Stress

Stress

Here are the four different types of mental stress children may experience in a family:

• No Stress at All: This is happening in most households nowadays. Parents shield children from all kinds of stress. They do all the work and solve all the problems for the child. As a result, the child becomes incapable of developing skills to handle new situations and face challenges. Minor mental stress helps children develop the expertise required to deal with challenging circumstances. Therefore, a certain amount of mental stress is essential for survival.
• Positive Stress: This refers to mild and short-lived stressful experiences. Parents can encourage and support children in handling such experiences. For example, the mental stress children face when going to school is considered positive stress.
• Tolerable Mental Stress: This involves more intense but short-lived adverse experiences. If handled effectively, these situations can be successfully overcome. An example of this type of mental stress is when a child experiences the accident or death of a loved one. It becomes very difficult for a child to go through such events without adult support. Parents need to provide emotional support and show children how to recover from these situations.
• Toxic Stress: This refers to long-term mental stress caused by repeated physical or emotional abuse, ongoing neglect, parental substance abuse or mental illness, violence, severe financial difficulties, or serious health problems. A child from a family where parents are unable to get along or have separated faces reduced chances of success in life.

These facts highlight the responsibility of a parent to think and act constructively. It also points out the necessity of helping children develop positive habits to cope with stress. It is essential to constantly pay attention to the child’s behavior and emotions. A child who grows up with the assurance of parental support, even in the worst situations in life, will be able to survive any kind of stress. Moreover, the child will gain the strength to handle life’s challenges, and the emotional bond with the parents will gradually become stronger.