Archive for August, 2008
Building Resilience After Hurricanes
1. Talk About It. Talk with parents and siblings and other relatives who may be close-by. Understand that parents may be afraid as well. In fact, it may be harder for parents to talk about it than it is for a teen. 2. Cut Yourself Some Slack. Losing a home and possessions, relocating, being disconnected [...]
Managing Holiday Stress
The holidays can be a stressful time for parents, especially if you’re wondering where to get the money to buy holiday gifts. In fact, a recent poll by the American Psychological Association shows that 61% of Americans cite lack of money as a top cause of holiday stress followed by the pressures of gift giving, [...]
Parents of Hurricane Volunteers
Congratulations on having a child who was inspired to volunteer to help after the hurricanes. As they volunteer – and even after they return – it will be helpful for you to understand some of the things they may have faced. Your Volunteer’s Emotions Your young volunteer may be feeling some or all of these [...]
Distress Related to the Wildfires
Even if you are not directly affected by the fires in California, you may experience a sense of distress or vulnerability by living close by or watching the destruction unfold in news reports. This can be especially true if you have family or friends who may be impacted by the disaster and you do not [...]
Tips for Hurricane Volunteers
Congratulations on volunteering to help after the hurricanes. As you’re immersed in helping others, you may find that you yourself become a bit off balance because of new emotions or new situations. Here are some things that may help you as you continue to volunteer. Your Own Emotions It is common to feel some or [...]
Displaced by Tornadoes & Hurricanes
You may have heard the term “adopting” families displaced by tornadoes and hurricanes, but actually, adoption isn’t the ideal or proper term — adoption is different, both emotionally and legally. Adoption usually means a permanent situation where the birth family is replaced and connections are severed. This is not a reassuring nor accurate description for [...]
The Teen Years
The teen years pose some of the most difficult challenges for families. Teenagers, dealing with hormone changes and an ever-complex world, may feel that no one can understand their feelings, especially parents. As a result, the teen may feel angry, alone and confused while facing complicated issues about identity, peers, sexual behavior, drinking and drugs. [...]
The Road To Resilience
Introduction How do people deal with difficult events that change their lives? The death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, terrorist attacks and other traumatic events: these are all examples of very challenging life experiences. Many people react to such circumstances with a flood of strong emotions and a sense of [...]
The Different Kinds of Stress
Stress management can be complicated and confusing because there are different types of stress–acute stress, episodic acute stress, and chronic stress — each with its own characteristics, symptoms, duration, and treatment approaches. Let’s look at each one. Acute Stress Acute stress is the most common form of stress. It comes from demands and pressures of [...]
Tax-Day Stress Health At Risk
Strategies for Managing Money Stress With the looming IRS tax deadline on April 17, more Americans are experiencing financial stressors and may be dealing with them in unhealthy ways, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Stress related to tax deadlines can increase reliance on the unhealthy behaviors many people already use to cope with [...]