Question:

I was interested to read your Work Therapy response to the question of what to do about happy, chatty office colleagues being distracting.

A family I know has a long-standing rule: silence for an hour after the early evening meal – or lunch on weekends and even at their holiday house when visitors are there. It’s time for people to read, go for a walk alone, do yoga or tai chi, or sleep or relax. Brilliant.

In the office, there could be a quiet hour when people can concentrate on reading, writing emails, thinking and creating etc… restricting non-essential chatter. Or there could be a designated quiet place (much like quiet carriages on trains). What do you think?

Answer:

Thanks for reading and for your thought-provoking suggestions.

I like the idea of a peaceful place. In fact, I worked in an office with a dedicated quiet room several years ago and people certainly used it. The problem was it was right near a fairly busy area of the building (and had a reasonably flimsy door), so it was quiet in name, but not always in nature.

The post How to maintain a quiet space in a chatty office appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/how-to-maintain-a-quiet-space-in-a-chatty-office/

Everyone knows that too much technology, without enough exercise or social engagement, is not in the best interests of the child.  Everyone knows that children can be bullied online – but sometimes we do not realise how unsafe our child may be. It seems that for most parents, there is an ongoing balancing act with technology, wanting their children to learn the skills and be part of the group, while knowing that there are risks that are being taken.

Read Amanda Gordon’s latest article on this tricky yet critical topic on CHILD Mag.

The post Parenting in the age of technology appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/parenting-in-the-age-of-technology/

The world as we know it has changed dramatically over a short period of time and many children, even the younger ones, will be picking up that something strange is going on. Perhaps they are now staying home when they used to be in day care, or they aren’t seeing their grandparents as routinely as they would – or perhaps the school term has finished earlier and they aren’t spending time going to the parks and playgrounds, the zoo and museums.

They’ll want an explanation!

Tips to best support and manage their concerns –

– Be aware of our own behaviour – Children pick up on our anxiety, so if we are feeling anxious or stressed about what’s going on, our children will pick up on this and they’ll become anxious. The problem is that, for children, it’s even more difficult as often they won’t actually understand what they are anxious about. If we are having conversations around the dinner table, talking to our partners about the news or latest updates – children will be hearing phrases and words that may cause them to feel anxious.

It’s important to be aware of our behaviour and what we are saying and feeling around our children. When they ask for clarification, have a clear message that you and those others who are caring for them are agreement on, and use age-appropriate language to explain. Suggest to the grandparents and extended family that, when they get online and converse with the kids, they keep to the same message.

– Reassurance – it’s important to be giving children more hugs and cuddles at the moment. Let them know that (if it’s true) everyone in the family is safe and this is why we are distancing ourselves and staying home. If someone in your circle does get ill, reassure your child that everything is being done to help them get better and that sending hugs and kisses through the air is appropriate right now.

– Help them with things they can control – while there is a lot of uncertainty, children will respond to guidance and behaviours that they can control ie: show them and remind them about washing their hands and being physically distant from others, set up a reasonable schedule in their day that will make them feel comfortable.

Children respond very well to a schedule, they need to know when it is a school day and when it is weekend or school holiday time, so their days should reflect that. For instance, on a school day, they should get up at a reasonable time, get dressed (ideally in their school uniform but otherwise in suitable clothes) and have breakfast, prior to attempting their schoolwork.

Have set break times and perhaps allow them to facetime a friend at lunchtime.Then allow it again only after the day’s work has been completed. On weekends, allow much greater flexibility, just as you would if life was “the old normal”.

– Let them connect with family and friends – Most of us have the internet and devices to use, so that children can easily connect with family and friends. Remember, we have to physically distance ourselves but the goal is to enhance our social connections by working hard at them.

If the grandparents can use zoom or facetime, even better. Otherwise, the phone is still a great device. Set up playdates for your younger children and they can stay in touch with their friends. The little ones can dance together, sing together, listen to a story together. Slightly older ones will contrive games. And those in upper primary years and high school are probably already used to chatting.

Some kids prefer to play online games together – you are probably going to be allowing more screen time than usual, but do ensure you continue to monitor how the screens are being used.

Our Kids will cope as long as they realise that we are coping

It’s important to practice self- care, so that we can stay on top of our emotions and stress levels – regular exercise, eating well and getting a good night’s sleep are paramount.

