September 17, 2002 Hello! "In a world where inner
quiet is all too rare, much has been written about children and stress,
particularly since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Even before that,
the self-help shelves of bookstores brimmed with volumes devoted to
helping youngsters overcome trauma, be it divorce, serious illness
or the death of a loved one. Far less attention has been paid to helping
young people cope with day-to-day stresses like taking tests, competing
in sports, being invited to the right birthday parties and staving
off playground bullies. At the same time, said Dr. Georgia Witkin,
director of the Stress Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine
in Manhattan, childhood is more stressful than ever..." Tests, teasing, try-outs, tournaments, teachers, school, social life, sports, students, and STRESS are all a part of life. "Stress:
Who Has Time For It?" A little bit of stress gives us the kick we need to excel when we need to. Depending on that stress-adrenalin to get us through each day is physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. How often do you see those around you stressed? An environment of people under stress adds another level of stress. How often do you see them not stressed? How often do you see people relax without feeling guilty for not being busy to the point of stress? How do we convince people that it is okay to slow down? How do we convince our parents, peers, and ourselves that stress is not the goal? How do we reprogram our brains, and help those around us reprogram their thinking, so that we can accept the concept of taking time to relax? Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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