Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry

Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry

Parenting isn't easy, and it's normal to worry. Lynn Lyons, therapist, author, and speaker is one of the world's experts on helping parents, kids, and teens manage anxiety. She talks with co-hosts sister-in-law Robin Hutson and brother Ed Gerwig in a weekly podcast full of laughs, and practical advice without the psychobabble. Since 2020, they've been talking about anxiety and worry, their love for Mr. Rogers, and the crazy things the mental health field gets WRONG about anxiety. Anxiety Expert Lynn Lyons has been a therapist for over 35 years. She's an author of 3 books with a new one coming out in October and has traveled around the US and Canada training hundreds of audiences teachers, school nurses, counselors and parents about managing anxiety. Flusterclux represents that feeling of overwhelm. Each episode is filled with practical advice for parents how to better manage their worry and big feelings like anger and sadness so that they are modeling healthy emotional awareness. Lynn answers listener questions and gives parents concrete strategies for developing the traits that are their kids' best defenses against anxiety and depression later in life: flexibility, resilience, autonomy, and problem solving. New episodes every Friday at 5AM EST. Find us at flusterclux.com https://www.facebook.com/flusterclux https://www.instagram.com/flusterclux/

Episodes

How Parents Can Accidentally Strengthen Their Kids' Worry & Depression

December 19, 2025 • 41 mins
Lynn often uses the phrase “doing the disorder” to describe how well-meaning adults often end up aiding anxiety by doing exactly what it needs to remain in charge. In this episode, Ed and Lynn review this common trap, and describe how doing the disorder is also prevalent when dealing with physical symptoms and depression. And here is the 2023 episode Lynn references in today's conversation: Depression's Treatment And Prevention: ...
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Tackling Tummy Troubles... A Talk On the Brain/Gut Connection with GI Psychologist Dr. Ali Navidi

December 12, 2025 • 35 mins
Lynn is joined by psychologist Dr. Ali Navidi who specializes in the brain gut connection. So many anxious kids have tummy aches and gastrointestinal symptoms. And sometimes an episode of food poisoning or the norovirus can set off an anxious spiral that turns chronic. Lynn and Ali talk about how to interrupt these patterns, their mutual love of pediatric hypnosis, and the myth that progress needs to be made slowly. Visit Ali's we...
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"You, Your Husband, and His Mother"... A Talk with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

December 5, 2025 • 42 mins
Just in time for the holidays, we welcome psychologist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish to talk about her new book: You, Your Husband, and His Mother: Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Mother-in-Law--and Your Spouse--in Five Simple Steps. Tracy gives us the keys to handling this tricky dynamic with the goal of connection. And Lynn (whose mother-in-law does not listen to the podcast) has fun role playing. And check out Tracy's podcast: D...
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Best Of: Families Can Be Judgy: A Holiday Survival Guide

November 28, 2025 • 37 mins
Human beings are judgy creatures. It’s part of being social animals. But want to guarantee conflict during the holidays? Start judging other family member’s parenting. Too much sugar for your cousin’s toddler? The horror! Not enough emotional expression allowed by your brother-in-law? Disappointing! Whether you are the judge or the judged (and we’re often both), shifting your approach during holiday gatherings will benefit everyone...
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Why Distraction Isn't The Solution For Anxiety

November 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Ed joins Lynn to first laugh (a lot) about their mutual fainting, and then discuss the negatives and positives of using distraction to deal with anxiety. Although distraction is routinely prescribed, Lynn sees what she calls “destructive distraction” as an increasingly common. Can distraction be helpful? And what do parents and clinicians need to know? WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC T...
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Why Hanging Out Is More Important for Teens Than SAT Prep Courses

November 14, 2025 • 42 mins
Data shows that teens are doing less of what teens are supposed to do. They are spending less time hanging out in person, going fewer places, delaying driving. Is it the fallout of the pandemic? Have changes in technology, parenting, and the focus on the future prevented our teens from connecting and learning what they need to mature? WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is ou...
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Sorting Out "Shy" Vs. "Introverted" Vs. "Socially Anxious" Kids

November 7, 2025 • 42 mins
What’s the difference between an introvert, a socially anxious child, and a shy one? The terms are confusing and often overlap, but one of these is far less concerning than the others. It’s hard to watch a child be “alone,” but when should you step in to help? When is solitude healthy? WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here⁠ For...
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From Gentle Parenting to FAFO Parenting - Which Schools of Thought Make You A Better Mom Or Dad?

October 31, 2025 • 60 mins
Parenting “styles” are all the rage. Gentle, eggshell, snowplow, concierge…and more! Robin and Lynn wade into the jargon, the benefits, and—of course—the ridiculous. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here⁠ For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disrupt...
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How To Handle The Child That Says “This Is Not Worry!”

