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Taking Care of Yourself: A Parents
Guide to Mental Health, Stress
Reduction & Parental Guilt



Tina Drossos, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Neuroscience
University of Chicago
Rates for pediatric chronic illness
   20 million children suffering from
    one chronic health problem
    3   in every 10 children in the US
          For JIA:294,000 children under the age of
           18
   It is important to know that you are
    not alone
Response to pediatric chronic illness
   Initial diagnosis
       Overwhelmed/fear/worry
       ANGER
       Denial (“This cannot be happening to me, to
        my child, to my family.”)
       Grief
       Feel that you do not have all/enough
        information
       Confusion
       Feelings of isolation
       Powerlessness
       Blame/guilt*
Blame/Guilt
   “Did I do something to cause this?”
   “ Am I being punished for
    something I have done?”
   “Did I take care of myself when I
    was pregnant?”
   Can transform into religious or
    spiritual blame
   It is normal but you must find a way
    to let go of the blame
Long-term consequences
   Long-term consequences
     Financial problems
     Marital problems

     Work problems

     Continued uncertainty and fear/worry

     Hospitalizations etc.

   “Rollercoaster”
Responses (cont’d)
   “You can’t make it better. I think that’s the
    hardest thing I found: that Mommy couldn’t make
    it better.”
   Struggle for control over their lives
   Strain of not being able to help a child in pain
   Changed life (unplanned and unexpected)
   Burden of needing to follow a treatment regimen
   Increased parental distress
   Increased negative affect
       Most of these responses are NORMAL
   Taking care of a chronically ill child
    is one of the most draining and
    difficult tasks a parent can face
Effects of parental mental health on
children

   Greater emotional distress (in mothers)
    -> higher levels of reported pain
   More psychological distress -> greater
    pain related disability in youth
   Parental reports of mental and physical
    health is related to the psychological
    adjustment and functional status of
    children
What to look out for
   Depressed mood
   Diminished interest or pleasure in activities you used to
    enjoy
   Decreased appetite/weight loss
   Sleep problems
   Fatigue/loss of energy
   Increased tearfulness
   Feeling hopeless and helpless
   Problems with attention/concentration
   Excessive worry/nervousness
   Intrusive thoughts/worries
   Increased irritability
   *thoughts of death
Rates of mental health problems
   Lifetime Prevalence rates for adults
    (in the general population)
     10%-20% depression
     16%-20% for anxiety

   Lifetime Prevalence rates for adults
    with chronically ill children
     Approx 30% for depression
     Up to 55% for anxiety
Mental health in parents of children
with JIA
   Parents (specifically mothers) are at
    heightened risk for mental health
    problems
   Association between perceived
    impact of JIA on the family and
    mothers’ mental health
   Association with medications the
    child is prescribed
Our working model

   •   Biology cannot
       be separated
       from other
       experiences
   •   Social context
       is essential to
       consider
   •   Change is part
       of each level of
       experience
What can you do?
   Educate yourself
   Talk openly with your child
   Do NOT neglect your relationship with
    your significant other
       Set aside time to spend together
       Communicate openly with your partner
       Respect your partners’ opinions
       Have a “game plan” for working together
       Be on the same page as much as you can
       Counseling, if necessary
What can you do? (cont’d)
   Identify positive coping strategies
       Respect individual differences in coping
   Social support
       VERY IMPORTANT
       “In order to receive help, you have to ask for
        it.”
       Friends and family
       Parent-to-parent support groups
       JIA professionally led peer support groups
       Internet based support groups
       Religious support groups
What can you do? (cont’d)
   Focus on the joys and accomplishments of today—a
    smile, interest in a favorite toy, contagious laughter
    —not on what tomorrow may or may not bring.
   Your feelings are valid, so be easy on yourself to not
    feel guilty when you have had a bad day. Find a
    way to release your anger, sadness, jealousy and
    elation.
Stress reduction strategies
   Take time out for yourself
     Walk

     Exercise

     Read

     Cook

     Warm   bath
Stress reduction strategies (cont’d)
   Scripted Relaxation strategies
     Deep breathing
     Progressive Muscle Relaxation

