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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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*

7. 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.

8. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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!

12. 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

13. SAMPLE FAMILY CONTRACT

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

15. QUESTIONS?