Tag: Anxiety

Parental Stress has been declared a significant public health issue. How will you fight it?

The US Surgeon General has declared Parental stress as a significant public health issue. Dr. Vivek Murthy recently released a 36 page advisory on this important issue.
Click HERE to read more.

Dr. Murthy says that we need a culture shift. The advisory says: “It’s time to value and respect time spent parenting on par with time spent working at a paying job, recognizing the critical importance to society of raising children.” Parents and caregivers need societal support and to be able to talk openly about the stress of parenting. Like an earlier surgeon general’s advisory, it says more connection is needed to combat loneliness and isolation among parents.

“The bottom line is that we’ve got to start seeing mental health as health. It is no less important than our physical health,” Murthy said Wednesday. “If we can attend to both our mental and physical health, then we have a good chance, you know, of being happy, healthy and fulfilled, and that’s what we all want for ourselves and especially for our kids.”

The Morning Thing shared some ways for Moms and Dads to fight stress.

For Moms, we shared 5 shifts in focus that can help alleviate Mom Stress.
Click HERE to read the full article from imom.com
1. Focus on your breathing.

2. Focus on your inner critic.

3. Focus on what brings you comfort.

4. Focus on forgiving yourself.

5. Focus on what you can control.

For Dads, we shared 5 ways to address fatherhood stress.
Click HERE to read the full article from allprodad.com
1. Start the day early.

2. Write daily goals and journal.

3. Get active.

4. Find moments to read.

5. Connect with other dads.

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Struggling with being a People Pleaser?

Have you ever struggled with feeling the stress and anxiety of trying to please everyone around you? You definitely aren’t alone. Today on The Morning Thing, we shared 7 powerful tips from the Positivity Blog that can help you stop this unhealthy habit and replace it with a more positive, confident mindset!

Click HERE to read the full article

  1. Realize that with some people it isn’t about you and what you do (no matter what you do)
  2. Learn how to say no
  3. Reminder: People don’t really care that much about what you say or do
  4. Learn how to handle criticism and verbal lash outs (and the fear of that)
  5. Set boundaries for yourself
  6. Strengthen your self-esteem
  7. Keep your focus on what YOU want out of your life
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It’s Back to School Week on The Morning Thing!

We know many students in our area are getting ready to go back to school, and many students are going back this week. We want to help you and your child have a smooth transition as they head into the school year!

This morning on The Morning Thing, we shared some relaxing things you can do before the semester starts. Click HERE to see the full list. We especially loved the idea of taking a hike (and the weather forecast looks promising for a hike this week!), cleaning out your closet, and going berry picking. Take some time for both you and your student to unwind before the school year starts.

Is your child feeling anxious for the school year? Sometimes starting new things can make children nervous. If they are, here’s 5 tips from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center:

  • A week or two before school, start preparing children for the upcoming transition by resuming school-year routines, such as setting a realistic bedtime and selecting tomorrow’s clothes.
  • Arrange play dates with one or more familiar peers before school starts. Research shows that the presence of a familiar peer during school transitions can improve children’s academic and emotional adjustment.
  • Visit the school before the school year begins, rehearse the drop-off and spend time on the playground or inside the classroom if the building is open. Have your child practice walking into class while you wait outside or down the hall.
  • Come up with a prize or a rewarding activity that the child could earn for separating from mom or dad to attend school.
  • Validate the child’s worry by acknowledging that, like any new activity, starting school can be hard but soon becomes easy and fun.

Click HERE to learn more about easing your child’s anxiety.

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Stress Awareness Day

We all get stressed every now and then but most of the time it’s because we are not focusing on what is important, Jesus. When we focus on Jesus our stress won’t magically go away but we can remember that we don’t have to go through it alone. This morning we talked about “Seven Ways to Keep Your Focus on Jesus” from All Things Life. To read the full article click HERE.

Here are some of the ways we talked about…

  • Set aside alone time with Him each day.
  • Worship Music
  • Post It Notes
  • Add Scriptures to Your Phone

We also talked about 20 Calming Bible Verses for Worry, Stress, and Anxiety. This article is from Homemade Lovely. To read all 20 verses click right HERE.

Here are a couple of verses we shared this morning…

  • Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
  • Psalm 23:4  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
  • Psalm 46:10  “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth!”

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It’s World Mental Health Day. We have tips on fighting anxiety.

(information and picture from www.daysoftheyear.com)
World Mental Health Day was established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. In some countries around the world, it forms just one part of the larger Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Mental health problems, ranging from issues like depression and anxiety disorders to conditions like schizophrenia, affect millions of people around the world. In fact, according to current statistics, 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem during their lifetime and many more will see friends of family members affected.

This morning, we shared 10 tips on how to calm anxiety in the moment.
These 10 expert-backed suggestions from www.webmd.com can relax your mind and help you regain control of your thoughts.
Click HERE for the full article. These tips are from Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of Freeing Yourself from Anxiety. 

1. Stay in your time zone.

Ask yourself: What’s happening right now? Am I safe? Is there something I need to do right now? If not, make an “appointment” to check in with yourself later in the day to revisit your worries so those distant scenarios don’t throw you off track.

2. Relabel what’s happening.

Panic attacks can often make you feel like you’re dying or having a heart attack. Remind yourself: “I’m having a panic attack, but it’s harmless, it’s temporary, and there’s nothing I need to do”.

3. Fact-check your thoughts.

People with anxiety often fixate on worst-case scenarios. To combat these worries, think about how realistic they are.  Getting into a pattern of rethinking your fears helps train your brain to come up with a rational way to deal with your anxious thoughts.

4. Breathe in and out.

Deep breathing helps you calm down. Focus on evenly inhaling and exhaling. This will help slow down and re-center your mind.