     Guided visual imagery techniques

     Hypnosis
Deep Breathing

   Lie down or sit in a comfortable chair, maintaining good posture. Your body should
    be as relaxed as possible. Close your eyes. Scan your body for tension.
   Pay attention to your breathing. Place one hand on the part of your chest or abdomen
    that seems to rise and fall the most with each breath. If this spot is in your chest you
    are not utilizing the lower part of your lungs.
   Place both hands on your abdomen and follow your breathing, noticing how your
    abdomen rises and falls.
   Breathe through your nose.
   Notice if your chest is moving in harmony with your abdomen.
   Now place one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest.
   Inhale deeply and slowly through your nose into your abdomen. You should feel
    your abdomen rise with this inhalation and your chest should move only a little.
   Exhale through your mouth, keeping your mouth, tongue, and jaw relaxed.
   Relax as you focus on the sound and feeling of long, slow, deep breaths.
Deep Breathing (cont’d)
Complete Natural Breathing

   Sit or stand with good posture.
   Breathe through your nose.
   Inhale, filling first the lower part of your lungs then the middle part, then
    the upper part.
   Hold your breath for a few seconds.
   Exhale slowly. Relax your abdomen and chest.

   Practice these two exercises, in whatever combination feels best for you, for
    ten minutes, twice a day.

    (Taken from Davis, Eshelman, and McKay; The Relaxation and Stress
    Reduction Workbook, 2nd edition; New Harbringer Publications, 1982.)
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)


    Progressive muscle relaxation is an exercise that relaxes
    your mind and body by progressively tensing and
    relaxation muscle groups throughout your entire body.
    You will tense each muscle group vigorously, but without
    straining, and then suddenly release the tension and feel
    the muscle relax. You will tense each muscle for about 5
    seconds. If you have any pain or discomfort at any of the
    targeted muscle groups feel free to omit that step.
    Throughout this exercise you may visualize the muscles
    tensing and a wave of relaxation flowing over them as you
    release that tension. It is important that you keep
    breathing throughout the exercise.
PMR (Cont’d)

    Begin by finding a comfortable position either sitting or lying
    down in a location where you will not be interrupted.
   Allow your attention to focus only on your body. If you begin to
    notice your mind wandering, bring it back to the muscle you are
    working on.
   Take a deep breath through your abdomen, hold for a few
    second, and exhale slowly. Again, as you breathe notice your
    stomach rising and your lungs filling with air.
   As you exhale, imagine the tension in your body being released
    and flowing out of your body.
   And again inhale…..and exhale. Feel your body already relaxing.
   As you go through each step, remember to keep breathing .
   Now let’s begin. Tighten the muscles in your forehead by raising
    your eyebrows as high as you can. Hold for about five seconds.
    And abruptly release feeling that tension fall away.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
PMR (cont’d)

   Now smile widely, feeling your mouth and cheeks tense. Hold for
    about 5 seconds, and release, appreciating the softness in your
    face.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Next, tighten your eye muscles by squinting your eyelids tightly
    shut. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Gently pull your head back as if to look at the ceiling. Hold for
    about 5 seconds, and release, feeling the tension melting away.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Now feel the weight of your relaxed head and neck sink.
   Breath in…and out.
PMR (cont’d)
   In…and out.
   Let go of all the stress
   In…and out.
   Now, tightly, but without straining, clench your fists and hold this
    position until I say stop. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Now, flex your biceps. Feel that buildup of tension. You may even
    visualize that muscle tightening. Hold for about 5 seconds, and
    release, enjoying that feeling of limpness.
   Breath in...and out.
   Now tighten your triceps by extending your arms out and locking
    your elbows. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
PMR (cont’d)
   Now lift your shoulders up as if they could touch your
    ears. Hold for about 5 seconds, and quickly release,
    feeling their heaviness.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Tense your upper back by pulling your shoulders back
    trying to make your shoulder blades touch. Hold for about
    5 seconds, and release.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Tighten your chest by taking a deep breath in, hold for
    about 5 seconds, and exhale, blowing out all the tension.
   Now tighten the muscles in your stomach by sucking in.
    Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
   Gently arch your lower back. Hold for about 5 seconds,
    relax.
   Pause for about 10 seconds.
Guided Visual Imagery
   Visual imagery is a process that affects every aspect
    of your body. During guided imagery, you control
    your breathing and relax your muscles. You focus on
    something specific – such as a therapist’s voice or
    the instructions on a DVD or audio tape. You enter
    into a state of deep relaxation, success, and
    wholeness – similar to meditation.
Hypnosis
   Hypnosis is the induction of a deeply relaxed state, with
    increased suggestibility and suspension of critical
    faculties. Once in this state, sometimes called a hypnotic
    trance, patients are given therapeutic suggestions to
    encourage changes in behavior or relief of symptoms.

