Transcript Destressing the Holidays

DESTRESSING
THE HOLIDAYS
DECEMBER 13, 2016
DAN THORNE, LMFT
FOUNDER AND DEVELOPER, PRAXES
GOALS TODAY
• Define stress
• Understanding its effects during the holidays
• Solutions to control stress and breathe easier
• Help your child(ren) manage the stress, too!
BACKGROUND OF PRESENTER
• Developer of PRAXES, parenting
program for reducing parenting stress
• 40 years in behavioral health,
including over 30 years as Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist
• 27 years as director of outpatient and
inpatient mental health and substance
abuse programs
• Parent of three adoptive children
with mental health problems
• Challenged dog owner
WHAT IS STRESS?
• Change from our normal (positive
or negative)
• The brain’s response to demands
• Stress is in the eyes of the beholder
HOW DOES STRESS AFFECT
YOUR BODY?
• Fight, flight, or freeze
• Changes
• Pulse faster
• Breathe faster
• Muscles constrict
• Eyes dilate
• Cortisol excreted to
reduce inflammation
• You survive!
WHAT ABOUT
CHRONIC STRESS?
• Mind thinks everything
is urgent
• Lower body immunity
• Trouble sleeping
• Somatic problems
• Body wears down
• Emotional disorders
DURING THE HOLIDAYS,
WHAT ELSE
COULD GO WRONG?
• Increases in:
• Domestic violence
• Alcohol
consumption
• Food consumption
• Drug consumption
SHOPPING STRESS
COOKING STRESS
• More dishes
• More costs
• Got to make those _____________
(cookies, cakes, pies, etc.)
THE HOLIDAYS AND THE
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD
(SNC)
• Increase in activity at home and school
• More demands in school
for songs, projects, etc.
• Expectations of presents at home
• Child as the sponge
• More interactions with family/others
SNC HOLIDAY
BEHAVIORS
• Emotional outbursts
• Verbal aggression
• Physical aggression
• Withdrawal
• Increase in symptoms
and behaviors
DESTRESSING TIME
• Organize your time
• Set your goals for the holiday
• What needs to be done?
• Can you remove tasks to
reduce demands?
DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR
YOURSELF
• Take time for your hobbies
• Music
• Exercise
• Gardening
• What you like to do
TAKE TIME TO RELAX
• Sit in comfortable chair
• Close eyes
• Take deep breath hold for
five seconds, let out
• Tense and relax muscles
• Two more deep breaths
• Picture relaxing image, or
continue tense and relax
• Open eyes when ready
DESTRESSING
THE SNC
• Time out options?
• Self-soothing skills?
• Have a buddy
• Code word
• Lots of praise
DESTRESSING THE
FAMILY
• What do you tell other
family members?
• Child’s strengths and
how to handle
challenges
• Know the buddy
• Know the code word
• Know what to say
WHAT ARE HOLIDAYS
SUPPOSED TO BE?
• Time for family and friends
• Celebrate your special holiday
(Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa,
Posada, etc.)
• Make is an enjoyable time!
QUESTIONS?
•Thank you
•Dan Thorne, LMFT
•[email protected]
•www.praxesmodel.com
•657-200-5031