Editor’s Note: This article is presented in cooperation with the Five County Mental Health Authority.
Stress is a normal part of life.
Stress affects everyone.
Stress is the body’s way of reacting emotionally or physically to situations that are frightening, irritating, confusing or exciting. Some people react to stress by getting headaches, an upset stomach, fast heartbeat, or diarrhea. Others become aggressive and yell or scream at others. Still others become withdrawn and become unusually quiet or sleep more than usual.
Remember you must take care of yourself in order to take care of your children.
Some ways to manage stress include exercise, relaxation, refuse to worry, talk to someone about your feelings, or do something you enjoy doing. Allow enough time. Allow enough time for you to get to where you are going without rushing.
Here are some additional ways to reduce your stress:
Laugh. Interact with people who make you laugh or watch a funny movie or TV program.
Drink water. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each day.
Get plenty of quality sleep. Sleep helps the body to recover from the stresses of the day.
Say “NO” to some requests. Do not over commit yourself.
Break tasks into smaller pieces. It is easier to eat an elephant one bite at a time.
Live within your means. Constantly overspending adds stress.
For more resources, try www.cyberparent.com.
by Lydia Franks
Parenting Education Coordinator