Managing Family Stress

Dr. Sadhana Mathad

The term stress was introduced by Hans Selye in 1934 in Medial Terminology. She described it as ‘the unconditioned response of the body to any demand’.

Family stress is the strain and tension caused by various problems and responsibilities. This stress can affect the emotional, physical and social well-being of different members. Stress can be caused by financial problems, work-life balance issues or major life events such as illness, childbirth.

This type of stress affects the dynamics of the family beyond individual members. Stress can spread tension, misunderstandings and fights. For example- work-related stress can make family members impatient or irritable at home, which can affect their relationship with their partner’s children. Stress is your body’s response to everyday events that happen in your life. Stress can be positive and can lead to women gaining strength. But stress can also be negative and destructive, affecting areas of a mother’s life. When stress becomes chronic or excessive, it becomes difficult to overcome and cope with. Chronic stress can become so intense that for some women, stress can feel like a bad way of life. Often women are so depressed that they don’t take time to slow down long enough to think about how tension negatively affecting them.

A personal wellness plan with  built in periods and recovery and self-care can empower women to manage stress and make healthy lifestyle changes.

the situation, change how you react to it. Reflect on aspects of your life for which you are greathd

 Remind yourself that gratitude leads to happiness, 

 Eat lots of of fruits and vegetables, Drink lots of water.

 Don't allow yourself to dwell on the negative, A passive outlook carries health and social benefits.

Key Strategies to manage family tension

open Communication:- Encourage honest and openDialogue to address concerns and conflicts proactively. Practice "I' Statements to express feelings without blaming others.

Healthy Boundaries → Respect personal space and needs. Learn to say "No" Lehen necessary. Establish clear expectations for behavior within the family.

Quality time together-Schedule regular family meals or activities to test connections

Shared Responsibilities: - Distribute household chores and responsibilities fairly among family members Acknowledge and appreciate individual contribution

Identify the sources of tension-1 Understanding the root cause of family conflict is crucial to addressing it effectively.

Positive reinforcement - Recognize and praise positive behaviors within the family.

writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a good release for, otherwise pent-up feeling, don't think about hat to write, let it happen, write anything that comes to mind. No else needs to read it

 Try the 5 R's of tension - Rethink, Relax Release Reduce and Reorganize. Rethink your situation, take time to relax, release your tension

Conclusion - Family tension is a natural part of life, but its management is vital for maintaining a harmon and nuturing family enviornment By understanding the com and effects of family tension and implementing effective Loping Strategies, families can strengthen their resilience and support each other through challenging times. Open Communication, empathy, shared responsibilities, play couc rales in family tension Remember a supportive and com -cted family unit is better equipped to face stressees together and thrive as unified and loving entity-

Family tension management is about maintaining relationship relational health, not just reducing tension, Reduce tension to ensure your fo long-term happiness and stability. Stress managem. is a continual effort, but you may establish a tranquil and Supportive household with the appr tacties

Recognition and management of tension -enhance family relationships, improve communic and create more positive and resto nurturing enviornment.

Emotional-Anxiety, depression, anger, unhappiness

irritability, feelings of being out of control, mined swings, frustration

Mental-Forgetfulness, worry, can't make decisione, negative thinking, lack of focus, boredon.

occupational work overload, long hours tense relatione, poor. concentration/unfulfilling job.

Social - Less intimacy, isolation, family problems, loneliness,

 Spiritual-Apathy, loss of meaning emptiness, unforgiving, doubt, quitt, despair

There are many causes of tension. Men and wamen Share many of the same sources of tension such as money matters job security, health and relationship issues perhaps alittle more unique to women are the many roles often they take on.

In today's Society, women's roles often include family obligating, care giving for children and / or elderly parents and work respondilattig as well as other roles. As demande increase to fulfill these roles, women can feel overwhelmed with time pressured and unmet Obligations. They may feel a sense of failure is not being alde to meet expectations for themselves and othear. often times women spend more time meeting the needs of othersy rather than nurturing their needs. If functioning high tension leveld, women may not even their needs are. recognize what their needs are.

