Our brain and body tell us when we are stressed. Here are some of the ways you might notice you are stressed:
- Difficulty thinking
- Difficulty planning
- Difficulty remembering
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Sweaty palms
- Dry mouth
- Muscular tension
- Butterflies in stomach or upset stomach
It is important to listen to one’s body to be able to manage one’s stress before taking on difficult conversations. It can be helpful to try to recognize one’s own feelings before and during conversations with your children. Listening to our body’s response can be a way of knowing about difficult feelings, or at least offer some clues about feelings that are less accessible. When you are stressed, it might be helpful to practice deep breathing, take a slow walk, listen to comforting music or share your feelings with another supporting adult, as a means to find your way back to a calmer state. It is important that as parent(s) a part of your focus is on your own emotional wellbeing, so you can take care of your children, and remain attentive to their needs. A child needs the comfort of their parent(s) or primary caretakers, but your feelings and emotional wellbeing is important too. If you have ever been on an airplane you may remember that in case of an emergency, adults should put the oxygen mask on themselves first so they can take care of their children. When parents are able to manage their own stress successfully, they are then better able to listen and be open to their children’s worries.