.” This gave him back the only thing he says he really needed: confidence.
Positive reinforcement can be hugely beneficial. Our first book, “The Power of Piggie Bear” tells children they are amazing just the way they are. If you say to yourself “I am amazing” often enough, you will start to believe it and confidence will build. WIth confidence, you can achieve anything!
Daymond JohnShark Daymond John is also dyslexic. He started selling handmade wool hats on the streets of Hollis, Queens and rose to debuting his own label in the fashion houses of Manhattan. None of this success would have been possible had he let his dyslexia define him.
Barbara CorcoranBarbara Corcoran, a highly successful real estate mogul, made an offer of $50,000 for 20% of Fidgetland, which was accepted by Jason Burns. Barbara has been very open about her own learning disabilities. Like Kevin and Daymond, she also suffers from the word processing disorder and says she was lousy at school and a straight D student! Barbara only realized she had dyslexia when her son Tom was diagnosed in second grade. He is now in his third year at Columbia University. Barbara has an adopted 7 year old daughter who also experiences learning difficulties. Overcoming mental challenges seems to have made these Sharks stronger and more determined to achieve incredible success.
Recognizing the GiftsBarbara is a champion for anyone with mental challenges and recognizes the gifts that can often accompany mental health issues. Many of the successful entrepreneurs she has invested in have overcome mental health challenges to become more flexible and willing to fight in life and in business.
Feel Free to Fidget AnywhereFidget Land creates fidgets for adults and a smaller version for children. The fidgets are quiet and will not disturb colleagues or classmates. They can be used in the boardroom or in the classroom to absorb excess energy and help maintain focus.
https://www.fidgetland.com/
Helps ADHD and AnxietyIt turns out that Jason suffers from ADHD and constantly needs to keeps his hands busy or his leg bouncing or his toes tapping just to stay focussed.
Jason wanted to find a way of calming himself that was more discreet. To that end he has created a range of fidgets that look like small metal puzzles and consist of a series of rings, rubber bands and small chain links that twirl and spin. Fidget Land claims that its customers have had success using its fidgets to overcome or cope with symptoms associated with ADD, ADHD, learning disabilities, sensory integration, anxiety, autism, nail biting, thumb sucking, hair twirling, trichotillomania, stress and more.
Robert HerjavecIt turns out that many of the Sharks have some sort of learning disability or mental challenge. Robert Herjavec, was referred to as hyperactive when he was young and frequently bounces his leg to stay focussed. He found the fidget very soothing and made Jason an offer.
Mr. WonderfulKevin O’Leary, a.k.a. “Mr. Wonderful,” was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was six. As a young schoolboy in Montreal, the Canadian financial guru was good with numbers but couldn’t read. O’Leary’s therapists helped him believe in himself again in a very unusual way: by convincing him to think of himself as a “mutant with superpowers.” This gave him back the only thing he says he really needed: confidence.
Positive reinforcement can be hugely beneficial. Our first book, “The Power of Piggie Bear” tells children they are amazing just the way they are. If you say to yourself “I am amazing” often enough, you will start to believe it and confidence will build. WIth confidence, you can achieve anything!
Daymond JohnShark Daymond John is also dyslexic. He started selling handmade wool hats on the streets of Hollis, Queens and rose to debuting his own label in the fashion houses of Manhattan. None of this success would have been possible had he let his dyslexia define him.
Barbara CorcoranBarbara Corcoran, a highly successful real estate mogul, made an offer of $50,000 for 20% of Fidgetland, which was accepted by Jason Burns. Barbara has been very open about her own learning disabilities. Like Kevin and Daymond, she also suffers from the word processing disorder and says she was lousy at school and a straight D student! Barbara only realized she had dyslexia when her son Tom was diagnosed in second grade. He is now in his third year at Columbia University. Barbara has an adopted 7 year old daughter who also experiences learning difficulties. Overcoming mental challenges seems to have made these Sharks stronger and more determined to achieve incredible success.
Recognizing the GiftsBarbara is a champion for anyone with mental challenges and recognizes the gifts that can often accompany mental health issues. Many of the successful entrepreneurs she has invested in have overcome mental health challenges to become more flexible and willing to fight in life and in business.
Feel Free to Fidget AnywhereFidget Land creates fidgets for adults and a smaller version for children. The fidgets are quiet and will not disturb colleagues or classmates. They can be used in the boardroom or in the classroom to absorb excess energy and help maintain focus.
https://www.fidgetland.com/
ARTICLES
There Is An Urgent Need To Help Our Young
Sep 2nd, 2017 by Mara James
It’s amazing how one’s life can be turned around in an instant. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would experience a manic episode and be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, especially at the age of 48! Things that I was encountering were crazy, but my mind was crystal clear! On that day, I stepped into the world of mental illness and I will never be the same again. However, I mean this in a good way.
My husband Kenneth and I have a son who was been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD, so mental illness was not new to us. My mother also had bipolar disorder but I was still shocked when this illness came and sought me out and engulfed my life. There is no way I would have got through my crisis without medication initially, but as I started coming out of the fog, I knew that I did not want to stay medicated for the rest of my life. But what were the alternatives? Where should I turn? I started to seek out holistic healing therapies and thanks to the many gifted healers who were sent my way, I am now off all of my medication. It has not been an easy path, but it has been an enlightening one.
I used to refer to May 2014 as my manic month of May but now I call it my magical month of May as it has opened my eyes to the need to change the way mental health challenges are viewed. I started the Extraordinary Lives Foundation to bring awareness to mental health and wellness with a focus on children and to provide support and resources for parents of children experiencing mental health challenges. If we can help young children deal with fear, stress and anxiety, hopefully we can help prevent them from self-medicating with drugs and alcohol when they grow older.
My husband Kenneth and I have a son who was been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD, so mental illness was not new to us. My mother also had bipolar disorder but I was still shocked when this illness came and sought me out and engulfed my life. There is no way I would have got through my crisis without medication initially, but as I started coming out of the fog, I knew that I did not want to stay medicated for the rest of my life. But what were the alternatives? Where should I turn? I started to seek out holistic healing therapies and thanks to the many gifted healers who were sent my way, I am now off all of my medication. It has not been an easy path, but it has been an enlightening one.
I used to refer to May 2014 as my manic month of May but now I call it my magical month of May as it has opened my eyes to the need to change the way mental health challenges are viewed. I started the Extraordinary Lives Foundation to bring awareness to mental health and wellness with a focus on children and to provide support and resources for parents of children experiencing mental health challenges. If we can help young children deal with fear, stress and anxiety, hopefully we can help prevent them from self-medicating with drugs and alcohol when they grow older.
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