Stress Awareness Month has been recognized every April since 1992, and this year it seems particularly relevant to highlight.
The term stress is used to describe many different emotional and physical responses including agitation, anger, anxiety, worry, fear and depression. Understanding stress, its impact, and developing ways to cope is a pivotal part of the work psychologists do in therapy with their patients.
Almost two years ago, not many people would have predicted that we would still be in the midst of a pandemic. We have all been coping with extremely uncertain times and many people have lost control over important things in their life such as childcare, job security, finances and certainty about education and healthcare. The reality is that life is filled with uncertainty, and this pandemic has highlighted that worldwide.
Study of human behavior shows that humans crave security. People have an innate desire to feel safe and have a reasonable sense of predictability when it comes to the things that are important to them. Fear and uncertainty have been shown to lead to stress, anxiety, and helplessness. If as 2022 begins, you feel overwhelmed by uncertainty and worry, it is important to know that you are not alone; many people are feeling the same way. It’s also helpful to understand that there are tools you can use to better deal with uncertainty.
Most of America is coming out of over a year of lock down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The majority of schools are offering at least some in-person learning. Recreational sports are beginning to resume. Several states have started to drop mask mandates for vaccinated individuals. Large scale sporting events and even concerts are back on Spring and Summer schedules for many venues.
We are hearing this phrase in many different settings. At the grocery store check-out line. At school drop off. At the end of work zoom calls. We smile as we say it – no doubt dreaming of the summer BBQ’s and beach vacations that may finally be within reach.
But when it comes to the mental health of our kids and teens, what if “getting back to normal” isn’t the best metric to meet?
May marks Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month and a time to focus on the importance of mental health during pregnancy and shortly after birth. You are likely aware that 80% of new mothers report the “baby blues,” or intermittent periods of tearfulness, worry, irritability and fatigue. However, a lesser known statistic is that over 20% of new mothers meet criteria for a pregnancy or postpartum mood disorder.
The current COVID-19 pandemic is further complicating the experience of motherhood. Many mothers have had to grieve the loss of celebrations like baby showers that help with the transition and preparation of parenthood. Birth partners and supports have had limited access to prenatal appointments and, in some extreme cases, to the delivery rooms because of COVID-19 safety concerns. Further, new mothers have had to rely on fewer options for instrumental support after the arrival of their baby due to social distancing guidelines and overall fear of the virus. All of these losses have experts in maternal mental health concerned about the emotional well-being of the current cohort of expecting and new mothers.
With one in five mothers meeting criteria for a mental health disorder during or after pregnancy, this means that statistically most of us have had a friend, a sister, a mother, or co-worker who have suffered. However, the research reports that the barriers to talking about these issues (embarrassment, shame, guilt) get in the way. Additionally, many report that they were unaware of the different ways that maternal mental health problems can present.
Last week, we wrote about the stress and anxiety kids and teens might be feeling as they return back to school and other activities full-time. We outlined several signs to watch for that might signal stress.
This week, we review three ways that parents can help kids cope with the stress that can come from this transition.