I was recently invited to speak to a local school parent group, and I chose to focus on the recent Surgeon General’s Advisory. The presentation centered on the impact of stress on caregivers, particularly parents of young children, with the goal of raising awareness about how this stress affects both physical and mental well-being.
In the first half of the talk, I explained how stress impacts various systems of the body, highlighting the harmful effects of chronic stress over time. This is not to create stress for the listeners, but rather to raise awareness with the hope of inspiring a greater desire to make positive changes.
The second half of the presentation shifted to practical self-care strategies that we can all use to manage stress. You don’t need to buy the latest supplements or trendy systems to help yourself—there are simple steps you can take right now, such as setting boundaries, engaging in physical activity, making healthier food choices, prioritizing sleep, and practicing mindfulness or meditation.
Key takeaways include:
Parents face immense pressure to be "perfect," which can negatively affect their mental health.
Chronic stress from daily life and parenting responsibilities can manifest in physical and mental health problems, impacting various bodily systems (nervous, muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, reproductive).
Self-care is crucial for parents. The presentation emphasizes strategies like setting limits, healthy eating, prioritizing sleep, mindfulness, seeking social support, and professional help when needed.
Make small, positive health changes to manage stress and build a supportive community of parents!
Slides
For those of you who prefer to read through information quickly rather than watching a full presentation, I’ve included a link to the slides and my notes in the PDF below.
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