A huge developmental part of being a teen or moving into adulthood is focus on social engagement and fostering sense of independence or autonomy. Try to view things from your teen’s perspective. Virtually overnight, they have gone from having the most freedom they have ever experienced to the least amount. This is hard!
“It is perfectly normal for people to feel isolated and anxious in the current crisis,” states CFS CEO Dr. Jacob Christenson. “Covenant Family Solutions is grateful to be able to aid in the community response to help people navigate the mental health struggles they are facing during these uncertain times.”
Healthcare workers need a safe space to talk through their feelings and the toll this pandemic has taken on their mental health. These are the people who have held the hands and hearts of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and their families.
Caregiving is one of the most challenging roles even under regular circumstances. You do not need to be everything to everyone, and there will be times you feel overwhelmed. Try to take a step back and focus on the big picture. You are doing your best and your best may be different day to day, or even minute by minute.
Check in with your children and ask them how they are doing. Children often show us through behaviors, rather than words, when they are struggling. While this can range from isolating behaviors to acting out, children may just be feeling more anxious. Try to find a quiet time to connect one-on-one and ask how your child is doing and what they might need.
Reading for pleasure can increase our self-esteem, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and reduce stress. Try to set aside some time for reading this weekend!
Sometimes family members can be harmful to our mental health, whether they mean to or not. If you are dealing with a toxic family member, be sure to identify what you want out of the relationship. From there you can set boundaries. Most importantly, don’t try to change them. Instead, work on improving in your own goals and adjust and enforce boundaries as needed.
If you need a subtle grounding technique to do at work, try playing a categories game in your head. Select a category, like “desserts” and mentally list as many things from that category that you can think of. You can give yourself a time limit or go until you can’t think of anything.
Creative expression is linked to our overall well-being. Whether you identify as a creative person or not — you can exercise your creativity by cooking, drawing, writing, and more. Allow yourself to put your own twist on things.
Creative expression is linked to our overall well-being. Whether you identify as a creative person or not — you can exercise your creativity by cooking, drawing, writing, and more. Allow yourself to put your own twist on things.
Feeling Safe
I feel safe at CFS. I know the staff is professional and understanding and that my thoughts and feelings will be heard and are valid.
Building Strength
My treatment at CFS has helped me find the ability to continue on through a horrible time. The office staff always greets me with a smile, that’s great.
Embrace New Ideas
It’s great to have someone to talk through my thoughts and feelings with — to get things out into the universe and have a neutral party help me learn how to process, try new things, embrace different ideas.
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