Our founder Dr. Dana McNeil was featured in an interesting article from San Diego Family. It talks about Emotional Tune-Up: How To Stay Healthy In Times Of Stress. Here, she encourages parents to tune in to physical reactions to stress.
Dr. Dana McNeil, licensed therapist and founder of The Relationship Place in San Diego, encourages parents to tune in to physical reactions to stress. Is your breathing shallow? Your pulse racing? Are you having difficulty thinking clearly? “This is your body telling you that your brain is being highjacked by cortisol and adrenaline,” says McNeil. “Frustration has impacted your ability to be present and make good decisions. Let these physical responses serve as a signal that it’s best to step away and take a break.”
She also discussed the importance of self-care for parents:
Prioritize self-care. Some parents feel guilty doing things for themselves when there are so many needs and tasks they could be doing for their children. Dr. McNeil stresses that parents must prioritize self-care, even when they feel like they don’t have time. “If you don’t,” she says, “you’re much more susceptible to being run down, short-tempered, less resilient, and not fully present when your children need you most.”
View Jody Lee Cates‘ full article here.