| International Society for Mental Health Online |
| Stephanie Burchell, PhD, LMFTA Copyright © 2007 Life Course Counseling, All Rights Reserved |
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Marriage Counseling, Family Therapy, Dallas, Duncanville, DeSoto, and Cedar Hill
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Being a parent can be a true joy, but it isn't easy. Parenting is a round-the-clock job with stress of being a parent, it is
important to recognize the accumulation of stress from
Signs of Too Much Stress Include:
• Feeling tired and irritable most of the time
• Feelings of being down or low that last more than a few days
• More than usual difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Difficulty enjoying regular activities that used to give pleasure
• Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness or guilt
• Loss of appetite
• Sleeping problems
What to do About Stress:
• Take a breather (deep breathing can quickly and effectively relieve stress)
• Take a break (even a short break of five minutes can provide stress-relieving benefits)
• Make time for yourself (provide regularly scheduled breaks)
• Make time for exercise and regular daily activities
• For severe stress, seek the help of a physician or other health care professional
How to Minimize Stresses of Parenting:
• Share household responsibilities and chores with other members of the household
(spouse, partner, even older children).
• Set realistic rules for children and stick by them.
• Try to maintain a fairly regular schedule for children, including set meal times and bed times.
• Have realistic expectations of your children's behavior and respect their individuality.
• Don't sweat the small stuff. Many little problems and mistakes that children make are not worth getting upset over -
just let them go.
important to recognize the accumulation of stress from
Signs of Too Much Stress Include:
• Feeling tired and irritable most of the time
• Feelings of being down or low that last more than a few days
• More than usual difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Difficulty enjoying regular activities that used to give pleasure
• Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness or guilt
• Loss of appetite
• Sleeping problems
What to do About Stress:
• Take a breather (deep breathing can quickly and effectively relieve stress)
• Take a break (even a short break of five minutes can provide stress-relieving benefits)
• Make time for yourself (provide regularly scheduled breaks)
• Make time for exercise and regular daily activities
• For severe stress, seek the help of a physician or other health care professional
How to Minimize Stresses of Parenting:
• Share household responsibilities and chores with other members of the household
(spouse, partner, even older children).
• Set realistic rules for children and stick by them.
• Try to maintain a fairly regular schedule for children, including set meal times and bed times.
• Have realistic expectations of your children's behavior and respect their individuality.
• Don't sweat the small stuff. Many little problems and mistakes that children make are not worth getting upset over -
just let them go.
Parenting Support
Dallas, TX 75237
(214) 534 - 6177
(214) 534 - 6177