5. Follow the 3-3-3 rule.

Look around you and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body — your ankle, fingers, or arm. Whenever you feel your brain going 100 miles per hour, this mental trick can help center your mind, bringing you back to the present moment.

6. Just do something.

Stand up, take a walk, throw away a piece of trash from your desk — any action that interrupts your train of thought helps you regain a sense of control.

7. Stand up straight.

For an immediate physical antidote to anxiety, pull your shoulders back, stand or sit with your feet apart, and open your chest. This helps your body start to sense that it’s back in control.

8. Stay away from sugar.

Research shows that eating too much sugar can worsen anxious feelings. Instead of reaching into the candy bowl, drink a glass of water or eat protein.

9. Ask for a second opinion.

Call or text a friend or family member and run through your worries with them. It can also help to write your fears on paper.

10. Watch a funny video.

Laughing is a good prescription for an anxious mind. Research shows that laughter has lots of benefits for our mental health and well-being; one study found that humor could help lower anxiety as much as (or even more than) exercise can.

If you deal with anxiety on a regular basis, mediation doesn’t have to be your only treatment. Here are self-care tips from www.webmd.com that can be worked into your daily routine:

Click HERE for the full article.

Move your body. Exercise is an important part of physical — and mental — health.

Pay attention to sleep. Both quality and quantity are important for good sleep
– Leave screens behind before you hit the hay.
– Try to stick to a schedule.
– Be sure your bed is comfy.
– Keep your room’s temperature on the cool side.

Ease up on caffeine. 

Schedule your worry time. Take 30 minutes to identify what’s bothering you and what you can do about it. Have your “worry session” at the same time every day. Don’t dwell on “what-ifs.” Focus on what actually makes you anxious.

Breathe deep. It sends a message to your brain that you’re OK. That helps your mind and body relax. To get the most out of it, lie down on a flat surface and put one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Take a slow breath in. Make sure it fills your belly enough that you can feel it rise slightly. Hold it for a second, then slowly let it out.

Be the boss of your thoughts. Try to turn any negative thoughts into positive ones. Picture yourself facing your fears head-on. The more you do this in your mind, the easier it will be to deal with it when it happens.

Tame tense muscles. Relax them with this simple exercise: Choose a muscle group, tighten it for a few seconds, then let go. Focus on one section at a time and work through your whole body. This is sometimes called progressive muscle relaxation.

Help out in your community. Spend time doing good things for others. It can help you get out of your head. Volunteer or do other work in your community. Not only will it feel good to give back, you’ll make connections that can be a support system for you, too.

Look for triggers. Think of times and places where you notice yourself feeling most anxious. Write them down, if you need to. Look for patterns and work on ways you can either avoid or confront the feelings of panic and worry. If you know the causes of your anxiety, that can help you put your worries into perspective. Next time, you’ll be better prepared when it affects you.

 

 

 

 

 

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It’s A Comeback Morning!

boxing

Today on the Morning Thing, we shared stories of Tragedy turned to Triumph from some of your favorite artists and the songs that they inspired.

Although it was written a few years prior, Natalie Grant’s More Than Anything became her “anthem” during her cancer scare. Click HERE to hear Natalie talk about the story behind the song. Click HERE and HERE to read about Natalie’s cancer scare and how God lead her through.

Citizen Way’s Ben Calhoun wrote their song When I’m With You about the miscarriage of their son, Jeremiah. Click HERE to hear Ben talk about how God brought the Calhoun family through one of their darkest times.

Jeremy Camp wrote the song I Still Believe about the tragic loss of his first wife, Melissa, to cancer. Although his faith was tested, God helped him rise above it. Click HERE and HERE to read more.

Danny Gokey also lost his wife during a routine heart surgery right before he began as a contestant on American Idol, which inspired the song Hope in Front of Me. Read about how God used the death of Danny’s wife Sophia HERE and HERE.

Steven Curtis Chapman tragically lost his five-year-old adopted daughter Maria when she was accidentally struck by her brother’s car in the family’s driveway. And yet he managed to rise above it and wrote the song Heaven is the Face. Click HERE to read more.

Mandisa wrote her album Out of the Dark about the aftermath of the death of her friend Kisha. Kisha’s loss to breast cancer nearly lead Mandisa to end her own life, but you can read about how God used those around her to lead her out of the dark HERE. Mandisa had also been praying for her brother’s salvation for decades. When he finally accepted Christ, she wrote the song Good News. Listen to her talk about the song HERE.

for King & Country’s Joel Smallbone dealt with an illness that put him out of commission for months and could have taken his life. As a result, the brothers wrote the song Shoulders. Click HERE to hear them talk about the song and HERE to read more.

Ryan Stevenson, a former EMT, definitely knows what it’s like to be in the Eye of the Storm. Click HERE to hear him talk about the story behind that song.

Plumb dealt with debilitating anxiety while growing up and still struggles with it today. She also saw her marriage come back from the brink of destruction through the grace of God. All this inspired her to write her song Need You Now. Click HERE to hear her talk about the song and HERE to read more about how God brought her through heartache.

Take heart and be encouraged, for God is with you!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

-Deuteronomy 31:6

As always, thanks for listening!

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Do you deal with stress and anxiety? Read this!

marcy-at-christmas-parade

So many of us deal with stress and anxiety. Are we successful in handling it in our daily lives?
Today, The Morning Thing shared 7 insights from www.releventmagazine.com

Check out the FULL article HERE.

Here are seven ways to deal with anxiety and stress:

1. Admit There’s a Problem

2. Stop Self-Medicating in Unhealthy Ways

3. Take Care of Yourself Physically

4. Be Intentional About What Goes into Your Mind

5. Don’t Neglect the Spiritual

6. Consider Seeing a Doctor

7. Embrace the Blessing of Brokenness

 

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