Many school-age children experience trouble falling asleep. As many as 16% of parents report having problems getting their children to fall sleep at night. Researchers say the solution could be as simple as getting more physical exercise during the day. The amount of physical activity children receive during the day plays an important role in childhood […]
More Stress Management Tips
As we have been discussing this week, people use four basic strategies to manage stress. They avoid stressful situations or the people that trigger them. They alter situations they can’t avoid. They adapt to the situation by changing their response. Or they accept the situation so it no longer acts as a stressor. In our […]
Stress Management Strategies
Between family, home and work, our lives are hectic, complicated and demanding. Stress seems to be a constant companion. We may not be able to avoid stress, but we can learn to manage it more effectively. The first step to decreasing stress is to realize that you are in control of your life. You have […]
Learning to Identify Causes of Stress
Life is full of minor stresses. Your son spills a glass of milk. Your daughter can’t find her shoes. The dog throws up on the carpet. The mailman delivers another bill. Your husband announces he can’t make it home to coach the soccer team. The car won’t start. You’re going to be late. You already […]
Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems
This week we’ve been talking about the activities and behaviors that make for good mental health (see our July 13 and 15, 2009 posts). Throughout our lives, many forces shape our emotional well-being, both internal and external. Particular events in our lives, genetic and biological factors, and childhood experiences impact our ability to develop and […]
Cornerstones of Good Mental Health
Two important cornerstones of good mental health are resiliency and the ability to develop supportive relationships. Even though disappointment, loss and change are normal events in life; they often cause feelings of stress, sadness and anxiety. People who lack good mental health can be overwhelmed by these feelings. Resiliency, the ability to persevere in the face […]