Hello. My name is Colleen and I am the mother of a now 16-year-old girl who has suffered from severe anxiety and OCD. This blog was created when my daughter was 13-years-old. Today, she still has moments of intense anxiety and it can still disrupt life, but she has learned to manage her mental health needs quite well. Unfortunately, we can see the “damage” that severe anxiety and OCD have done to her and our entire family. This is our journey as we do our best to enjoy the small moments each day, keeping the beast of anxiety from taking away the joy of life.
Beyond writing, I find happiness in life’s simple joys — my children’s laughter, waves crashing on the beach, the wide-eyed excitement when students experience an “ah-ha!” moment, and fresh-baked cookies.
Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy shares our family’s journey of dealing with our daughter’s anxiety and OCD. In the beginning, I was frustrated with the medical and self-help books available to parents because, while they offered suggestions, many were out of touch with REALITY.
What looks good on paper is not always applicable in real life! I wanted other parents to know that I understand what it feels like to not be able to take a shower without your child crying outside the shower curtain. I know what it is like to be late for work because you cannot get your child into school. I also want to share what it feels like when all of the hard work and therapy begin to take effect and the anxiety lessens!
This blog spreads encouragement and hope, helping families like ours navigate options and feel less alone on their journey. I have dedicated the last 10 years to learning as much as I can about anxiety treatment, therapies, management skills, medicine, and natural remedies, handling school with anxiety, and trying to balance home life with daily struggles.
In addition to parenting an anxious child, I am a veteran elementary teacher, teaching since 2004, working as both a general education teacher and later as an intervention specialist. I currently work as an assistant principal at an elementary school in Ohio. I hold a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Additionally, I completed a 25-hour course and received certification as a child anxiety expert. I have taught children from all walks of life and with a variety of abilities. My experience as a mother makes me a much better educator.
My first book was released in the summer of 2019, focusing on helping the anxious child succeed at school.
I hope to share with you what I have learned through mistakes, successes, and everything in between.
*Every article posted on this site has been read and approved by my daughter before publishing.
All About J- Her Greatest Qualities
She has the greatest laugh..you cannot help but smile when you hear it
She does a spot on Miranda Sing’s impression
She is right there to step in and stand up for the underdog
She is a terrible frisbee player but the life of the party when playing Kam Jam
She will do nearly anything to help an injured or lost animal
She loves all babies and could spend hours holding them
She seeks fairness and kindness in the world
She is her brother’s biggest cheerleader, even though he finds her quite embarrassing
She will do anything to avoid running
She does a great English accent…with the hopes of meeting a true Englishman to marry so they can spend their time talking
She is clumsy but loves to dance even when she often loses her balance and falls over into a fit of laughter
She notices the small details in the world around her
She is nosy..meaning she brings home great gossip
She could spend hours playing in the water out in nature
She has an incredible sense of real-world intelligence
She cannot seem to ever go straight on a paddleboard…only around in circles
She marches to the beat of her own drum
She will ask a baseball player for a ball just so her brother can be happy
She seeks comfort over style
She can delve into deep topics and carry the conversation
She has eyes that truly sparkle when she is happy
She has an infectious enthusiasm for holidays
She accepts all people, regardless of their differences
She truly is one of a kind, making the world better for every person who is fortunate enough to know her
