fbpx
713-674-3326

Help children cope by taking care of yourself

COVID stress management

Children’s exposure to violence

Sadly, hardly a day goes by without news of violent acts involving children. As a parent, you may be struggling with how to help your child feel safe. One of the most important things you can do for your child is to first take care of yourself.

You are your child’s primary source of safety

It is important to remember that children look to their parents and other trusted adults to make them feel safe. They turn to us for assurance that they are secure as well as for information, comfort, and support. 

If you feel like stress is getting in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row, the licensed professionals on Vecino’s counseling staff can help.

Call 713-674-3326

Ask for a telehealth counseling appointment. New patients are welcome!

Take care of yourself first so you can be there for your child

Feelings of anxiety, fear, and worry about the safety of self and others are natural responses. In order to be effective and present for your children, it is imperative that you find the means and tools to take care of yourself emotionally, as well as physically.

Once you are able to harness your own feelings of safety within yourself, you are more easily able to transmit those feelings of safety to your children. 

What does taking care of yourself mean?

  • Talk to other trusted adults who can be sensitive to your needs and help you regain your feelings of safety. Counting on the support of relatives, family, and community helpers can make difficult times more manageable. 
  • Talk to a counselor if you need it. They can serve as a non-judgmental sounding board and can provide you with useful skills to help reduce your feelings of overwhelm.
  • Engage in self-care activities, such as going for walks, enjoying your favorite yoga class, and other activities that bring calm and normalcy back into your days. 
  • Do your best to drink plenty of water, eat regularly, and get enough sleep and exercise. Avoid alcohol and other mood-altering substances as these can make matters worse.
  • Give yourself a break. Take time to find fun and do the things that you like to do.

    Unemployed or uninsured?

    Don’t worry. Vecino Health Centers offers financial assistance so everyone in your family can get the medical, counseling, and dental services they need. You may even qualify for other benefits, we’ll help you understand your options.

    Just ask about our Get Care program

    Talking to children about violence

    Sadly, gun violence is more often in the news than we would like. With the recent event at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, it can be a scary time for both adults and children.

    Counting on the support of relatives, family, and community helpers can make difficult times more manageable.

    Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

    Here are links to download some helpful tips for parents for teachers from the National Association of School Psychologists.

    English
    Spanish

    Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you are in distress or if you feel overwhelmed. The counseling staff is available to you through telehealth or on-site at both Airline and Denver Harbor locations.

    Call for a counseling appointment

    Counselors are available for telehealth and in-person visits.

    Denver Harbor Family Health Center

    713-674-3326

     

    Airline Children and Women’s Health Center

    713-695-4013

    Coping with stress

    COVID stress management

    If you feel like stress is getting in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row, the licensed professionals on Vecino’s counseling staff can help.

    Call 713-674-3326

    Ask for a telehealth counseling appointment. New patients are welcome!

    The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can create anxiety and stress and can feel especially overwhelming for people who were already living in stressful situations. Perhaps you have older family members that you are worried about, or you are among the more than 760,000 Texans whose job status has been affected by the outbreak. Maybe social distancing has got you feeling isolated from your friends and family as you try to keep yourself and your family healthy during this time.

    Maintain your emotional health

    Regardless of your situation, it’s important to know that it’s natural to feel stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed during these uncertain times. Everyone reacts differently to high-stress situations, but the good news is that there are things you can do to maintain your mental well-being even in the face of this new crisis. Here are four tips for coping with coronavirus stress from licensed professionals from Vecino’s counseling department.

    Create a daily routine and stick with it

    Creating – and maintaining – a daily routine can help you reduce stress gain back some control. While it’s not necessary to build a detailed routine or plan out every hour of your day, setting some time for carrying out essential tasks like eating, exercising, sleeping, working or doing housework, and spending time with your family can give you structure and help you stay sane during this time.

    But also remember that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and worried right now. Be gentle with yourself, and don’t feel guilty if you are not being as productive as you’d like or if you don’t feel like sticking to your routine on some days.

    Take a break from the news and social media

    Being informed, especially about what’s happening in Houston is important. Reading what experts and trusted sources are saying about the virus can help you make the right decisions on how to protect your and your family’s health.

    But there is also a lot of false information and uncertainty, and reading the news or scrolling on social media all day can add to your existing stress and fears.

    If you find yourself reaching for your phone more often than ever before, try limiting the number of times you check the news for updates to a couple of times per day. Also, step away from social media if you start feeling overwhelmed and try to use that time to do something else.

    Connect with others

    Study after study has shown that loneliness and isolation can be bad for your health, increase your stress levels, and put you at risk of developing a chronic disease. So, while right now we must practice social distancing, it’s important to stay connected with family and friends.

    We are lucky to be living in a time where we can talk and also see our loved ones even when we can’t get together with them in person. Make it a point to reach out to your friends and family via phone, WhatsApp, text, FaceTime, or other digital platforms frequently.

    We’re here for you

    Here at Vecino, your health and well-being continue to be our top priority. If you feel like stress is getting in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row, our licensed professionals on the counseling staff can help. Call Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Clinic at 713-674-3326 to make a teletherapy appointment and get the support you need from your own home.

    Unemployed or uninsured?

    Don’t worry. Vecino Health Centers offers financial assistance so everyone in your family can get the checkups and other care they need. You may even qualify for other benefits, we’ll help you understand your options.

    Just ask about our Get Care program