five tips on how
parents can
reduce sress By Lena Payne
ost people will agree that parenting is the toughest job you will ever have. Still, despite the many stresses of being a parent, we continue to take on this important responsibility, and it is likely that we won't ever stop. According to a survey by Mental Health America, parents experience more stress than any other demographic (Sexton, & Cobb). Health, money, employment, and relationships are all common causes of stress. Stress in and of itself is not bad. In fact, we all need a certain amount of stress to stay motivated and productive. It is what helps us to get out of bed when we want to be lazy or complete that project at work when we really want to toss it aside. Stress can motivate us to be the best possible parents. We sometimes use a moderate amount of stress to motivate our children to do well in school. That is healthy stress. Unhealthy stress usually develops after a series of common or uncommon stressors occur and build upon each other. For example, you find out your daughter has a new allergy, the car insurance goes up, and your boss cuts your hours. Stress is a natural response to signal to us that something is not quite as it should be. Hormones get released into the blood stream and our defenses kick in. Most people respond to stress by having a particular reaction; flight, fight, freeze or play dead. When life's challenges happen some may push through, others get stuck and some ignore or hide from their problems. When we don't deal with our stress in a positive way it can become toxic. Some of the consequences of living with too much stress include weight gain, headaches, decreased concentration, difficulty sleeping, irritability and depression. Some of the newer research has even linked stress with belly fat and heart disease. The key to dealing with stress in a healthy way is acknowledging that it is there. It does not make us weak to admit that maybe things are becoming a bit overwhelming. Once you do this
38 September 2010