I cannot stress enough the importance of caring for your own well-being by having some time on your own, and working on your relationship by creating quality time amongst the madness that is life for most of us right now.

Clinical Psychologist, Amanda Gordon is available for both face to face and phone consultations if you would like further tips on managing anxiety in children during these difficult times.

The post Talking to children to manage their anxiety during difficult times appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/children-and-anxiety-during-these-difficult-times/

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic” – Dumbledore

Covid-19 News Headlines

“65 million people could be killed by the novel coronavirus”

“We are living in a nightmare”

“Two-thirds of the planet could become infected by coronavirus”

“We will run out of ICU beds by May”

The way we are talking about Covid-19 is adding fuel to a fire that needs to be contained rather than powered. We are using words and phrases that connote worse-case scenarios and fueling the idea of a catastrophe. Words such as ‘nightmare’ and ‘overwhelming’ indicate danger and threat while negative predictions about the potential consequences of the virus induce panic. The result is an unnecessary layer of anxiety added on to an already un-nerving situation.

Change has become a reality to everyday life. People are working from home, businesses have closed, travel and personal events have been delayed or cancelled, and some of us are not able to visit loved ones. It is important to recognize that these are very real stressors and the accompanying emotions such as sadness, anxiety and anger are valid and extremely normal.

What is unhelpful during times of stress, is to hear external messages that are laced with negative connotations and dire predictions about the future. The person who received news that they are no longer able to visit their Grandma doesn’t need to read a headline that “We will run out of ICU beds by May”. The business owner who has been forced to shut down doesn’t need to be told that “We are going into a recession that will be worse than the Great Depression”. These messages are inducing fear in people who are already feeling a great deal of sadness. If we take Dumbledore’s advice, this is dark magic at its best.

Instead, we need to attempt to shift our language. Let’s shy away from negative predictions about the future and instead talk about what is happening today. Let’s replace emotion provoking words such as ‘overwhelming’ ‘crazy’ and ‘unprecedented’ with more neutral expressions such as ‘change’ ‘concerns’ and ‘impact’. There are a lot of platforms doing damage with words. Let’s do some good with them as well.

Luke is a Psychologist with experience providing individual and group therapy for adults and older adolescents who present with a range of mental health difficulties Luke appreciates idiosyncrasies and strives to tailor interventions to the individual needs of each client to empower them to reach their goals.

Please reach out to one of our clinical psychologist’s if you feel that you need some support during this time.

Written by: Luke Brock, Psychologist, Armchair Psychology

The post Let’s Change Our Language Around Covid-19 appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/lets-change-our-language-around-covid-19/

The post COVID-19: How to protect your children’s mental health appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/covid-19-protect-your-childrens-mental-health/

For many of us, what we face as coronavirus continues to spread is unprecedented,and the associated anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic is on the rise.

And it can cause fear and anxiety every which way we turn.

We’re facing social isolation and possibly working from home and employers put precautionary measures in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

When you go to the shops, your met with fellow shoppers filling up their trolleys and panic buying supplies, a response made by many in an attempt to gain some sort of reassurance.

You’re having conversations with friends and family that no doubt have an impact on how we’re feeling and can further amplify our emotions during a time of uncertainty.

You then turn on the television and watch the news of the way coronavirus is impacting the globe or scroll through social media on your phone to read the online commentary and it can all begin to feel mentally overwhelming very quickly.

But there are practical steps we can take to manage our mental health and subsequent anxiety around the health crisis.

10 daily spoke to clinical psychologist Amanda Gordon to find out exactly what we can do:

Acknowledge how you feel and know you’re not alone

Sweet explained above all, it’s actually natural for some people to feel anxious and that it’s a healthy and expected response to something that is unknown.

“When people are uncertain of something they’ve not experienced, there is little point of reference for them to drawn upon, which can lead to individuals fearing the worse case scenario,” she said.

However stress and anxiety are subjective experiences — so what may feel stressful to one person, may seem minimal to another. In either case, acknowledging how you feel is important.

“Validation is key for when someone expresses their stressful experience or disclose that their stress levels have escalated. It’s in the best interest of the person encountering the stress they are believed, that they heard and that they are accepted,” Sweet said.

“Stress can cause overwhelm, flooding and in some cases, cause a few to catastrophise. Self efficacy is vital for when anyone feels stressed, it’s an indicator for them to be mindful, become self aware and seek support.”

