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Calm Is Contagious – Why Regulating Your Emotions Transforms Communication With Your Teen

Let’s start with something honest:

Your teenager just said that thing again. The thing that’s dismissive, dramatic, or downright disrespectful.

Maybe it’s a muttered “Whatever” or a slammed door.
Maybe it’s a sarcastic “You don’t even get it, Mom.”
Maybe it’s nothing at all — just silence and eye rolls that somehow hurt more than yelling ever could.

And you feel it rising in you — that heat. That tightness. That urge to react.

But here’s the secret most of us didn’t learn growing up:

You don’t have to meet their storm with your own.
You can be the calm — and that changes everything.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Common Myths and Misconceptions About ADHD

Despite decades of research and public awareness campaigns, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)remains one of the most misunderstood conditions in medicine and mental health. These misunderstandings not only delay diagnosis and treatment but also fuel stigma, shame, and confusion among individuals and families living with ADHD.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Stay Calm and Regulate Your Emotions – Leading with Steady in the Storm

It starts innocently enough.

You ask your teen to take out the trash.
They roll their eyes, groan, and mutter something about “always being treated like a servant.”

And there it is — that flicker of heat behind your eyes, the pulse that quickens, the surge of “Oh no you didn’t.”

Every parent of a teenager knows this moment. It’s the crossroads between reaction and regulation.

Do I snap back? Raise my voice? Lay down the law right here, right now?

Or…

Do I pause, take a breath, and respond with intention?

Let’s be honest: the first option feels really good — in the moment. But it rarely helps.

The second? That’s the hard choice — and the most powerful one.

This article is about that moment. The one where your teen’s behavior feels like a provocation, and your calm becomes the anchor in a storm you never wanted to sail.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Ask Better Questions – How Open-Ended Questions Unlock the Teenage Mind

Let’s paint a familiar scene.

Parent: “How was school today?”
Teen: “Fine.”
Parent: “Anything happen?”
Teen: “No.”
Parent: sighs internally

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt like talking to your teen is like playing 20 Questions with a very tired detective, you are not alone.
You’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing what most of us were taught: Ask questions. Show interest. Engage.

But here’s the twist: It’s not just about asking questions. It’s about how we ask them.

In this post, we’ll explore one of the most overlooked parenting superpowers:

Asking open-ended questions.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Why Focusing on Metabolic Health — Not Just Weight — Is the Key to Fat Loss After 40

When you're a busy, post-menopausal mom trying to lose weight, it can feel like you're fighting an uphill battle. Maybe you've tried cutting calories, cardio boot camps, or hopping from diet to diet — but the scale barely moves, or worse, the weight comes back.

At Shreveport Direct Care, a holistic weight loss clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana, we believe it's time to shift the conversation: Instead of chasing a lower weight, focus on building better metabolic health.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

What Is ADHD? Understanding the Basics

In our distraction-heavy world, it's normal to feel scattered or overwhelmed from time to time. But when forgetfulness, restlessness, impulsivity, and disorganization begin to interfere with daily functioning—at school, work, or in relationships—it may point to a deeper issue. For many individuals, these chronic difficulties stem from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a real and treatable neurodevelopmental condition.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Validate Their Thinking – The Key to Building a Bridge, Not a Wall

It starts like this:

You ask your teen why they didn’t turn in their assignment. They say, “It was stupid. The teacher didn’t even explain it right.”
You want to scream. You know this is irrational. You know they’re making excuses. And your adult brain wants to leap in, correct them, and lay down the law.

But here’s the secret no one told us before we became parents of teenagers:

You don’t have to agree with them to validate them.

Validation isn’t approval. It’s acknowledgment. It’s saying, “I see where you’re coming from.”
And for a teenager feeling misunderstood, invalidated, or constantly “talked at,” that one small shift can change everything.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Why Sustainable Lifestyle Changes Beat Quick Fixes for Weight Loss After 40

If you're a busy, post-menopausal mom trying to lose weight, you've likely seen all the "miracle diets" and "instant weight loss" programs that promise you dramatic results in just a few weeks. Maybe you've even tried a few, only to find the weight came rushing back — and then some. It's frustrating, disheartening, and can feel like a never-ending cycle of hope and disappointment.

At Shreveport Direct Care, a holistic weight loss clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana, we take a different approach. We teach women to shift away from quick fixes and instead build sustainable, lifestyle-based changes that fit into their real lives — creating lasting success without the yo-yo cycle.

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

🔍 Transparency in Healthcare Costs: A Deep Dive for Small Business Owners

Transparency in healthcare costs means knowing in advance the actual prices of medical services, procedures, medications, and insurance-related expenses. For small businesses, this allows smarter healthcare decisions—reducing surprises, waste, and overpayments. Do you know what your business is really paying?

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Pat Bass Pat Bass

Powering Your Weight Loss After 40: Why High Protein Intake is a Game-Changer

If you're a post-menopausal, busy mom trying to lose weight, you've probably realized something frustrating: the old "eat less, move more" advice doesn't seem to work as easily anymore. Hormonal changes, a slowing metabolism, and muscle loss can make weight loss after 40 feel like an uphill battle.

At Shreveport Direct Care, a holistic weight loss clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana, we help women just like you navigate these challenges. One of the most powerful, practical strategies we teach is simple but incredibly effective: prioritize high protein intake.

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