   Hypnosis for a patient with arthritis might include a
    suggestion that the pain can be turned down like the
    volume of a radio.
Self Help Books
   Depression
       Burns, D.D. (1999) The feeling good
        handbook: New York, NY: Penguin Group
        (USA)
       Pettit, J., Joiner Jr., T.E., & Rehm, L.P. (2005).
        The interpersonal solution to depression.
        Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
       Addis, M.E. & Martell, C.R. (2004) Overcoming
        depression one step at a time. Oakland, CA:
        New Harbinger
       Strosahl, K.D. & Robinson, P.J. (2008) The
        mindfulness and acceptance workbook for
        depression. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
Self Help Books (cont’d)
   Anxiety
       Zeurcher-White, E. (2998). An end to panic.
        Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
       Greenberger, D. & Padesky, C.A. (1995)Mind
        over mood. New York, NY: Guilford Press
   Insomnia
       Hauri, P. & Linde, S. (2996). No more sleepless
        nights, Revised Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
Self Help Books (cont’d)
   Stress
      Davis, M., Eshelmen, E.R. & McKay, M.
       (2008). The relaxation and stress
       reduction workbook. Oakland, CA: New
       Harbinger
Quote
    “I have learned, and grown, more
since Johnny’s birth than any other
time in my life. You learn
patience, and you get to witness
miracles that you otherwise
would have been too busy to have
noticed... You learn acceptance,
you realize you have been wrong
to judge, and you learn that there
is a thing called unconditional
love.”
Thank you
 Contact Information

 Tina Drossos, Ph.D.
  University of Chicago
  773.702.5887
  tdrossos@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu

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Taking Care of Yourself: A Parents Guide to Mental Health, Stress Reduction & Parental Guilt

