Dr. Anisha Abraham

24/12/2021

Working in the hospital and busier than ever! In our adolescent clinic, we are seeing increased numbers of kids testing positive for covid-19 along with mental health issues like depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Feels a bit like deja vu from last December. How do you prepare for the days ahead with the upsurge in the Omicron variant ? Here’s a few tips:

👍🏼 Consider the “2 out of 3” rule: When virus levels are high, you need at least 2 out of 3 layers of protection: vaccines, testing or masking.
👍🏼Wear a good mask and ensure it’s well fitting- N95 masks performed best, followed by surgical masks then masks made from polypropylene. Cloth masks provided limited protection against COVID-19 droplets so time to store those away!
👍🏼Get tested-Particularly post high-risk events and before visiting an elderly or immunosuppressed person. Use a rapid test (if available) as close as possible to when you see family or friends.
👍🏼Get boosted-In the US this applies to kids 16 or older and adults who have had their 2nd dose more than 6 months ago. Bottom line: Vaccines help prevent against hospitalizations and death.
👍🏼Talk to your kids about uncertainty: We haven’t seen high numbers of vaccinated teens/children being hospitalized with the recent surge just yet. Still holiday plans may be upended. Also many schools/universities may be closed for days after the holidays to allow for mandatory testing. Talk to kids about how they are handling closures and changes in plans. Also, if they are feeling down or anxious and if they need to talk to a health provider.
👍🏼Keep things in perspective- There may be more variants to come (and Greek letters to learn), but with the announcement of anti viral treatments like Pfizer’s, increased self test kits, booster authorizations, and more, we may also be in a better place to handle covid 19 in 2022.

Here’s to a healthy, hopeful and happy holiday season!

01/05/2021

The covid-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in eating disorders among preteens and teens. What do parents and caregivers need to know? In my recent Washington Post piece, I write about what parents and caregivers should look out for. Here’s a few key takeaways!

➡️ With the loss of control and uncertainty they experience in their daily lives, some kids have turned their attention to things they can control: their diet and exercise.

➡️ Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and can affect both boys and girls from all backgrounds.

➡️ There’s no single cause for eating disorders. Genes, environment and stress all play a role.

➡️ Poor body image, peer influence, frequent use of social media, puberty, involvement in certain activities with a focus on weight such as ballet can increase the risk

➡️ Signs of a possible eating disorder include frequent dieting, avoiding certain foods, restricting intake, overexercising, purging or binging.Also, weight loss, frequent self scrutiny and negative comments about one’s appearance.

➡️ If you see signs of disordered eating in your child, take time to check in with them. Ask how they are coping with the pandemic, how they feel about their body, if they are unhappy with themselves and if they are doing anything like binging, restricting or purging to change their appearance.

➡️ If you suspect a problem, do consider getting help early on from a professional — pediatrician, therapist, counselor, nutritionist— to help evaluate what’s going on and change the focus from appearance and what’s on the outside to unique abilities/strengths and what lies within! 💡

➡️ Finally, do you know someone that has struggled with body image and eating issues during the pandemic? What can we do to create more awareness? For more tips, check out my Washington Post piece. Would love your questions and comments!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/04/27/teens-eating-disorders-pediatrician-advice/?fbclid=IwAR2Sg9MLTgg56EveuB-r-SHKiubXmsC7qknSSgQEIqBHmsUNaLFvoqtMXus

The pandemic has triggered eating disorders among isolated youth.

23/12/2020

The COVID pandemic has been tough for families around the globe! Here are a few tips from my recent interview with CNN parenting on helping kids to cope especially during the holidays.

📣Take time to praise teens when they do things right (we often focus on what they have done wrong). Also develop your teen's unique strengths whether it is the arts, music, etc.

📃Make a list of the tasks they need to complete during the holidays and ask them to give input on what they want to take ownership of to give them a sense of control.

🍬Encourage them to think about ways to celebrate with the people who are around them. Better yet, ask them to take charge of an event like organizing a formal dress-up dinner party or having a crazy scavenger hunt

💉Although teens may feel impatient about covid precautions, remind them that a vaccine will be available in a few months. In the meantime, they have the responsibility to protect themselves and others by practicing proper handwashing, wearing a mask, and maintaining social distancing.

💡Have regular conversations with teens about how they are handling the pandemic. Don’t forget to validate the emotions that they may be experiencing.

🆘Look out for warning signs like: significant changes in eating or sleeping habits, persistent irritability or sadness, or the need for constant reassurance, Also challenges with focus and concentration, a loss of interest in usual activities or schoolwork, or use of drugs and alcohol.

👍🏼By connecting with your teens, validating their feelings and building on their resilience, we can get through these challenging times with humor and grace. Happy Holidays!

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/health/raising-teens-pandemic-parenting-wellness/index.html

🎄

Teens are struggling during the pandemic. CNN talked to pediatrician and teen health specialist Dr. Anisha Abraham, the author of "Raising Global Teens: A Practical Handbook for Parenting in the 21st Century," to get her advice for helping teens cope.

17/12/2020

Thrilled that “Raising Global Teens: Parenting in the 21st Century” was chosen as one of the few indie books to be featured in this month’s prestigious Kirkus Review along with being one of the top 10 picks for the ExpatNest’s 2020 list. 📖

This book provides practical advice on the tough issues that many families struggle with especially those with a cross-cultural backgrounds. Each chapter starts with common questions that teens and parents ask and each chapter ends with straightforward answers. ✅

I am grateful to the many colleagues, teens and parents around the globe whose insights are highlighted in this book.

