On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Christopher Robbins, co-founder of Familius Publishing, husband, father of nine, author, fisherman, backpacker, and aspirational musician based in the Central Valley of California, talks to Michael Hempseed, Director of Frontiers of Hope, a specialist mental health service about how to help our children deal with anxiety and stress during the holidays. He is the co-author of the book “Calming Your Child: De-escalating Tantrums, Anxiety, Aggression, and Other Challenging Behaviors.”   Michael is also the author of “Being a True Hero: Understanding and Preventing Suicide in Your Community”. He has spoken to Frontera, New Zealand, Post fire and Emergency New Zealand and many others. Michael gained an honors degree in psychology from the University of Canterbury in 2008 and he has had the opportunity to speak at a TED event in 2016.   Episode Highlights 01:53: Michael discusses the increasing trend of very young children displaying heightened anxiety. Many are so anxious they cannot attend school. 02:37: Michael highlights the ripple effect of a child's anxiety on their family. He shares an anecdote of parents needing to take six months off work to care for their severely anxious child, underlining the significant impact on the entire family. 03:18: Christopher inquiries about the topic of sensory issues in children, as mentioned in the book "Calming Your Child". He seeks clarity on what sensory issues entail and emphasizes the importance of understanding and recognizing them in children. 04:10: Michael emphasizes that sensory issues aren't limited to just sounds but affect all senses. He shares statistics from his mental health service, noting a significant number of individuals with moderate to severe sensory issues, especially among young children. 05:02: Christopher emphasizes the intensity of her daughter’s discomfort, using the word "excruciating" to describe her experience. He notes the challenge it poses for her to stay calm given her heightened perception of sound. 06:42: Michael stresses that children don't act out without a reason, but rather are dealing with overwhelming emotions they can't express properly and this overwhelming feeling in children can manifest as aggressive behaviours like punching or yelling. 07:51: Christopher introduces the idea of perspective and how individuals perceive the world differently. He emphasizes that when people, especially children, act out, it's a form of communication. 08:28: Michael discusses the challenge of sensory issues. Many who experience them believe it's a normal part of life since they've always felt that way. He stresses the importance of patience and effort in understanding and working through these challenges. 08:55: Christopher queries why upcoming holiday season time of the year can be particularly stressful for families, especially those with children. 09:21: Michael addresses interpersonal stress, particularly when families gather, mentioning scenarios where certain relatives may not get along. 10:10: Christopher discusses the importance of finding ways to make the holidays less stressful and seeks professional advice and tips on managing holiday stress. 11:20: Michael talks about how volunteering can help young people gain perspective and feel a sense of purpose. He suggests taking children to visit the elderly. He also provides guidance on how to initiate conversation, emphasizing the mutual benefits. 12:26: Michael discusses the importance of sleep, mentioning it is a long chapter in his book. He talks about the negative effects of sleep deprivation. He relates sleep deprivation to mood and behaviour in both adults and children. 14:10: Michael highlights that not every sign of stress or behavioural issue necessitates counselling. Encourages trying alternative solutions like volunteering before resorting to counselling. 15:39: Michael notes that if a child's behaviour is affecting t