When Children and Stress CollideThey Will Need You MostWhy are children and stress so difficult to deal with? When we have our hands full with other things, we don’t think about things like this. Children do suffer stress on many occasions. Like moving to a new neighborhood, changing schools or whatever. It is how we handle it as parents that makes the difference. They don’t usually know what is causing and are not capable of understanding what is wrong like adults can. They will need us to help them through it. When chronic pain is introduced into the family the stress level rises very quickly. Children will not fully understand why. They will need your support about what they are feeling. They may be exhibiting tantrums, acting out at school, irritable, easily agitated, or even isolating themselves. They may be picking fights with their classmates or siblings. Other signs and symptoms of children and stress are:
A child’s age has a lot to do with how children handle stress. Young ones have a hard time explaining their feelings. We must be aware of these signs.
It is very important that children be taught about stress and how to cope with it.
Teach older children to cope with the stress. Explain the ways that they can handle it. Stress can disrupt a young persons confidence in themselves. Help them evaluate their feelings of stress and discuss what is causing the it. Just being there to talk is important in helping the child to move forward. While chronic pain is the culprit in this situation the children will pick up on the stress that is involved. They do not know what is happening and worried what will happen in the long run. Children have a tendency of blaming themselves for what is happening at home. When undo stress comes into the life of a child they often feel it is their fault. During this time, children and their stresses are hard because everyone becomes distracted. The pain patient requires more attention and the children get less than what they are used to. All they want is your re-assurance that you love them and that will never change. They can come to you and talk at any reasonable time. Make yourself available as much as possible to answer questions. Remember a hug and an “I Love You” will lend a soothing reminder. They feel the stress too. Children and stress differ greatly: Our son kept all his feelings inside him. I could never read how he was coping. He never let it show. We did talk quite a bit but nothing was said about his stress. Our daughter was the one acting out. She needed more and more of my attention. She was in trouble at school. She started sneaking out of the house to be with friends. As time went on, she realized her father would not fully recover from his accident, things changed. She couldn’t seem to do enough for her dad. Ironically, they never got along until that time. Now they are best friends.
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