School Nurse News  
Helen Pyka, R.N.

 

Managing Stress With Mind and Movement

Stress is part of life.  Without guidance and support stress can become a factor that creates anxiety, damages a person's self-confidence and affects performance.  Parents and other trusted adults have the ability to help young people develop healthy strategies to manage the pressures of life.


Stress Factors in Children

  • Social demands, peer pressure, trying to "fit in"
  • Overscheduled activities
  • Excessive pressure to succeed in academics and sports
  • Negative world events and news in the media
  • Violence portrayed in TV, movies, videos
  • Personal "loss" events:  divorce, illness, death of a loved one
  • Changes: moving, parent job loss, change in family dynamics, schedule changes 
  • Even positive events such as a school dance or holidays



Recognize Symptoms of Stress

  • Changes in behavior: ie. withdrawn, irritable, mood swings, acting out
  • Changes in sleep or appetite
  • Psychosomatic symptoms (ie. headaches, stomachaches)
  • Poor academic performance, difficult concentrating, excessive worrying



HEALTHY STRATEGIES

BODY

  • Proper nutrition, enough sleep
  • Exercise: sports, walking, yoga, swimming, martial arts
  • Practice relaxation of muscles in the body, deep breathing

 

MIND

  • Encourage sharing feelings: talk/ listen, journal
  • Healthy relationships with family and friends
  • Relax:  visualize pleasant scenes, meditate, calm music
  • Encourage creativity/ art, self-expression



RECREATION

  • Have fun, play, enjoy down time
  • Go outside, experience nature
  • Hobbies, reading
  • Cut back on after school activities
  • Turn off the TV/computer, monitor what your child sees/reads  
  • Have discussions about your concerns and fears

 

PARENT

  • Role model healthy self-care behaviors
  • Provide predictability, give anticipatory guidance
  • Quality time, family meetings, show interest, listen, nurture
  • Seek professional help if your child is not coping