Use the people around you to help gauge your feelings

In addition to acknowledging your own feelings, Gordon said it’s important to talk to others to evaluate what’s reasonable and what’s not about your thoughts too.

“I got some very strange, anxious messages from friends today and I was able to say to them: ‘Look, I’m in the workplace right now, and that’s not the story’ or ‘I’m listening to the news right now, and that’s not the story’,” she said.

“Ensure that you listen to the authorities and don’t listen to random posts or read random posts from people and just accept anything because it’s not all true.”

Fill your time with meaningful activities instead of thoughts

According to Sweet, grounding and mindfulness exercises can be wonderful tools for anyone feeling nervous or scared within this present climate.

“Some great strategies in helping us remain calm are listening to a podcasts, reading and spending quality time with friends, family or anyone who is uplifting and a value add,” she said.

“Children are also enriching to be around and can in-fact help enhance adults lives, being a welcome distraction.”

Gordon agreed, explaining that distraction techniques are good ways to help you deal with the stress you might be feeling.

“Meditate and do breathing exercises as well as physical exercise, do things that control anxiety. Share with a friend if you’re feeling anxious,” she said.

Switch off when you’re feeling overwhelmed

It’s important to strike a balance between staying informed about what’s happening but also switching off when necessary.

“Research shows limiting our exposure to stressful images and information overload can reduce us becoming vicariously traumatised,” Sweet said.

Minimise media exposure and only read or watch evidence based information. I also suggest allocating a specific time within their day to which they view the factual information and for a structured period of time.

Sweet said this puts a boundary in place which will aid in feeling safe and secure, as well as dissipating anxiety and minimise catrophising.

“Turn off some of your social media feed. You only need to check out what the rules are once a day or maximum twice a day,” Gordon added.

“That’s as often as you need to hear the health minister talk over and over again about what’s going on.”

Engage with things that are good for you

Gordon said while you might not be able to have as much physical contact with people, social connection is still important in making us feel better.

“Alright you can’t shake anyone’s hand or give anyone a hug, but you can certainly smile. Smiles can go a long way. You can laugh, that’s not forbidden,” she said.

“You can watch something that’s funny, something you’ve wanted to watch for a long time. You can read a good book and talk about it with a friend, start a virtual book club.”

Turning technology into a positive rather than a negative is also a valuable step towards dealing with your mental health, according to Gordon.

“You can even play Bridge online if you need to, there are all sorts of things you can do using technology as your friend instead of your enemy,” she said.

“Technology can be your enemy at this time because you can start scrolling through and panicking and panicking and panicking or you can use it to engage with people in a really healthy way.”

If you feel that the coronavirus pandemic is affecting your mental space and exacerbating your anxiety, please reach out to one of our clinical psychologists. We have arranged for alternatives to face-to-face consultations for those that are hesitant to travel to our clinic.

The post How To Stay Calm And Manage Your Anxiety During The Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/managing-your-anxiety-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

As workplaces across Australia encourage their employees to work from home, it’s important to take a moment to consider the impact this could have on mental health.

Amid the surge in Australian coronavirus cases, health authorities have advised we practice social distancing in order ‘flatten the curve’ and slow the rate of transmission, and this has led to more people working from home as companies take initiative to curb the spread.

As such, those who are in a position to work from home are being strongly urged to do so.

Acting in accordance with the advice of health authorities is no doubt the most responsible thing to do right now. But in doing so, we need to be aware of the toll working from home and social distancing can take on our mental health.

To help maintain good mental health in these complicated times, 10 daily reached out to a experts Julie Sweet and Amanda Gordon for their advice.

According the clinical counsellor and psychotherapist Julie Sweet, the psychological impact of working from home will vary widely from person to person.

“For some people the psychological impact upon their mental health can be detrimental and extremely frightening to the individual. For others, the impact can be minor,” Sweet told 10 daily.

The psychotherapist explained that the mental health risks of working from home for two or more works increase greatly for the more vulnerable members of our society.

“Even though the psychological impact is understandable, some cohorts and population groups are susceptible to being more vulnerable than others when it comes to the enormity of the impact they sustain.”

Sweet continued, “People who are isolated or who lack connectivity in their lives or who already suffer from a preexisting condition or predisposition to depression or anxiety or even PTSD, can be at greater risk.”

