Murray Center for Behavioral Wellness

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Murray Center for Behavioral Wellness

Serving up bite-sized mental health tips for families who’ve said “WTF is happening?” at least once this week. (Us too.) Therapy-ish tips for life’s chaos.

Kid meltdowns? Teen eye-rolls? Your own? We got you—no judgment, no jargon, no couch required.

07/30/2026

Your child just lost. The game is over. Now the real coaching begins.

What you say in the car ride home can shape how your child learns to handle disappointment for years to come.

Here's what helps:

• Let them have their feelings. They don't need to smile immediately or "get over it." Disappointment is a healthy emotion.

• Don't rescue them with excuses. Avoid blaming the referee, the coach, the weather, or bad luck. It may make them feel better for a moment, but it teaches them to look outward instead of inward.

• Separate the outcome from the person. They lost a game. They didn't become a loser.

• Praise what they controlled. Effort. Attitude. Preparation. Teamwork. Courage. Those are the things they can take into the next game.

• Ask better questions.
Instead of: "Why didn't you shoot more?"
Try: "What are you most proud of today?" or "What did you learn?" or "What do you want to work on this week?"

• Be the emotional thermostat, not the thermometer. If you get angry, devastated, or embarrassed, your child learns that losing is a crisis. If you stay calm, they learn disappointment is something they can move through.

Remember, youth sports aren't just teaching kids how to compete and how to win. They're teaching them how to hear "no," recover from setbacks, congratulate someone else, accept feedback, and try again.

One day the losses won't happen on a field. They'll be job interviews, college applications, promotions, relationships, and missed opportunities.

Children who learn to lose with dignity don't become adults who like losing.

They become adults who know how to recover.

And that's one of the most valuable skills they'll ever learn.

07/28/2026

Some of us grew up learning that the correct answer to "What's wrong?" was:

"I'm fine."
"I'm just tired."
"It doesn't matter."
"I don't care."

The problem is... those aren't usually emotions. They're exit strategies.

They're what we say when we don't know how to explain what we're feeling, don't have the words, or don't feel safe enough to say them.

Emotional skills aren't about becoming "more emotional." They're about becoming more accurate.

Because "I'm overwhelmed" is easier to solve than "I'm fine." And "I felt left out" gets you a lot further than "Whatever."

Welcome to Emotional Skills Starter Pack.

Part 1: Stop using placeholders. Start naming what's really going on.

07/25/2026

Children don't always have the words to say, "I'm anxious."

Instead, anxiety often shows up through physical symptoms, emotions, or behaviors.

A stomachache.
Trouble sleeping.
Big emotions.
Avoiding activities they usually enjoy.

The sooner we recognize these signs, the sooner we can help kids understand what they're feeling.

🦥 Save this for later, and follow along every Saturday for another Worry Shmurray episode.

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07/23/2026

Our feelings are incredibly important. They carry information about our needs, our experiences, and the world around us.

They deserve our attention. Not our blind obedience.

Sometimes our emotions point us toward something that needs care, a conversation that needs to happen, or a boundary that needs to be set.

Other times, they're reacting to old wounds, assumptions, or fears that don't reflect what's actually happening.

The goal isn't to ignore our feelings. It's to get curious about them.

When we pause before reacting, we create space to choose a response that's guided by our values instead of the intensity of the moment.

Feel it. Understand it. Then decide what you want to do with it.

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07/21/2026

We spend years learning math, history, and science.

Very few of us spend even one class learning what to do when we're overwhelmed, hurt, embarrassed, rejected, or anxious.

So we become adults who don't always recognize our emotions. We act them out instead.

Sometimes that looks like doom scrolling for three hours.
Sometimes it's snapping at the people we love.
Sometimes it's cleaning the entire house because sitting still feels impossible.

Sometimes it's saying, "I'm fine," when we're anything but.

None of that means you're immature. It means you're human, and chances are no one ever taught you the skills.

That's what this series is about. Not becoming less emotional. Becoming better at understanding what your emotions are trying to tell you.

Welcome to Emotional Skills Starter Pack. Stay tuned for the tiny emotional skills that make a huge difference.

07/16/2026

At some point, we all have a phase where we think... "Yep. This is definitely my parents' fault."

And honestly? Sometimes... you're right.

But here's the part nobody tells you:
Every year you spend waiting for your parents to become different is another year your life stays the same. Resentment feels productive because it gives your pain a place to point. But it rarely gives you a place to grow.

The goal of therapy isn't to hand you a longer list of reasons you're struggling.

It's to help you build a longer list of moments where you respond differently. Where you set the boundary.
Where you stop apologizing for existing.
Where you ask for what you need.
Where you notice the old pattern... and choose not to repeat it.

Your parents wrote the first chapters. They don't have to write the ending.
That's the difference between understanding your story and changing it.
If your therapist only helps you explain your life, you'll leave with insight.

The best therapy doesn't just help you understand why you became who you are. It helps you become who you want to be.

Send this to someone who needs a change. ❤️
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07/14/2026

Ever notice that some of the funniest people you know also struggle with anxiety?

While humor and anxiety aren't the same thing, they can draw on some of the same skills. Both often involve paying close attention to other people: reading the room, noticing subtle reactions, anticipating what others might be thinking or feeling.

For someone who loves making people laugh, that awareness can be a strength. But when it becomes focused on worry or fear of judgment, it can also contribute to anxiety.

Of course, not every funny person is anxious, and not every anxious person is funny. People are complex. But understanding these patterns can help us see that traits we admire in ourselves or others can sometimes have another side, too.

Have you ever noticed this connection in yourself or someone you know? If so, send this to them!
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07/11/2026

We're excited to introduce Worry Shmurray, a new educational series from the Murray Center designed to help kids understand anxiety, build confidence, and learn practical coping skills.

Everyone worries sometimes. Whether it's before a test, meeting new people, or trying something for the first time, worries are a normal part of life. The good news? There are tools that can help.

Sunny will be joining us on Saturdays to explore anxiety one step at a time through simple, kid-friendly lessons that families can learn together.

💙 Be sure to follow along so you don't miss the next episode!

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29500 Southfield Road
Southfield, MI
48076

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