Dear HCCUA Members:
Life is all about balance. Creating the proper balance in your in life is vital to maintaining low to average stress levels and it is just as important for your children to learn to balance stress as well. As an adult with stress on a daily basis, it is known to be the front-runner to serious illnesses down the road. Unfortunately, studies are showing that 10 – 20 % of school aged children also experience anxiety which could potentially leading to chronic stress, especially now during these unprecedented times.
In today’s fast pace and technology driven world, the standards set for some children can be overwhelming. Many students feel overwhelmed with distance learning, homework loads, exams, after school activities, pleasing their parents, and getting into college. Some parents consider this “good stress” that creates healthy completion in the classroom and during extracurricular activities. Ideally, you should encourage your child to do hard work, but also learn to support and embrace your child’s mistakes and limitations.
We all know that stress is inevitable. The key is to find a balance – whether you are a young child or a grown adult. Young children simply need guidance from their parents and listen to their children’s needs and make sure they don’t sign up for more responsibility than they can handle.
Most importantly lead by example. As adults we must learn to take charge of our lives, thoughts, and emotions. Remember, children are always watching their parents and other adults around them. By demonstrating how you deal with stress in a positive manner, you set a healthy example as to how your children should deal with their own issues. For instance, purposely slowing down your own speech, taking deep breaths to relax, and making sure that your facial expressions suggest that you are calm, which are all exercises you can implement.
Anxiety and stress can be a constant battle and often the source of a child or person’s anxiety will change over time. With repetition of stress management methods, you and your children can work together to lower anxiety levels and handle anxiety provoking situations. Regular physical activity has been proven to improve both stress resistance and stress resilience. Make sure you and your family are getting plenty of exercise each day!
Having your children assist you in the kitchen for any meal throughout the day can help with stress relief as well. You can try this Turkey Club Roll-ups found on Delish.com which is healthy and tasty. Enjoy and keep calm!
If you ever feel any situation or emotion is getting out of control and want to seek professional guidance, you and your family members are provided with access to behavioral health experts as an HCCUA member that are encompassed in Licensed Clinical Counseling and the steps to take in order seek advice. Lastly, included in your e-Newsletter we’ve added Techniques to de-stress to practice by yourself or with your child/ children to maintain or lower stress levels overall. Stay safe!!
Sincerely,
Kristine Eckardt, Director of Member Communications
HCCUA