Amanda Gordon, clinical psychologist and director of Armchair Psychology, adds that those who live alone are most likely to experience feelings of isolation while working from home.

“There are some people for whom their real social connection is through their workplace. That’s perfectly reasonable and legitimate. But it does mean if you don’t have your workplace, you risk social isolation,” Gordon told 10 daily.

She explains that even if time with your coworkers is vital for your mental health, there are a number of ways you can manage that while working from home.

No matter your situation and background, it’s important to stay as physically and mentally healthy as possible during this complicated process. The experts recommend you try implementing the following tips:

Maintain contact with friends and co-workers

Gordon recommends a number of ways to stay social and interactive with your friends and co-workers beyond the office.

“Don’t just text or email your colleagues, have telephone conversations with them. Perhaps even organise lunch breaks with them or FaceTime them, rather than just texting when it’s a ‘work thing’,” she said.

Beyond the important friendships and social stimulation we can experience when keeping in contact with our co-workers, it’s also very important to keep them in the loop with your workload.

Gordon believes that an effective way to battle feelings of isolation is to stay as stimulated and productive as possible. But also outlines that on the flip side, we need to be confident in communicating to our co-workers when we’re feeling overwhelmed.

“If you’re at home, you don’t have that ease to say ‘I’m overloaded, this is too much for me, can I hand it over?’,” she said.

You have to take responsibility for yourself and stay in contact with your manager.

“If you’re the manager, stay in touch with your team and ensure that they’re okay. Talk to them and check out how they are, say hello — don’t just check out how their project is going.”

Communicate openly and externalise your feelings

For Sweet, speaking up about your mental health is paramount.

“Share your fears with someone, anyone, from a trusted co-worker, to your closest friend, to your partner, or a professional. A burden shared becomes a lighter load to carry, so vulnerability is crucial when a momentary and fleeting feeling, becomes ongoing and chronic,” she said.

Sweet explained that a change in environment, like suddenly working from home, can activate an array of emotions.

It’s healthy to talk about it and to externalise our feelings. Basically, get out what lies within.

“It’s positive to identify the feeling and express it, giving a name to it.”

Sweet continued, “this may seem basic communication 101, though some can shut down in crisis and can feel flooded, creating them to become immobilised. Self awareness, insight and self care is paramount so needs can be met. Even more so when people transition from a collective team backdrop at work, to working from home often autonomously.”

Exercise regularly

According to Gordon, “the best protector of mental health is exercise.”

She explained, “often we get our exercise before we go to work or when we come home. And if you’re not going out to work, you might forget to take that time to yourself to exercise.”

If you are in quarantine, the clinical psychologist said that you must exercise in your home. But if you are working from home just to take precautions, there are a number of ways you can keep up your fitness.

“Get out and about and go for a run or jog or walk. Even see if a friend can work with you. Even though you’ll be apart a safe distance, you’re one and a half metres from each other, you can still exercise.”

Recognise the signs and seek clinical support quickly

Whether you take on the above recommendations or not, poor mental health can still affect anyone. This is why Julie Sweet stresses the importance of seeking clinical support, “whether it’s counselling, or psychotherapy, [it] can be hugely beneficial for many, as they navigate these new uncharted waters.”

By staying hyper aware of your own mental health and recognising your triggers, you can tackle the problem in its early stages.

“Early intervention is vital and it’s encouraged that the moment people feel charged, triggered, increased anxiety or panic, its in their best interest to contact professional healthcare and psychological supports services immediately,” said Sweet.

Amanda Gordon is a clinical Psychologist at Armchair Psychology, located in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. If you would like to speak to Amanda or one of our team, please reach out for tips on coping with the pressures of working from home.

The post How To Look After Your Mental Health If You’re Working From Home appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-if-youre-working-from-home/

Secrecy and shame around periods is slowly being phased out as more women talk openly about their menstrual cycle.

Read this article on Body+Soul.

Our clinical psychologist, Amanda Gordon says “There was a terrible time when people didn’t tell their partner they were menstruating because they were embarrassed, it’s much healthier to talk about what your body is going through.”

“Culturally, not everyone thinks it should be a public thing knowing that someone is menstruating, but at the same time it shouldn’t be stigmatised because it’s part of being a woman,” she said.

