Archive for the ‘Mental Health Tips’ Category
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 [...]
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. [...]
Moms Feeling the Squeeze
May 2008 – Mothers in the “sandwich generation,” ages 35-54, feel more stress than any other age group as they balance the demanding, delicate acts of caring for growing children and their aging parents, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2007 Stress in America survey. And while nearly two-in-five men and women in this age [...]
Resilience: After a Hurricane
The devastation caused by hurricanes can leave people with strong emotions and a strong sense of uncertainty. Yet people generally adapt well over time to life-changing situations and stressful conditions. What enables them to do so? It involves resilience, an ongoing process that requires time and effort and engages people in taking a number of [...]
Resilience in a Time of War
Introduction …No one knows how long a war will last or how it will affect our lives. We may feel uncertain about the future and anxious about events that are out of our control. You may react differently to a war today because of the impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Terrorism creates [...]
Resilience Guide
Introduction We tend to idealize childhood as a carefree time, but youth alone offers no shield against the emotional hurts and traumas many children face. Children can be asked to deal with problems ranging from adapting to a new classroom to bullying by classmates or even abuse at home. Add to that the uncertainties that [...]