As an Orlando counselor I often meet with children who are experiencing stress and anxiety. Counseling Today, an American Counseling Association publication, in its March 2010 issue addressed the topic of stress and kids.

According to recent data from the American Psychological Association (APA), many parents aren’t aware of what’s keeping their kids up at night- or that they’re up at all.As part of APA’s latest Stress in America research, a study found that children age 8 to17 worry about doing well in school, getting into a good college, and their financial circumstances. Many kids also experience headaches, sleeplessness, and upset stomach as a result of their stress.But the survey revealed that these worries and side effects are largely off of parents’ radar screens.While nearly 20 percent of children reported that they worry a great deal, only 3 percent of parents rated their children’s stress level as extreme.

13% Parents who think their children have stress headaches

36% Kids who report stress headaches

13% Parents who think their children have sleeping problems

45% Kids who report sleeping difficulties

18% Parents who think families financial difficulties are a source of worry for their children

30% Kids who report worrying about families finances

34% Parents who think doing well in school is a source of worry for their children

44% Kids who report worrying about their performance in school.

In these times it is common for parents to experience stress and anxiety in many areas of their lives. What is often forgotten is that children not only have their own stress but also feed off the stress of their parents. Children experience a wide variety of stressors that include but are not limited to…… separation from family, change in family composition, exposure to arguing and interpersonal conflict, exposure to violence, bullying, loss of important personal property, death of a family member or pet, exposure to excessive expectations for accomplishment, social events, FCAT testing, and disorganization in one’s daily life events.

The Orlando counselors and life coaches at Life Skills Resource Group can help you and your child identify stressors in your lives, learn how stress manifests itself in children and adults, teach you and your child how children adapt to stress, as well as teach you both how to respond to stress positively. Children who learn these skills early on are better equipped to manage stress in a healthy manner throughout the course of their lives.

Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react to a particular situation. We feel stress both internally and externally as well as experience both positive and negative stress. Stress is our body’s way of rising to the challenge to meet a tough situation. We all have stress and have created ways to cope with our stress on a daily basis. Many of us have coped with stress in the same manner that our parents and other authority figures have modeled for us. I know from my own experience that  parents don’t always have the best coping mechanisms. The professional counselors and life coaches at Life Skills Resource Group Orlando are available to help you and your child incorporate positive skills to conquer the stressful challenges of life.

The Orlando counselors and life coaches at Life Skills Resource Group have made a commitment to help individuals, couples, children, adolescents, and families incorporate positive healthy skills into their lives and would be honored to help you and your family. Please read about OUR TEAM here at Life Skills Resource Group in Orlando and become familiar with the Orlando counselors and life coaches who are willing to help you on your journey.

Phone consultations are always FREE!      Amy

To read more about Amy’s work at Life Skills Resource Group Orlando