Parenting — Stress and Trauma

• Managing A Family Crisis

  I believe that a family crisis has a way of either bringing family members closer together or fragmenting relationships. There appears to be no middle ground. When a loved one is ill or dies, do the children and relatives rally around each other, or do they hold grudges, fight and feud?

• Learning To Let Go Of High Expectations

  If you find yourself wound so tight you can’t enjoy the simple pleasures of life, it’s time to take a look at your own life and make some drastic changes. Remember, we only have one life to live—live it well!

• The Do’s and Don’ts of Talking to Children about a Parent in the War Zone

  If you have a spouse in the service, dealing with uncertainty and anxiety is a given. The demands of temporary single parenting, the regular accounts of terrorist attacks and U.S. military responses, and the fear of possible death or injury of your loved one can generate an emotional strain that is difficult to manage.

• When Things Go Wrong: Trauma And Our Youngest Children

  Traumatized children and adults alike may be unable to control their bodies. They may shake uncontrollably, weep, sweat, or feel nauseated and jumpy. Alternatively, and in exception to many people’s expectations, traumatized individuals may look as if they aren’t fazed by the horror or danger they have just experienced.

• Nightmares

  For most adults, occasional nightmares are a normal part of life. But that doesn’t stop parents from feeling helpless when their children wake up screaming in the middle of the night. And the more frequently those nightmares happen, the more parents worry.

• Is Mothering Wearing You Out?

  I always wanted to have children and I was completely thrilled when I had my first child. Nothing, however, prepares a mother for what it’s like to be responsible for a child 24/7.

• Helping Teenagers With Stress

  Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress everyday and can benefit from learning stress management skills. Most teens experience more stress when they perceive a situation as dangerous, difficult, or painful and they do not have the resources to cope.

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD

  All children and adolescents experience stressful events which can affect them both emotionally and physically. Their reactions to stress are usually brief, and they recover without further problems. A child or adolescent who experiences a catastrophic event may develop ongoing difficulties known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).