The document discusses parental stress and anxiety, defining stress as an imbalance between coping abilities and expectations. It highlights various triggers such as children with special needs, financial issues, and inadequate support, while also explaining how stress affects parenting behaviors and child development. Coping strategies are suggested, including self-awareness, mindfulness, and lifestyle adjustments to mitigate stress effects.

1. PARENTAL STRESS & ANXIETY

2. What is stress
An imbalance between your current coping abilities and the expectations or demands that are placed on
you. including demands that you place on yourself — both real and perceived.
Stress arises from positive as well as negative events.
Fear
Stress
Anxiety

3. Triggers of Stress
Child(ren) related
Having toddler(s)/
infant(s)
Kids with special needs
Kids with medical /
behavioural issues
Other stresses
Financial problems
Social isolation
No / inadequate support system
discrimination

4. How it affects self
For conscientious parents, worry and guilt may be a major cause of
stress.
reassure yourself that this isn't a reflection on your worthiness or
competence.
 If you're feeling overwhelmed, that doesn't mean you're an inferior
parent. You've just got too much on your plate.
It is important to remember, feelings of inadequacy, defensiveness, guilt
- these feelings make parenting stress worse

5. How it affects care giving
Chronic exposure to parental stress can change the way a baby
develops
Emotions exhibited due to stress infect the environment around
us.
 Make fewer attempts to show affection to your child
Make you less sensitive to your child
Overreact to your children (blowing a fuse, getting upset so
easily)

6. How it affects care giving
More authoritarian parenting
Become withdrawn and emotionally unresponsive.
Missed opportunities to improve family relationships.
Do not help children to bounce back
Babies experience spikes of cortisol when they overhear their parents
fighting.

7. Symptoms of stress
Mental Stress
• Forgetfulness
• Cynicism
• Negativism
• Self-criticism
Emotional Stress
• Irritability,
• Low Tolerance,
• Decreased
Empathy,
• Anxiety,
• Depression
Physical Stress
• Fatigue,
• Tightness Of
Neck Or Back,
• Stomach Aches,
• Headaches
Behavioural Stress
• Interpersonal
Conflict,
• Proneness To
Accidents, Sleep
Disturbance ,
• Eating More Or
Less,
• Decreased
Involvement With
Others,
• Isolation

8. Stress and pathology

10. Coping strategies
Self-awareness
Set the Goal-
Recognise
fix it
Delay the action
Practice Mindfulness
Learn to relax
Exercise Modulation
Empathetic
Adjust your life style