Mental Health Awareness Month By Andrea Schramm, MA, LPC The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month and two of the most prominent organizations, Mental Health America and National Alliance on Mental Illness have wonderful tools for living with and sharing with each other the importance of our mental health. This year Mental Health America is recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month with their “Tools 2 Thrive” downloadable toolkit which contains all kinds of wonderful tools for engaging organizationally, socially and individually with the importance of our mental health. Check out the Fast Facts and Tips for Success in this amazing toolkit! https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month-2021-toolkit-download. National Alliance on Mental Illness has identified the month of May with the words “You Are Not Alone” and the opportunity for each of us to tell our own unique experience with mental health through video, picture or story. What a wonderful way for all of us to connect on the topic of our mental health and well-being! https://notalone.nami.org/ Remember we all come into this world with the best of intentions and do the best we know how. Our mental health is a fluid concept and mental illness is an experience many, if not all of us will have at some place across our life span. Treat each other and yourself with kindness and learn to accept yourself and others where we are. We are all on a journey through life and all our roads are different and unique to each of us. Practice keeping curiosity in your mind for times when your own thoughts and feelings and the actions of others are challenging. Consider exploring the tools provided above as an investment of your time and attention on the subject of your mental health and the mental health of those you know and love. If you think you need support for your mental health, reach out to your primary care physician, counseling services or a trusted friend or family member for support. If you are experiencing suicidal ideations or feeling worthless, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
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Parental Burnout: A tribute to single parent mothers and fathers who get burned out! By Ken Barrett, MSW, LCSW The typical parent is likely to get “burn out” which is not to be mistaken with compassion fatigue. Burnout as a parent causes exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed, emotional distancing from one’s children and a sense of being an ineffective parent. (Psychology Today, Posted September 2019) Let’s take for example, single mothers who are statistically by far the largest demographic of single parents. We are in a Pandemic and the amount of time at home has significantly increased putting an immense amount of pressure on single parents who are mothers in overwhelming numbers. I would be remiss in not mentioning men also are single parents and will be considered in this discussion not as an afterthought but as a key part of their children’s life. Based on the Census, 2020 first results single parent mothers make up 23% of all mothers parenting children under 18 years of age who live without a partner. In addition, 6% of fathers live without a partner and parent children under 18 is also significant (Census 2020, first results). Mother’s Day is coming up so be thankful for what our mothers contributed and contribute to our lives especially those who parent and parented alone. The obstacles single parent mother’s face is insurmountable. Overcoming sexism, shattering the glass ceiling all while trying to be healthy parents to their offspring. Can you imagine why it would be easy to give up given the context that presents itself to women-mothers across the globe. My contention is that there were many times my mother could have been broken. She was ahead of her times given all three of her sons did laundry by the time we were early teens, knew how to cook at an early age and learned empathy at a young age for our mother’s challenges. I have compiled a list of coping strategies for parental burnout (zerotothree.org): Remember it is ok to drop some of the balls; share the workload; do something special for yourself; be present with others; give yourself and your child credit; focus on the problem and what it might be telling you. Tips for managing teens to avoid burnout: (yourteenmag.com Neil Brown, LCSW): Eliminate control battles. Be clear with your teen and yourself what your expectations of her are in a civilized tone. ‘Be sure that the change of behavior belongs to the teen. Be patient with your teen. Remember all their qualities and what you love about them and communicate that to them. Use privileges to motivate your child to do the right thing. Try not to overfocus on punishment but rather reward behavior you have agreed upon with your teen is culturally acceptable. Have a regularly enforced tech policy in your home. Tech devices should be unavailable at meals and an hour before bedtime. Get parenting support. If you have friends and family who gives unconditional acceptance and good listeners then engaging them would be productive. Do not enlist people who have a tendency to be overly critical. Make time for yourself. Me-time is essential to surviving the rigors of parenting. If you paint, find time to paint a picture. If exercise is your thing find time to fit this into your schedule. If feasible make sure your work environment meets your parenting needs. Try to get your employer to allow you to work a flexible enough schedule to meet your child’s needs. A short poem about a single parent: I think and think about how mom found the energy of heart to love so strong. Tucking me in bed at night and tending to me in the morning. Certain is she to approve of me in terms of development and disapprove of impulsive fight and flight. Always there like a solid tree but she like me needs sun, water, air and rest. |
JENNIFER EULBERG, MA, LPCWelcome Jennifer, our new blogger!
Jennifer is a counselor at Sandhill who specializes in depression, self-esteem, and grief & loss. Get to know Jennifer as she shares her perspectives on life, contemplates value themes, and offers gentle encouragement. THANK YOU to Stefanie Pisarkiewicz, LPC for her blog contributions from November 2014 - February 2019! Archives
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