What is the Duck Syndrome? Think of a duck gliding smoothly along the water. It may look very peaceful and calm, but if you look under the water, the duck is paddling frantically.
Many kids and teens appear calm, cool, and collected on the outside; however on the inside they feel stressed out. For many, they want it all. They so desperately want to be on the honor roll student, the gifted athlete, and be a part of the ‘popular’ crowd. That may be attainable for some kids, but for others, trying to live up to unattainable expectations can be unhealthy and may lead to unhealthy ways of coping.
What Can Parents Do To Help?
As parents, you can help your child by teaching them the importance of setting limits and establishing realistic goals. You can also help by encouraging stress management techniques. Below are a few simple stress management tips and techniques.
Stress Management Tips and Tricks:
Tip #1 – Find Out What Stresses You the Most
If you need to, make a list of everything that’s on your mind. You can’t do anything to stop your stress until you know what causes it.
Tip #2 – Don’t Procrastinate
Don’t put off the things you need to do. Keeping a daily planner can help keep you organized and on track. Focus on tasks as well as decisions. Putting off making decisions can cause unnecessary stress and worry.
Tip #3 – Take Care of Yourself
Exercise, meditation or prayer, getting a good night’s sleep, eating well, spending time with pets, going for a walk, laughing and stretching – all of these are great for stress relief. Unfortunately, they are also sometimes the first things we stop doing when we feel under pressure.
Tip #4 – Accept that You Can’t Control Everything
Sometimes we just have to step back and realize that we can’t control everything. Some things are out of our hands, so why waste time stressing about them?
We need to teach our children the importance of setting limits and realistic goals for themselves. If you notice that your child is feeling stressed out, help is available at Comfy Couch Psychology. After all, paddling frantically is for the birds!
By: Christine Turner, B. Ed, MC, R. Psych
