Doctors tips for managing school stress

Doctors tips for managing school stress

STORMTEAM 5, I’M METEOROLOGIST KELLY ANN CICALESE. TIME FOR FIVE ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THIS SATURDAY MORNING. STRESSED OUT ABOUT SCHOOLWORK. WE KNOW THE KIDS CAN GET OVERWHELMED WITH THE PAPERS AND THE PROJECTS, BUT EXPERTS SAY THEIR PARENTS CAN TOO. AND JOINING US NOW RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO IS DOCTOR ANTOINETTE CARNEY, THE ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTIES AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. SO WE ALL KNOW THAT HOMEWORK IS FOR STUDENTS, BUT HOW DOES IT BECOME A PROBLEM FOR PARENTS? SURE. SO GREAT QUESTION. LAST YEAR, A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY LIFE360 SHOWED THAT 60% OF PARENTS CAN BE DRIVEN TO TEARS AROUND THIS BACK TO SCHOOL TIME PERIOD, REALLY DEMONSTRATING THAT THOSE ACADEMIC PRESSURES AND EXPECTATIONS THAT KIDS FEEL, PARENTS FEEL TOO, AND VICE VERSA, BECAUSE THEY WANT THEM TO DO AS WELL AS POSSIBLE AND SUCCEED IN AN INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE WORLD. AND YOU FEEL LIKE THE STRESS IS THERE ON YOU, TOO. YOU WANT TO HELP THEM, BUT YOU’RE FEELING VULNERABLE. IS THERE ANYTHING A PARENT SHOULD AVOID DOING OR SAYING? WE DON’T WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE, BUT WE’RE ALSO STRESSED. YEAH. SO IT’S SO IMPORTANT FIRST AND FOREMOST TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, TAKE THAT STEP BACK AND REGAIN THAT SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE. AND ALSO BE SURE TO AVOID GUILTING YOUR CHILDREN, BLAMING THEM, SHAMING THEM, AND TRY TO CALM DOWN ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT SEEKING THAT REASSURANCE OR SUPPORT FROM YOUR KIDS. SO WHAT CAN WE AS PARENTS DO TO HELP MANAGE OUR OWN EMOTIONS? WELL, I ALWAYS TELL EVERYONE DURING TIMES OF STRESS, TRY TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL, AND THEN BE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. CARVE OUT SOME TIME TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT YOU FIND REJUVENATING OR REVITALIZING. EXERCISE. EATING WELL IS ALWAYS KEY. AND AS A PARENT MYSELF, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT’S WONDERFUL TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY, TO HAVE THOSE OTHER PARENTS OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN TALK TO AND SEEK SUPPORT FROM. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT WITH YOUR SON. YOU KNOW, IT’S ALL IT’S IMPORTANT TO TRANSITION, HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO, TO SAY IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY. HOW DO YOU WORK WITH THE TEACHER MAYBE TO TO TO HELP SUPPORT THE CHILD WHEN YOU’RE FEELING THIS ANGST. FOR BOTH OF YOU. YEAH. SO IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BE PROACTIVE AND TALK TO THEM. YOU KNOW, TEACHERS ARE FANTASTIC IN SCHOOLS TODAY. THEY REALLY SET ASIDE TIME SO THAT YOU CAN COME IN WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND THEY GIVE YOU A LOT OF HEADWAY IN TERMS OF THOSE MID-YEAR REVIEWS. SO YOU CAN SET UP ALL THAT COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TEACHERS AND TAKING SOME TIME JUST TAKING A DEEP BREATH CAN HELP SO MUCH. IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON SELF-CARE AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, AND LISTEN TO OTHER PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS ALREADY, AND THEY CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE MENTORING, EVEN ALMOST. YEAH. THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTIES AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A GREAT START TO THE

Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni talks about tips both students and parents can use to help manage stress around the back-to-school time.

Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni talks about tips both students and parents can use to help manage stress around the back-to-school time.

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