Parents Signs Of Stress

Parents Signs Of Stress

• Stress can cause major problems and sometimes you wait until something bad happens before you do anything about it. There are signs that stress is building up and causing harm.
• The words you use can be a sign of harmful stress. Negative words result in a negative attitude which stops you solving problems and magnifies bad feelings. Instead of the stress helping us to do something, to act quickly or to think more clearly, the negative feelings lead to dead ends.
• Do you recognise these negative feelings:
  • Pretending nothing is wrong - 'It's not a problem really, I'm just . . . tired, too busy, not thinking'. Don't ignore these feelings. Talk to friends and ask for help and support.
  • Feeling hopeless - 'I'll never be able to do that.' Remind yourselves of your achievements and share your progress with others who care.
  • Being angry - 'How can I be expected to handle all of this?' Express it but in a positive way where you discuss your feelings and don't use them to attack others.
  • Feeling overwhelmed - 'If I could only do more.' Don't set unrealistic goals; it's easy to let guilt take over. Be realistic in what you can and can't achieve. Don't set yourself up for failure.
  • Refusing to acknowledge fear - try to be honest in your feelings including the things which scare you.
• Sometimes your stress will show in the way you try to protect others, especially children. Learn to recognise when you do this and separate reasonable and unrealistic fears.
• Don't confuse positive help with negative criticism. People don't always say things the best way they can. Resist the temptation to be jealous. Sometimes jealousy arises because you need more positive feedback than you are getting. Try to be positive about other people's ideas. Saying good things about others helps them and keeps you positive - and this combats stress.
• Try not to blow things out of proportion. Little worries should remain that way until you solve them. Strive for a balance in your life and your priorities. Being prepared and organised will help.
• Take regular holidays and breaks to stop tiredness becoming harmful stress. Find a new interest or do something completely different. Focussing on a happy future will keep you motivated. But don't wait for things to get better - take action now!

Parenting tips & parenting articles copyright & courtesy
Department for Community Devlp, Australia.

Parents Signs Of Stress :: Parents Managing Stress :: Home

Go To Main Parenting Index Page