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SLBMI
Child and Adolescent Services>>
Child and Adolescent Disorders That
We Treat>> Pediatric Stress
Related Conditions
Pediatric
Stress Related Conditions
Fact:
Children like adults suffer from stress.
Many
adults think of childhood as a happy time of stress-free
days. But most kids will tell you, just like adults,
that stress can make their days miserable. They also
suffer the everyday wear and tear of stress.
A
child who is experiencing stress may be on edge and
ready to explode into tears. Of course everyone responds
to stress differently, they may show an increase or
decrease in activities such as eating, and sleeping,
or they can experience physiological symptoms, such
as pain, headache and gastrointestinal distress.
Fact:
Stress is an essential part of our life.
There
are two types of stress:
- Positive/Constructive
stress that motivates us to explore new things
- Negative
stress that can become overwhelming and steal the
joy out of life.
We become uncomfortable and unable to enjoy things.
Negative
stress can result in psychological and/or medical problems.
Stress response, at its core, is a physical reaction
to thoughts or feelings. It is the body’s emergency
response to any difficult situation.
Consciously
or not, everybody responds to stress. How a child reacts
to a stressful situation makes the difference. There
are techniques and activities that help relieve stress
while other actions can cause an increase in stress
to the point where it cannot be ignored.
Biobehavioral
therapy teaches the child to recognize the relationship
between stress and muscle tension and provides relaxation
techniques effective in the treatment of these conditions.
“Stress
Busters for Kids”
-
Exercise
-
Diet-Caffeine and sugar does make them “hyper”
If they are experiencing stress and then add a
chemical to their little
body that naturally excites them. Expect the stress
to increase.
- Get
plenty of rest. A tired body/mind is less prepared
to handle stress.
- Relax
and add humor or fun to their day. Do what they
enjoy the most.
- Break
the family’s cycle of stress, not add to
it. Have all-family stress-
reducing activities. Take a walk or clean the
car together.
- Make
sure the child has someone to talk about his or
her worries. If you
are having trouble expressing yourself, sometimes-another
adult, you are comfortable with, can help put
feelings into words.
- Seek
professional counseling and/or biobehavioral therapy
that can teach
the child to recognize the relationship between
stress, muscle tension
and relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises
and progressive relaxation.
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