Talking to children about stress and anxiety part 1
The goal is not to be stress or anxiety free - but to learn how to stress better, to use our stress to help us and to identify what the stress is telling us.
Don’t say, “you’re okay” when your child/teen is crying
Remind yourself that their distress is an opportunity for connection and teaching, not something that needs to be stopped immediately.
Body present. Mind absent. Heart hurting.
My family had a dance party (my favorite!), but I didn’t let myself really get into it. We played ping pong but I was only partly there. I was expecting someone at the door and just keep listening. I don’t usually resist and avoid things like this.
What does sad actually feel like?
It felt heavy and overwhelming for a couple minutes and then it started to dissipate, slowly decreasing until it was gone It was much shorter than what I was avoiding experiencing.
The family that feels together heals together
I feel sad right now. It feels warm and heavy over my heart, pressing in a little, shallow breathing.
What do feelings feel like?
When you describe what is happening in your body you become a watcher of your emotions, watching them rise and fall. You get out of your head and into your body.