  • 1. Taking Care of Yourself: A Parents Guide to Mental Health, Stress Reduction & Parental Guilt Tina Drossos, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience University of Chicago
  • 2. Rates for pediatric chronic illness  20 million children suffering from one chronic health problem 3 in every 10 children in the US  For JIA:294,000 children under the age of 18  It is important to know that you are not alone
  • 3. Response to pediatric chronic illness  Initial diagnosis  Overwhelmed/fear/worry  ANGER  Denial (“This cannot be happening to me, to my child, to my family.”)  Grief  Feel that you do not have all/enough information  Confusion  Feelings of isolation  Powerlessness  Blame/guilt*
  • 4. Blame/Guilt  “Did I do something to cause this?”  “ Am I being punished for something I have done?”  “Did I take care of myself when I was pregnant?”  Can transform into religious or spiritual blame  It is normal but you must find a way to let go of the blame
  • 5. Long-term consequences  Long-term consequences  Financial problems  Marital problems  Work problems  Continued uncertainty and fear/worry  Hospitalizations etc.  “Rollercoaster”
  • 6. Responses (cont’d)  “You can’t make it better. I think that’s the hardest thing I found: that Mommy couldn’t make it better.”  Struggle for control over their lives  Strain of not being able to help a child in pain  Changed life (unplanned and unexpected)  Burden of needing to follow a treatment regimen  Increased parental distress  Increased negative affect  Most of these responses are NORMAL
  • 7. Taking care of a chronically ill child is one of the most draining and difficult tasks a parent can face
  • 8. Effects of parental mental health on children  Greater emotional distress (in mothers) -> higher levels of reported pain  More psychological distress -> greater pain related disability in youth  Parental reports of mental and physical health is related to the psychological adjustment and functional status of children
  • 9. What to look out for  Depressed mood  Diminished interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy  Decreased appetite/weight loss  Sleep problems  Fatigue/loss of energy  Increased tearfulness  Feeling hopeless and helpless  Problems with attention/concentration  Excessive worry/nervousness  Intrusive thoughts/worries  Increased irritability  *thoughts of death
  • 10. Rates of mental health problems  Lifetime Prevalence rates for adults (in the general population)  10%-20% depression  16%-20% for anxiety  Lifetime Prevalence rates for adults with chronically ill children  Approx 30% for depression  Up to 55% for anxiety
  • 11. Mental health in parents of children with JIA  Parents (specifically mothers) are at heightened risk for mental health problems  Association between perceived impact of JIA on the family and mothers’ mental health  Association with medications the child is prescribed
  • 12. Our working model • Biology cannot be separated from other experiences • Social context is essential to consider • Change is part of each level of experience
  • 13. What can you do?  Educate yourself  Talk openly with your child  Do NOT neglect your relationship with your significant other  Set aside time to spend together  Communicate openly with your partner  Respect your partners’ opinions  Have a “game plan” for working together  Be on the same page as much as you can  Counseling, if necessary
  • 14. What can you do? (cont’d)  Identify positive coping strategies  Respect individual differences in coping  Social support  VERY IMPORTANT  “In order to receive help, you have to ask for it.”  Friends and family  Parent-to-parent support groups  JIA professionally led peer support groups  Internet based support groups  Religious support groups
  • 15. What can you do? (cont’d)  Focus on the joys and accomplishments of today—a smile, interest in a favorite toy, contagious laughter —not on what tomorrow may or may not bring.  Your feelings are valid, so be easy on yourself to not feel guilty when you have had a bad day. Find a way to release your anger, sadness, jealousy and elation.
  • 16. Stress reduction strategies  Take time out for yourself  Walk  Exercise  Read  Cook  Warm bath
  • 17. Stress reduction strategies (cont’d)  Scripted Relaxation strategies  Deep breathing  Progressive Muscle Relaxation  Guided visual imagery techniques  Hypnosis
  • 18. Deep Breathing  Lie down or sit in a comfortable chair, maintaining good posture. Your body should be as relaxed as possible. Close your eyes. Scan your body for tension.  Pay attention to your breathing. Place one hand on the part of your chest or abdomen that seems to rise and fall the most with each breath. If this spot is in your chest you are not utilizing the lower part of your lungs.  Place both hands on your abdomen and follow your breathing, noticing how your abdomen rises and falls.  Breathe through your nose.  Notice if your chest is moving in harmony with your abdomen.  Now place one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest.  Inhale deeply and slowly through your nose into your abdomen. You should feel your abdomen rise with this inhalation and your chest should move only a little.  Exhale through your mouth, keeping your mouth, tongue, and jaw relaxed.  Relax as you focus on the sound and feeling of long, slow, deep breaths.
  • 19. Deep Breathing (cont’d) Complete Natural Breathing  Sit or stand with good posture.  Breathe through your nose.  Inhale, filling first the lower part of your lungs then the middle part, then the upper part.  Hold your breath for a few seconds.  Exhale slowly. Relax your abdomen and chest.  Practice these two exercises, in whatever combination feels best for you, for ten minutes, twice a day. (Taken from Davis, Eshelman, and McKay; The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, 2nd edition; New Harbringer Publications, 1982.)
