Stress has always been part of the human condition but in earlier times, the negative effects were often intermittent and temporary, often as a "flight" or "fight" response to the kill or be killed type of existence of early man. The physiological and psychological effects did not linger once the danger had passed, and people in those times were much more likely to die from bacteria-related diseases, hunger, warfare or loss of shelter. The modern world throws up stressors daily, and without tools to defuse the effects, they accumulate. These stressors exist equally for children as well as adults, although different in type and effect.
Stress is a response to changes in the equilibrium of the body, and since this is a function of the nervous system, these changes have no age restrictions. However, the experiences that elicit the response have different effects on different people, adult and child alike, depending upon each person's perception of the situation relative to individual life experiences. An adult, for example, will respond differently than a child in the same situation, something recognized by professionals when counseling children.
There are many different reasons that an adult suffers from stress and sometimes the solutions can seem difficult, heightening the stress levels. As adults, we tend to overlook the stresses that can affect our children. There are so many things that affect them, peer pressure being one of those everyday stresses. They usually are concerned with pressures at school to learn, to get along with teachers, be accepted by their peers and to be seen as good as something. There could be conflict within the family unit, or they may be confronted with bullying or drug issues.
It is usually easier for adults to find ways to solve their problems, since they are often faced with many choices. Mostly, children don't have options and often feel totally powerless to change anything in their situation that could remove the stress.
While the carer may not be able to remove every cause of stress from a child's life, there are many things they can do to smooth the road. Children respond to love, attention, structure and routine. They need proper rest, time to relax, and good nourishment. Criticizing a child will not get good results; complimentary and uplifting comments will get better results and will help to improve behavioral issues.
Any loving parent or carer would implement necessary changes when signs that a child's stress levels are raised. Such signs can be headaches, stomach illnesses, wetting the bed or even withdrawing contact from those around them. A psychologist helps to train the child to deal with stress with age appropriate tools.
Author Resource:-
Counseling Brisbane adults through stressful times in their lives help the children in their care and with the help of a psychologist Brisbane from Centre For Human Potential http://www.centreforhumanpotential.com.au/ , families can learn ways to cope better with stress.
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