“Not everyone is so comfortable talking about it, in the same way they don’t really want to talk about their bowel movements either.”

“There’s a difference between stigma and making things public. There can still be some things that are private but you shouldn’t feel stigma or shame around them.”

The post Why we need to banish period stigma appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/why-we-need-to-banish-period-stigma/

A single dad has asked for advice about his teenage daughter who is stressed about his welfare when she moves out to go to university.

He asks if he has “gone about this in the wrong way” by saying everything is just fine and joking with her that he “can’t wait to hear what peace and quiet sounds like,” after she leaves.

He has done everything he can think of  to soothe her anxiety, relating the situation to Redditors recently.

“I have been a single father since she was three. She’s 17 right now and in her senior year. I’m not married and I don’t date much. This combined with her going to to college in [autumn], somewhere, has her convinced I’m going to be horribly depressed, alone, and my life will take a nosedive,” the dad writes.

Despite his best assurances, she isn’t convinced.

“I’ve assured her otherwise. It doesn’t work, and she’s putting herself in this box of feeling that she needs to stay very close to home, and visit every weekend.”

He continues, “I’ve reiterated that I’ll be fine, I’m not sick, I’m fine, and she should do and go wherever she wants.”

He stresses that “It’s just this dynamic where, I’m the reason she’s holding herself back, but I’m telling her constantly to not allow my situation to hold her back. It’s very sweet of her to think about her situation as it relates to me, but, I’d be just fine, even if we weren’t a 45 minute drive apart.”

“I can’t think of anything I’ve said or done that would give her the impression that I’m headed for some disaster if she leaves. If anything, jokingly, I’ve said the opposite.” How many more days until you leave? Hot tub goes in the day after.” “Can’t wait to hear what peace and quiet sounds like,” he explains, before asking, “Have I gone about this in the wrong way? I just want her to be happy.”

While there is no information given about the mother of his child, Sydney Clinical Psychologist Amanda Gordon suspects there are some abandonment issues at play.

“Mum doesn’t seem to be on the scene so if she hasn’t been in her life for some time, or is only very peripheral or inattentive, then she’s grown up with a sense of feeling abandoned by a parent. If that’s the case then she could have the fear that she is abandoning her father, or that he will somehow disappear from her life.”

Ms Gordon also says that the single father needs to live his life to the full so she can see he’s okay without her around.

“This dad has let his daughter know that he will be safe and well and it’s going to be the way he lives his life from here that shows her that.”

She adds, “I wonder if he has been so careful to curate his life for her that she doesn’t know about the ups and downs. Parents should share the good and the bad in life with their kids when they’re older so they can see it’s not all wonderful, and that we all go through things we eventually overcome.”

“If he’s always said ‘everything is wonderful in my life’ and she knows it’s not true, then that makes things very complicated for her to then leave.”

“It’s perfectly reasonable that she sees she has some commitment to him and she knows he will communicate how he’s going. This makes it safe for her to go off and live her life.”

In terms of strategies to ease her anxiety, Ms Gordon says dad is on the right track. He is “challenging her theories about dad and his resilience – called ‘Cognitive Challenging’ – and examining whether they are rational thoughts or not.”

She also stresses that talking about communication is key to easing this kind of stress, such as how often they would stay in touch, that she can call him anytime and that getting used to a ‘new normal’ once she moved, is all part of life.

Redditors chimed in with their thoughts.

“I’m wondering if part of this is her being afraid to leave you herself. She could be afraid of branching off on her own, and is saying she’s worried about you as an excuse,” says one person.

Another writes that communication is key, to which the dad responds, “I fully intend, once she’s in [university], to call her up every few days. Although, something tells me she’ll call me first.”

And one says it’s a learning opportunity for her.

“This is a great opportunity to teach her a valuable lesson. She seems to think that because you don’t have a significant other that equates to you being lonely. Teach her what my mum and dad taught me before they passed and before I met my wife. “Having a significant other is not the end all or be all to leading a fulfilling, happy life.”

The post Single dad says teen daughter is stressed about leaving him to go to uni appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/single-dad-says-teen-daughter-is-stressed-about-leaving-him/

It has been an unusual and worrying start to the year to say the least. As we begin 2020, we are more aware than ever throughout Australia of the impact of our environment on our ability to feel safe, healthy and motivated.