  • 20. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)  Progressive muscle relaxation is an exercise that relaxes your mind and body by progressively tensing and relaxation muscle groups throughout your entire body. You will tense each muscle group vigorously, but without straining, and then suddenly release the tension and feel the muscle relax. You will tense each muscle for about 5 seconds. If you have any pain or discomfort at any of the targeted muscle groups feel free to omit that step. Throughout this exercise you may visualize the muscles tensing and a wave of relaxation flowing over them as you release that tension. It is important that you keep breathing throughout the exercise.
  • 21. PMR (Cont’d)  Begin by finding a comfortable position either sitting or lying down in a location where you will not be interrupted.  Allow your attention to focus only on your body. If you begin to notice your mind wandering, bring it back to the muscle you are working on.  Take a deep breath through your abdomen, hold for a few second, and exhale slowly. Again, as you breathe notice your stomach rising and your lungs filling with air.  As you exhale, imagine the tension in your body being released and flowing out of your body.  And again inhale…..and exhale. Feel your body already relaxing.  As you go through each step, remember to keep breathing .  Now let’s begin. Tighten the muscles in your forehead by raising your eyebrows as high as you can. Hold for about five seconds. And abruptly release feeling that tension fall away.  Pause for about 10 seconds.
  • 22. PMR (cont’d)  Now smile widely, feeling your mouth and cheeks tense. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release, appreciating the softness in your face.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Next, tighten your eye muscles by squinting your eyelids tightly shut. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Gently pull your head back as if to look at the ceiling. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release, feeling the tension melting away.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Now feel the weight of your relaxed head and neck sink.  Breath in…and out.
  • 23. PMR (cont’d)  In…and out.  Let go of all the stress  In…and out.  Now, tightly, but without straining, clench your fists and hold this position until I say stop. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Now, flex your biceps. Feel that buildup of tension. You may even visualize that muscle tightening. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release, enjoying that feeling of limpness.  Breath in...and out.  Now tighten your triceps by extending your arms out and locking your elbows. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.  Pause for about 10 seconds.
  • 24. PMR (cont’d)  Now lift your shoulders up as if they could touch your ears. Hold for about 5 seconds, and quickly release, feeling their heaviness.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Tense your upper back by pulling your shoulders back trying to make your shoulder blades touch. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Tighten your chest by taking a deep breath in, hold for about 5 seconds, and exhale, blowing out all the tension.  Now tighten the muscles in your stomach by sucking in. Hold for about 5 seconds, and release.  Pause for about 10 seconds.  Gently arch your lower back. Hold for about 5 seconds, relax.  Pause for about 10 seconds.
  • 25. Guided Visual Imagery  Visual imagery is a process that affects every aspect of your body. During guided imagery, you control your breathing and relax your muscles. You focus on something specific – such as a therapist’s voice or the instructions on a DVD or audio tape. You enter into a state of deep relaxation, success, and wholeness – similar to meditation.
  • 26. Hypnosis  Hypnosis is the induction of a deeply relaxed state, with increased suggestibility and suspension of critical faculties. Once in this state, sometimes called a hypnotic trance, patients are given therapeutic suggestions to encourage changes in behavior or relief of symptoms.  Hypnosis for a patient with arthritis might include a suggestion that the pain can be turned down like the volume of a radio.
  • 27. Self Help Books  Depression  Burns, D.D. (1999) The feeling good handbook: New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA)  Pettit, J., Joiner Jr., T.E., & Rehm, L.P. (2005). The interpersonal solution to depression. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger  Addis, M.E. & Martell, C.R. (2004) Overcoming depression one step at a time. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger  Strosahl, K.D. & Robinson, P.J. (2008) The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for depression. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
  • 28. Self Help Books (cont’d)  Anxiety  Zeurcher-White, E. (2998). An end to panic. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger  Greenberger, D. & Padesky, C.A. (1995)Mind over mood. New York, NY: Guilford Press  Insomnia  Hauri, P. & Linde, S. (2996). No more sleepless nights, Revised Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
  • 29. Self Help Books (cont’d)  Stress  Davis, M., Eshelmen, E.R. & McKay, M. (2008). The relaxation and stress reduction workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
  • 30. Quote “I have learned, and grown, more since Johnny’s birth than any other time in my life. You learn patience, and you get to witness miracles that you otherwise would have been too busy to have noticed... You learn acceptance, you realize you have been wrong to judge, and you learn that there is a thing called unconditional love.”
  • 31. Thank you Contact Information Tina Drossos, Ph.D. University of Chicago 773.702.5887 tdrossos@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu

