RESILIENCY & HELPING OUR CHILDREN THRIVE Kathleen Berger, LCSW Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs Julie will introduce the topic and

TODAY’S TOPICS… UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION & ANXIETY EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOSTERING RESILIENCY – STRATEGIES COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL RESOURCES

ANXIETY SYMPTOMS BODY: FATIGUE, RESTLESSNESS OR SWEATING BEHAVIOR: HYPERVIGILANCE OR IRRITABILITY COGNITIVE: RACING THOUGHTS OR WORRY THOUGHTS OTHER COMMON SYMPTOMS TREMBLING EXCESSIVE WORRY FEELING OVERWHELMED FEAR NAUSEA POOR CONCENTRATION INSOMNIA SHORTNESS OF BREATH INCREASED HEART RATE

COPING STRATEGIES TAKE A TIME OUT, FOCUS ON YOURSELF TAKE A STEP BACK EAT WELL BALANCED MEALS OBSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE GET ENOUGH SLEEP GET EXERCISE DAILY CONTROLLED BREATHING DO YOUR BEST/ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EFFORTS

COPING STRATEGIES WELCOME HUMOR TRY TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE GET INVOLVED IDENTIFY WHAT TRIGGERS YOUR ANXIETY SEEK OUT SUPPORT COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE!

DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS NOT ENJOYING THINGS PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED A SAD OR IRRITABLE MOOD FOR MOST OF THE DAY MARKED CHANGE IN WEIGHT OR EATING (TOO MUCH OR LITTLE) SLEEPING TOO LITTLE AT NIGHT OR TOO MUCH DURING THE DAY LACK OF ENERGY – FEELING UNABLE TO DO SIMPLE TASKS*

DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS WITHDRAWAL FORM FAMILY AND FRIENDS – ISOLATION DIFFICULTY FOCUSING AND MAKING CHOICES ACHES AND PAINS WHEN NOTHING IS WRONG FREQUENT THOGHTS OF DEATH, SUICIDE AND HOPELESSNESS *THESE BEHAVIORS CAN OCCUR IN CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, WHEN SEEN TOGETHER, ALMOST DAILY, THEY ARE RED FLAGS FOR DEPRESSION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

WHAT CAN I DO? PROMOTE HEALTH: DIET, SLEEP, EXERCISE AND POSITIVE CONNECTIONS. PROMOTE SAFETY, CARE & CONCERN: HELP IDENTIFY STRESSORS AND MAKE SHORT-TERM CHANGES AS NEEDED. LOCK UP ALL MEDICINE, ALCOHOL, AND WEAPONS. TALK WITH YOUR CHILD: LEARN ABOUT THEIR PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND DISCUSS BULLYING. HAVE DESIGNATED FAMILY TIME. PUT DOWN YOUR DEVICES. EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS: DEPRESSION IS REAL, LEARN AND TALK ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, HELP IDENTIFY COPING SKILLS, FOCUS ON STRENGHTS.

PARENTING STATEGIES IDENTIFY GOALS TO BE ACHIEVED AS A RESULT OF PARENTING (WHAT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE) IDENTYFY PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR BE CLEAR AND CONSISTENT (WRITTEN CONTRACT MAY HELP) IDENTIFY AND STRATEGIZE OBSTACLES TO FOLLOWING A FAMILY CONTRACT OR MEETING GOALS EVALUATE PROGRESS AND OBSTACLES REGULARY ALIGN PARENTING CREATES EXPECTATIONS THAT INCREASE CONSISTENCY AND STRUCTURE.

PARENTING STRATEGIES AVOID ENABLING YOUR CHILD CREATE A HOME ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS STRUCTURE AND CONSISTENCY COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY (LISTEN- KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE) INCREASE SELF-AWARENESS LEARN HOW TO ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE THE GOAL IS A HELATHY CHILD!

HOW DO I COMMUNCATE EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE CHILD WITH OPTIONS IT’S HOW YOU SAY IT MATTERS LOOK FOR TEACHABLE MOMENTS THAT ALLIGN WITH GOAL ATTAINMENT. TIMING LESS IS MORE

SAMPLE FAMILY CONTRACT

RESOURCES PEDIATRICIAN SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER/PSYCHOLOGIST COUNSELOR LOCAL CHURCHES TOWNSHIP/COMMUNITY CENTERS SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

QUESTIONS?