For many of us, it’s the constant smoke haze, the smell of fires – even the waking at night to make sure nothing has caught fire, as the smell of burning is so strong. And that’s just for city dwellers.

For those living outside the big cities, in bushfire-prone areas, adjacent to areas that have been devastated or for those who have lost their homes, it’s been impossible or hard to sleep at all.

Right now there is more stress and anxiety surrounding us than most of us have ever experienced.

It’s hard to find opportunities in our days to forget the reality of so much of our country being on fire. Hot days and the potential risk of bushfires can be a time of increased anxiety for many people. Children are also vulnerable, and the increased media coverage and discussion in the community, schools and at home about the fires can raise their alarm.

Bushfire appeals are dominating social media – as are photos of fire-ravaged houses, land, bush, wildlife. Of course, the tragedy of loss of life at this time, in our lucky country, is heartbreaking for us all – especially the deaths of those who were gallantly fighting the blazes.

As adults, we have had some reality checks to help us. We gauge the strength of the smoke and determine whether a trip outside is safe. We listen to the radio for warnings and have a plan to support our escape if that’s what we need to do. But we are still made anxious by the news and social media reports, even though we know how safe we actually are.

As we talk to each other, we are more likely to exclaim at the awfulness of it and increase each other’s anxiety and distress, rather than calm each other down.

That’s the adults – what about the children?

Although children can show remarkable resilience, they can also be very vulnerable to trauma in highly stressful situations. And right now, it is a highly stressful situation.

If you are living in a place where there are actual fires, or have had to evacuate, the children will have picked up on your anxieties as well. There is no doubt that the best way to enhance children’s ability to cope is to help them have a sense of safety and security, and to assist them to feel more in control of their fears. So, sharing with them that you know what is going on and have a plan to look after them and keep them safe, regardless of circumstance, is vital.

Although children sometimes appear to cope well during an emergency, they may be distressed much later. Some children are likely to feel more anxious and stressed than others in the face of a bushfire threat. Cuddling, holding and plenty of affection helps to comfort and reassure these kids.

Talking to them about what is going on and what the adults are doing to make things safe will help to give children a sense of security and closeness. Be aware that they will know if you are still frightened, so don’t just pretend that everything is fine when it’s not. It’s better to let them know that, although you are scared (or sad, or traumatised), you will do whatever needs to be done to make things alright again, and that they are not forgotten.

Older children may react with anger and blame (at parents or others for not keeping them safer), distrust or hopelessness, or may become rebellious or withdrawn. These are common reactions and adults can best deal with them by being patient and understanding while continuing to explain what is happening to keep everyone safe.

Then there are the Australian children who are experiencing anxiety about bushfires, or other threats, but may not be directly at risk.

There are several ways in which parents and carers can help children be aware of the threats, but also reassure them that they are safe and secure:

• Monitor their media exposure. Limit it, or watch the news with them. Being able to talk about what they are watching or hearing can greatly reduce their distress.
• Listen to understand how children are feeling and thinking. Encourage them to talk, but don’t force them. Help them to recognise and put words to their feelings. Let them know it’s normal to feel this way.
• Provide children with opportunities to express their feelings about bad weather or frightening things.
• Provide truthful but simple and thoughtful explanations. Give your child your full attention when answering their questions. Help them to develop realistic thinking about weather events.
• Be aware of how you talk in the presence of children. Children can distort what they hear or see especially when information is received through indirect communication, like overheard adult conversations about worrying things.
• Involve your children in some sort of conservation effort, as simple as helping collect household water for the garden or donation efforts so that they feel they are part of helping the problem.
• Pay attention to your own reactions. Stay calm and show children how you manage your own emotions. This helps to show children that potentially distressing events can be dealt with.

The goal for 2020 is rain. We can’t make that happen. But we can each move towards the protection of the planet, so that we all know we are not helpless in creating a future for ourselves and our children.

Help your children to think about the environment in the way they use water, choose reusable bottles and cups, and turn off the lights when they leave the room. Remember that every little thing we do is making an impact for our future.

Let’s hold our planet close, as we care for ourselves and each other.

The post 7 ways to help kids deal with the anxiety and fear around bush-fires appeared first on Armchair Psychology.

source https://armchairpsychology.com.au/help-kids-deal-with-the-anxiety-and-fear/