It is true that children and adolescents are facing increasing levels of stress and anxiety in recent years. Research has shown that high levels of stress and anxiety can have negative effects on children's physical and mental health, including an increase in the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol can lead to a range of negative health effects, such as weight gain, high blood pressure, uncontrolled excitability, impaired immune function and more.
There are several factors that may contribute to the high levels of stress and anxiety that children are experiencing, including academic pressure, social media, stimulating noises and the fast pace of modern life. It's important for parents, educators, and other adults to be aware of these issues and to take steps to guard and support children in managing stress and anxiety.
Children can often be overstimulated and have difficulty self-regulating which can lead to unexplained outbursts.
Children thrive in calm, organized & uncluttered environments when they know what to expect.
Some strategies that may be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety in children include:
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle: Helping children to develop healthy habits, such as getting enough sleep, omitting processed foods and eating a balanced diet of real foods like fruits, vegetables and meats. Praying, and exercising regularly, can support their overall physical and mental well-being.
- Practice relaxation techniques: Teaching children relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness, thinking on things that are good, can help them to manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way.
- Keep children out of high stress situations that will drive sensory overload on their young and developing systems. The loud music we might take for granted could be earsplitting noise to developing ears. The bright lights that are fun and exciting for the adult could be disorienting and even scary to the young child who hasn't been in such an environment before.
- Encourage positive thinking: Helping children to develop a positive mindset can help them to cope with challenges and setbacks more effectively.
- In your home routine if your child is struggling with stress or anxiety (which often manifests of the child being ‘out of control’ or ‘not listening’), it may be helpful to provide them with a CALM routine that includes emotional support from the use of essential oils.
By taking steps to support children in managing stress and anxiety, we can help them find their calm to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. In turn that will give them a firm foundation to move with courage and confidence when exploring their world.
I am not a medical professional. These suggestions should not be used in place of consulting with a medical professional if your child is experiencing stress and anxiety.
There were many years when I lived in full time survival mode. People would ask "how are you?" My answer would always be "fine" with as much of a genuine smile that I could muster. Unfortunately for me living in survival mode had become so 'normal' that I didn't have any way to know that I was anything but "fine". This is where a dear aunt stepped in and said let me help you and help you see that you need to make some lasting changes before this lifestyle becomes the thing that breaks you. She was a strong advocate of helping me see the need for self care as it was clear to her I was self destructing right before her eyes.
It's true that taking small breaks can be helpful for relieving stress and allowing you to recharge. However, it's important to make sure that these breaks are restorative and not just a temporary escape from stress. If you go back to a high-stress or fast-paced lifestyle after a break, you may find yourself right back in survival mode.
To truly break out of survival mode and start living a more fulfilling life, it may be necessary to make more lasting changes to your lifestyle. This could involve finding ways to reduce stress, setting healthy boundaries, and prioritizing self-care. It may also be helpful to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional as you work on making these changes.
Remember that it's okay to take things one step at a time and focus on small, manageable goals. With time and effort, you can find ways to reduce stress and live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
It's completely normal to feel like you're just surviving your life at times, especially if you're facing challenges or difficulties. However, it's important to remember that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, not just survived. Here are a few tips that may help you start living your life more fully:
- Set goals and work towards them: Having clear goals and working towards them can give you a sense of purpose and direction in life. This can help you feel more fulfilled and motivated to live your life to the fullest.
- Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things that you are grateful for can help to shift your mindset and bring more positivity into your life. This can help you appreciate and enjoy the present moment more fully.
- Spend time daily in the Word...the Bible...God's love letter written to us for our direction, comfort, correction, courage and delight.
- Seek support: If you're feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope, it can be helpful to seek support from your Heavenly Father through prayer, friends, family, or a mental health professional. Talking to someone about how you're feeling can help you process your emotions and find ways to cope with challenges.
- Take breaks and relax: It's important to take breaks and relax to recharge and refocus. This can help you feel more energized and ready to tackle the challenges of life.
- Engage in activities that bring you joy: Find activities that bring you joy and make time to do them regularly. This could be hobbies, sports, spending time with loved ones, spending time in nature, crafting or repurposing an item, or anything else that brings you happiness.
Remember that it's okay to take things one day at a time and take care of yourself. With time and effort, you can start living your life more fully and finding joy and fulfillment in your daily experiences.
Simple Pleasures Bring Joy & Contentment
There are many simple pleasures in life that can bring joy and contentment. These are small, everyday moments that can make us feel happy, relaxed, and fulfilled. Some examples of simple pleasures include:
- Savoring a delicious meal or snack
- Slowing down to brew a cup of tea
- Journaling 3 things you are truly grateful for
- Going for a walk or spending time in nature
- Diffusing your favorite pure essential oils
- Listening to music or playing an instrument
- Reading a good book or watching a favorite movie
- Spending time with loved ones
- Playing with a pet
- Reading God's word and dwelling on Zephaniah 3:17
- Engaging in a hobby or activity that brings joy
- Taking a warm Epsom Salt bath with relaxing essential oils
- Getting a good night's sleep
These simple pleasures can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere, and they can help us to feel more present, focused, and grateful. They can also provide a sense of balance and well-being, and can help us to cope with stress and challenges. By taking the time to enjoy these small moments, we lower our stress responses which can enhance our overall well-being and happiness.
Phillipians 4:8
Philippians 4:8 is a familiar verse from the Bible that my dad often quoted to me at various times when I was growing up. Well, he didn't exactly quote the whole thing but he would say "Whatsoever...." (King James) and I knew what that meant. Looking back I can see this was a little code word we shared. This verse encourages us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This verse is often called the "thinking verse" because it encourages us to think about things that are positive and uplifting, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions.
The verse begins by urging us to focus on what is true. This means focusing on things that are real and authentic, rather than on falsehoods or deceit. We are also encouraged to focus on what is honorable, which means things that are morally upright and virtuous.
Next, we are encouraged to focus on what is just, which means things that are fair and equitable. We are also urged to focus on what is pure, which means things that are morally clean and unblemished.
Additionally, we are encouraged to focus on what is lovely, which means things that are beautiful and pleasing to the senses. We are also urged to focus on what is commendable, which means things that are worthy of praise and admiration.
Finally, we are encouraged to focus on what is excellent and praiseworthy. This means focusing on things that are of high quality and that are worthy of our attention and admiration.
I must admit that dad’s admonishment of this verse in my life has caused me to pause more than once before taking in a particular TV show or movie. There are many shows I would never consider to watch because they come with the rating of R or MA. I immediately know they will not fit into these parameters.
Science is now catching up to what God's word has told us....Your mind literally expands on 'whatever' you focus on. I'm very thankful to have been taught from an early age to focus on the above list. I believe it has made life so much better. What are you focusing on? You have a choice.
Philippians 4:8 is a verse that encourages us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. By doing so, we can cultivate a positive and uplifting mindset that encourages good.
I hope you have the best day ever!