How tension affects relationships: - Family and relationship tension are linked: Some times, tension spills over in to individual relationships, causing Strees and Strain, daily duties, family expectations, and external difficulties can Strain relationships between spouses, parents, children or Siblings.

Unresolved family tension can cause conflict and Weaken relationships Unmanned tension can lead to misunderstandings, resentment, and emotional estrangenut Financial tension may cause spouses to arque about budgeting or spending Parenting tension can also lead to disputes ing discipline or child care. This tension can result froma parent feeling stressed by work and taking out their -partner or siblings, sqyabbling more owing to a family members illness. 

How does tension affect on women health; -

Depression and anxiety> Women have higher rates of these conditions and other psychological disorders including panic dis order and eth olasessive compulsive disorder than men,

Heart problems-Tension increases blood pressure and heart rate

Headaches and Migraines-Tension headach as are more Common in women than men.

Obesity - Women are more prone to stress-related Weight gain than men

Bowel problems - Tension can lead to such bowel probleme as irritable bowel syndrome

Pregenancy issues-women with higher tension levels have more difficult time becoming pregnant than women with lower tension levels.

 Menstrual problems - Pre-menstrual syndrome is more Severe with increasing tension levels,

How can women manage tension? Women can manage.

tension by practicing healthy self care. Strategies for with tension. Examine your negative Stress signs in ead of these six life areas Physical, emotional, mental, ocu -Pation of social and spiritual. What would you like to be different in your life? What do you need

to do to achieve more balance or potential? Hore are Some suggestiong-@physical- Exercise, pratice relaxatio techniques [ yoga, meditation, listen to relaxing music eat healthy diet, Schedule leisure time, get enough sleep.

Emotional - Express your emotions, repeat positive emotions, work to ward a health, self esteem.

Mental-Have a positive outlook, realistic thinking, resilient attitude, be creative,

Occuptional - Estaldish double goals, identify home-wor balance, Set limits.

Social - Strive to maintain loving relationships, estat healthy boundaries, Stay Connected with friends.

Spiritual - Find your meaning/purpose, focus on grat. Stay in the present moment.

Personal wellness plan - A personal wellness with goals canbe helpful. Goal setting can seem overw. These practical steps can get you started

Review life areas -Examine the sin life areas forpot Change

Identify goals - Be aware of what needs to be done Set goals

Be specific, know what you want to accomplist

Set measurable targets, move in the right direct

Be realistic - set smaller goals that are achieveak

 Identify resources - Use helpful resources to rede propotential problems.

 set time limits - Consider reasonable, specific tim. 

Other helpful hints - Reflect on the sources of of your Can you off load any of these areas? If you haven't Why not? Look for meaning and purpose in what decide to keep.

Focus on the present - Stay in the present.

Practice acceptance - Accept what can't be cha Change what can be changed. If you can't change

what a family strength - familias can be a ser support and love, Roya and well-being Family tention con aire frun fheing and tude of facture, both intesond and entrenal, and othe affend each fromiy member &ferently. Understanding fans teration is crucial for dentifying ites cover, effects an Implementary effective strategied for maging it. fention con. Verions froms such as financial ank-life balance challenges, parenting responsibili Gmonention issued, and major life changes.

Common Reasons for tension in the family-

Different things can cause tension in the fam one family member may be going through a stressful time, as the lolole family may be gaing through a stressful tin at the same time.

Having a sick family members.

* Economic difficulty or financial Stress

* Getting a new house

* Communication issued

School and academic pressures

- inter personal conflicts

dive Divorce or splitting op

Death of family member

what  are the sympthoms of Tensioni-

There are many Symptoms of tension. Each reacts to stress is unique ways. Common Symptoms = tensions in women include physical - Headaches difficulty sleeping, tiredness, pain (must commer the back and neck), over recating, under eating, St drug and alcohol misuse, lack of energy, Problems, da Stomach, les interest in Sex.