October 24, 2025 • 35 mins
Lynn is big on families knowing how worry and anxiety work. If we’re going to ask kids and parents to take an approach that is the OPPOSITE of what feels comfortable, they need to understand the rationale. But what happens when — despite explaining and externalizing and talking to worry— a child insists it is NOT worry? What are parents to do with explosions and refusal and demands about bedtime or school attendance or separating w...
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What To Do When Your Kid Wants to Stay Home: School Avoidance 101 for Parents

October 17, 2025 • 41 mins
What do you do when your child starts missing too many days of school? In this episode, Lynn and Robin address a mom’s question about her middle schooler who wants to stay home. Does she give consequences? How does she work with the school? What happens when home is more “cozy” or interesting than school? And have expectations around opting out of school changed since the pandemic? (Spoiler alert: yes, they have.) WE'VE MADE PLA...
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Why Kids Who Contribute Do Better Emotionally and Socially

October 10, 2025 • 31 mins
The research is clear: when children (and adults) contribute in a useful way, their confidence, autonomy, and self-efficacy improve. Mood gets better, too, which is why volunteering helps with depression. Do your kids contribute? We’ll talk about how to make it happen…and what gets in the way. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start He...
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How To Teach Your Child To Handle Frustration

October 3, 2025 • 29 mins
This episode tackles a few listener questions that we think are relatable to many. First, how do you work on increasing your rigid child’s frustration tolerance? And another mom wants a list of phrases to use in addition to “You can handle it!” Lynn offers a little variety, but as Robin points out, getting bored with worry’s tactics is actually the point! Here are the past episodes that Lynn references in this week's show: htt...
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Sounding the Alarm On Smartphones and the Impact On Kids With Dr. Jean Twenge

September 26, 2025 • 47 mins
Dr. Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego University, has been a consistent voice of warning on the impact of smartphones and social media on children and teens. Her latest book, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, compiles over a decade of research into solid guidance that she and Lynn walk listeners through. She’s a mom to three teen girls and an all-around delightful person. Find Jean's book here: http...
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Concrete Reminders About Avoidance and Accommodation

September 19, 2025 • 30 mins
Parents consistently ask Lynn for the language to use with their children and teens when the family is moving away from avoidance and accommodation. In this episode, Lynn provides a list of four key phrases and conversation starters that help navigate a shift into action. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here⁠ For those brand new...
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Why Manners and Social Awareness Are Important In A Disconnected World

September 12, 2025 • 36 mins
Manners and social skills are important for some basic reasons: we want our children to learn how to move through the world with decency and respect. But in this episode, Robin and Lynn go deeper, talking about manners and etiquette as a potential bridge to kindness and connection. Oh, and there’s some crying. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxio...
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In Session: I Want My 13-Year-Old Out of My Bed!

September 5, 2025 • 49 mins
Mary is looking for help with her 13year old daughter Reese who was Diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety in third grade. Successes are many, but after years of individual therapy, Mary wonders what tools Reese is learning. Mary wants this middle schooler to sleep in her own bed, something she hasn’t done for years. Dad is relegated to the couch. Both parents need a plan and some solid coaching. They know it’s important to support Reese’...
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How "Productive Struggle" Helps Decrease Anxiety and Depression

August 29, 2025 • 34 mins
Struggle is a vital part of learning, growing and mastery. As the new school year begins, Lynn and Ed discuss the movement from awkward and uncomfortable beginnings toward mastery, a process that is repeated throughout life. How can parents tolerate, support and even foster struggle as a key skill? WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Sta...
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Best Of: Off to College: Let's Talk About Roommates

August 22, 2025 • 38 mins
Is your child heading off to college this fall? If it’s their first year, then the roommate uncertainty may be dominating your household. Sparked by a compelling listener question, we tackle the perks and the problems of roommates and what you can (and can’t) do to help.  Here is the past episode that Lynn & Robin reference regarding preparing your children for college: https://www.flusterclux.com/raising-kids-who-are-really-rea...
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A Back-To-School Reboot For Anxious Kids and Parents

August 15, 2025 • 40 mins
Here comes school…which means it’s time for reminders and a chance for a reset. From morning routines to screens, from the language of uncertainty to using less language in general, we cover it all. So, go for a walk with Lynn and Robin and hear how to actively move into fall! WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here⁠ For those br...
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In Session: How Trying To “Talk Through” Bedtime Worries Backfires

August 8, 2025 • 45 mins
In this In Session episode, Lynn talks with Sarah about her 11-year-old daughter who has become increasingly insistent about her bedtime ritual of ruminating and catastrophizing. Sarah gets pulled in, trying to “talk through” her daughter’s worries and doubts, but it’s only getting worse. What does Sarah need to do to break out of this pattern? WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. ...
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