CONTROL of Stress
Take
COPING STRATEGIES FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY By Dianna Inman, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS
affect us individually, but it affects our families as well. A certain amount of stress is healthy: It helps motivate us to accomplish goals and tasks. However, when our stress level goes beyond the norm, just being a parent with the as- sociated responsibilities can become overwhelming. Our children observe closely how
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we manage stress. When they watch us respond to it in unhealthy ways, they will be more likely to respond in unhealthy ways to their own stress as teens and adults. The good news is that there are measures we can take individually and as a family to manage stress in our lives.
Take Care of You If you are not managing your own stress, your children will sense this and begin to worry or become stressed themselves. It is ok, sometimes, to acknowledge that you are experiencing some difficult times — whether with em-
ncreased levels of stress are evident in today’s society. Not only does stress
ployment, health or finances. Reassure your family that you are working hard to find resources and solutions to manage the problem. It’s also important to use discretion on how much information you share, taking into consideration the developmental age of your kids. How can you take care of you? Make
sure you are minding your own health, including your emotional health. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety or addictions to food, tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs or other substances, talk to your healthcare provider. To begin the journey to a healthier you, tackle one behavioral change at a time. Your kids are more likely to engage in the types of healthy behaviors they observe.
Talk It Out Establish regular conversation times with your children, giving them the op- portunity to share or express their feel- ings. Mealtime is a great place to start. An excellent question to ask your kids is, “What is your favorite or least favorite
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