Editor's Notes

  1. Chronic illness define here as a condition of non-psychiatric nature that has a serious impact on functioning and general lifestyle
  2. Reactions to initial diagnosis: varied, depending on illness factors, prognosis, severity and then personal factors such as number of other stressors, available coping strategies etc. Blame/guilt: worry that others are blaming you then you may start to blame yourself or wonder how you are handling the situation.
  3. Did my wife take care of herself when she was pregnant Not all
  4. Many poepl describe the experience of living with a child with a chronic illness as a rollercoaster. The rollercoaster can also express how your emotions change over time
  5. Burden of needing to follow a treatment regimen: this includes doctors visits and taking meds etc. Parental distress in these situations is constructed as a NORMAL response to the stress of a child’s chronic medical condition rather than a indication of a mental health problem. However, even subclinical levels of parental distress can affect the child and thei ability to fucntion and adjust.
  6. Not all parents go through all of these feelings/stages but its important to identify with all of the potentially troublesome feelings that can arise so you know you are not alone
  7. Overall, there are not many studies looking at how parental functioning impacts children’s functioning but this was actually a study with families of children diagnosed with JRA 3. The quality of parent’s functioning is interwoven with his or her child’s functioning
  8. Sleep problems: here are higher rates of sleep problems in parents of children with chronic illness overall regardless of depression or anxiety due to caregiving at night etc. However, what we do know is that poor sleep can lead to anxiety /depression If you start to experience these symptoms, it may be worth talking to your physician initially as a starting point to see what they recommend. If you feel you need to talk with a therpaist/counselor but don’t know where to turn, typically if you call your insurance company and ask for providers in your area, they are able to provide that information and this way you know the services will be covered.
  9. Lifetime rates of (particularly mothers of children with chronic illness): What we are seeing is that 30 percent of [mothers] meet the clinical criteria for depression … double the rate of a regular sample,” says Quittner, principal investigator for the study, known as the TIDES International Depression/Anxiety Epidemiological Study. The study also found that more than 55 percent of the children’s primary caregivers were anxious. These parents feel isolated and stressed by such challenges as obtaining insurance when a child has a pre-existing condition and the financial strain of co-payments for doctors’ visits and medications.
  10. Mothers who think that JIA impacts the family more are more likely to have mental health problems. Basically, saying that if parents feels that the condition is greatly restricting their child from have a “normal” life then they have more mental health problems Meds: there also seems to be an association between the type of meds taken by children (ie. steroidals) and greater mental health problems. This is likely related to severity of illness so they are on stronger meds so this is impacting parents more
  11. Educate yourself: the more you know about what is going on with your child, the more in control you will feel when speaking with doctors and making decisions. Basically, the more you know the more empowered you will feel and this will make you a better advocate for your child, your family and yourself. Talk openly with child: developemtally appropriate; this may seem uncomfortable or overwheling so take your time with it. Yu can ask for help/support from peers/doctors/teachers etc who are involved with your child. You not only want to talk openly about the illness/consequences etc but also about your feelings. Kids are very observant and perceptive (they know when you’ve been crying or upset even if you have done your best to try and hide it) so when appropriate be open about how you are feeling. Your child will appreciate this and in the end you will feel better. For example, if you are anxious about a situation or result your child will pick up on your anxiety and end up being even more anxious Do not neglect your relationship: IN addition to disruption in your home, the illness may cause marital strain and lifestyle changes. It is so imperative to work on your relationship as much as you can. When parents are “stressed” it is very easy to take it out on each other and/or simply neglect each other
  12. Coping: mothers and fathers may have different wasy of dealing with the situation at hand, and each parent is likely to struggle with the situation in their own way. Typically fathers like to distract themselves/distance themselves from the situation in order to cope, while mothers typically try to control the illness or keep routine/talk with doctors in order to cope. Mothers typically show a wider range of coping strategies than fathers but neither way is wrong. I have often seen mothers become upset at their husbands for “not keeping up with the ilnness” but its often necessary for father to step away from the situation in order to cope Social support: You need to aks for help but often people are reluctant. They don’t want ot be a burden or perceived that they can’t handle it.or they don’t want to acknowledge that the illness has changed their lives etc. but it is very important that you seek/ask for help one thing to know is that research shows that fathers are more likely to rely on their wives as their main source of support, while mothers are more likely to use both their spouses and other formal and informal sources of support. There have been studies that have been completed looking at the impact of a social support group on parental stress/psychological distress and they have found that it helps. Talk about my support groups at U of C.
  13. Think about what makes you feel relaxed and put aside time to do that. It may seem impossible to try and find time but its important to create a space for yourself. Taking time for yourself may seen self-indulgent but actually it will recharge you and make you a better parent and will help prevent burn-out.
  14. The important things here is that typically, you are using all 5 senses. In the context of this relaxing setting, patients can also choose to imagine themselves coping more effectively with the stressors in their lives.