Is Your Family Stressing You Out?

January 04, 2018

Being part of a family is an important part of an enriched life.

Yet, there are sacrifices and challenges in being part of any family.

Even the most loving, supportive family can be hit by tragedy, sickness, or dysfunction that takes a toll on its members.

Is Your Family Causing You Stress?

Truly, family stress can arise from just about anything. Addressing it in a productive way is the key to solving the problem and finding a happier way to live.

A few common causes of family stress:

• Financial struggles, loss of employment, or underemployment are common sources of family stress.
• The romantic relationship may be unhappy or suffering from neglect.
• Not all members of the family may contribute equally to the responsibilities leading to resentments.
• The parents could have different ideas about how to care for the children, leading to fighting and confusion.
• One or more of the children may be having a challenge that needs special attention (behavior issues, problems at school or with other kids).
• There may be stress between extended family members (in laws, aunts, uncles, etc).
• A family may have the responsibility of caring for a sick member who is unable to care for him or herself.
• A family member may be dealing with substance abuse or alcoholism causing a strain in day-to-day life.

Where to Begin to Address Family Stress

Identify the problem.

First, don’t ignore what’s going on. Address it directly, but calmly in a casual environment.

Seek out professional guidance with a family therapist if it’s an issue that you’re not sure how to handle.

Having a counselor present can encourage a more positive dialogue. It may be the best option for complex issues like addiction, romantic problems, or parenting differences.

Establish boundaries.

If one family member is carrying the burden of the responsibility, everyone must work harder to contribute.

If a sick family member is struggling, they may need outside help or a support group. If one of the children is having a challenge, steps can be taken to create structure to encourage better behavior.

While it’s difficult to change long standing patterns, establishing better boundaries will encourage a happier, less stressful home environment.

Create healthy solutions.

If you’re always in charge, ask for a break when you need it. Other members will step up if they need to. You may be surprised at how much everyone is capable of contributing.

If the kids have been running wild, create a schedule for them and stick with it. Most kids actually want structure.

If a member is facing alcoholism or substance abuse, you may need to remove them from the home in they’re unwilling to make changes.

While this process can be difficult, your whole house will run better if you create healthy solutions.

Develop a nurturing self-care routine.

It’s easy to caught up in family stress, and neglect your own needs. How long has it been since you went to lunch with a friend, hit the gym, or enjoyed a walk in the woods?

Try to take 30 minutes every day to do something that relaxes you. Writing in a journal or meditating really helps some people.

Use an herbal Stress Daily Tonic can also help you build resistance to the effects of chronic stress.

Remember, your self-care routine helps you and your whole family. When you feel better, problems that seemed insurmountable may end up having easy solutions.

Round Up

If your family is stressing you out, try the suggestions in this article and seek outside help from a family counselor when you need it.

Give yourself permission to take a break every day for self-care. You can encourage other family members to find their own healthy ways to relax, too.

With a little forethought and care, your family could work better together than ever before. Addressing family stress together can help you all become closer and find permanent solutions.

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