What’s on your bookshelf this season? Do order a copy for yourself or for others. It’s available in several locations including Amazon ( US, Uk, India, Germany, NL), Walmart, Barnes and Nobles and Bookazine. For more info go to dranishaabraham.com. Happy holidays! ❄️

09/09/2020

Did you know that September is National Su***de Awareness month? Just wrapped up a live TV interview with PHL-17 on preventing teen su***des and preparing to speak with ABC Sacramento, NBC Minneapolis & NBC Miami, today. Here’s a few important takeaways:
📖Su***de is the 2nd leading cause of death for teens in the US and a significant cause of death worldwide
📖With Covid-19, more young people are feeling isolated and uncertain about the future
📖Warning signs of youth su***de include withdrawing from usual activities, talking or writing about su***de or giving away belongings
📖Now is the time to have conversations with kids about how they are feeling. Don’t be afraid to ask specifically about whether they are feeling down or sad or suicidal. Asking doesn’t increase the chance of a teen being suicidal but may get them the help they need
📖Make sure you get professional support as soon as possible if your child or teen is actively suicidal or feeling depressed/anxious
Finally, for more tips on handling stress and preventing self injury see my upcoming book Raising Global Teens! ***depreventionmonth

01/09/2020

I enjoyed speaking recently to fellow US Presidential Scholars Alumni on medical careers and applying our cross-disciplinary skills in today's globalized world. I spoke alongside Dr Janice Herbert-Carter, Chair of the Department of Medical Education at Morehouse School of Medicine and Dr Anand Parekh, chief policy advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center

The best career advice I received as I left my work in DC to move to Hong Kong, is that our career paths are not linear like a ladder, but more like a jungle gym. Be open to where life takes you. There are many pathways to the top.

Good luck, to those young people pondering a career, especially in healthcare. Despite the challenges that 2020 brings, your future is bright! 💡

21/08/2020

Are you ready for school? ✍🏼Many kids around the world are heading back to school right now. Some in person, others online and a few as a hybrid. Most young people (and adults) tell me they are worried about the new term and were hoping for something different. Perhaps a reset from all the uncertainty and a chance to have a fresh start at "normal".

I want to invite you as a parent or caregiver to something that will help you navigate this new start. I am taking part in a wonderful Back to School virtual summit that will help you address the uncertainty and anxiety that you may be feeling now. The summit brings together top parenting & education experts to talk about how adults can help their children (and themselves) thrive despite all the adversity a .

A few of the topics covered
-How to help your child through uncertainty
-How to show up, connect, and focus on safety rather than worry
-How to help your child get the sleep she needs after a long summer of abnormal sleep habits

If you haven't seen the the amazing panelist list, including New York Times best selling authors, pediatricians, psychologist here is the link: https://library.drphilboucher.com/back-to-school-summit-abraham. I hope to see you there. In the meantime, feel free to send me your top ‘back to school questions’. All the best!

23/07/2020

Does your kid have bounce?

We are currently in Germany and preparing for our big move to the US. (This picture is of Kai in the charming Bavarian town of Landsberg). The summer has been tough for my kids as it has for many others. My boys are concerned about whether school will start up again in the fall, whether they will see friends and family and how to manage an upcoming move/ transition. How do we help young people to address these and other uncertainties? Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ during difficult times and adapt to challenging circumstances that are outside of your control. To build resilience in kids here are some quick tips:

* Have conversations-You can help kids by keeping things in perspective and focusing on facts and reality.
* Do goal setting-Uncertainty can increase feelings of vulnerability while goalsetting provide a sense of control and security.
* Accept change-Help kids to view change as a chance to alter the future not the end of the world as they know it!

For more on “getting bounce” and building resilience see my recent blog post. https://dranishaabraham.com/blog/2020/7/21/p2xue2zqzcz5hjmwmyecbyezrth8a7

16/05/2020

Thrilled to have my article on teens featured in this month’s Georgetown Medicine Magazine. I find working with global teens so important because our health and wellbeing as teens has a significant impact on what happens to us as adults. Covid has added to the many changes that young people are experiencing both physically and emotionally. Many teens are worried about social distancing, being away from friends, online school, and loss of milestones. The good news is that there is much that parents and educators can do to help positively shape teens’ lives. If you can talk openly with a young person about their dreams and their challenges, you have a chance to make a difference in their life trajectory. Shout out to the wonderful teens around the world and my fabulous adolescent health colleagues who are working with them! 👍🏼

03/05/2020

While many parents have felt overwhelmed these past few weeks and young people isolated from peers, one of my favorite authors, Arundhati Roy reminds us that pandemics are also an opportunity for renewal. She writes that “Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine the world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway, between one world and the next.” What positive strategies can we put into place now to ensure a healthier tomorrow? Read my recent piece on how to get started!

The Covid-Crisis is not just a challenge, but also an opportunity to start fresh by reshaping our society, our ambitions and our relationships. While many parents have felt overwhelmed these past few weeks and young people isolated from peers, author Arundhati Roy reminds us that pandemics are als

08/04/2020

The recent school closures, cancellation of graduations and loss of important milestones can be tough for teens and young adults. Today I spoke on RTHK radio in Hong Kong about helping adolescents to cope with uncertainty, how to build on strengths and create identity capital and when to get additional help. Thank you Karen Koh and RTHK!

On Wednesday’s 123 Show Karen Koh is keeping you company for a couple of hours. After 1:30pm we find out about “Gay and Grey”, a support group for the elderly gay community in Hong Kong. Karen will be talking with Dr. Travis Kong, Associate Professor from the Department of Sociology at the U...