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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

    Treatment for women with abnormal pap results available in Denver Harbor

    Treatment for women with abnormal pap results available in Denver Harbor

    Learning that you have an abnormal pap test result can be scary.

    What other tests will I have to go through? Will I need treatment?

    As if these worries weren’t enough, women with abnormal pap smears are usually sent to a specialist across town for inconvenient and time-consuming appointments.

    Now, treatment is available on site at Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Health Center.

    Doctors from Houston Methodist’s OB/GYN department will staff a weekly clinic that lets women with abnormal pap results can see a specialist in their primary care home.

    If the test shows that your cervical cells don’t look normal, your doctor will tell you that you have an “abnormal pap smear.” This might turn out to be nothing, but it also might be a sign of infection or cervical cancer. You will probably need to have more tests to find out.

    What is a pap smear?

    A pap smear is a routine test that doctors use to make sure the cells on your cervix look normal. It only takes a few minutes and can be done right in a doctor’s office.

    Is it time to schedule your routine pap smear?

    Having a pap smear only takes a few minutes, and it’s well worth the time.

    Women with a low risk of cervical cancer should get routine pap smears on the schedule listed below. Depending on your medical or family history, your doctor might ask you to take more frequent tests.

    Pap smear schedule
    • Ages 21-29: Every 3 years
    • Ages 30-65: Every 3-5 years, depending on other tests and factors

    If you are due for a pap smear, or need to talk with a doctor about your risk level, call Vecino to schedule an appointment. New patients are welcome.

    Call for an appointment:  (713) 674-3326

     

    Schedule today

    Call 713-674-3326