Stress can become very problematic for one as it severely hinders one’s life. What’s worse is to deal with a family member struggling with stress. It isn’t easy watching your loved one get entangled in the web that stress brings about.
However, there are ways you can help your family members through their stress. You don’t have to always understand their problem to offer your side of emotional support. Whatever their problem is, all you need to know is that you have to be there for them no matter what.
Let’s explore a few ways you can help your family member through their stressful times.
1. Be Attentive
Ignorance never helped anyone, and being more open towards what your family member is going through gives you a lot of perspective on how to help them. Listen to them, let them rant, make them know that you’re interested in their problems, and have an attitude to help. Pay attention to their mood swings, wants, and food choices. Be around at all times, so they won’t feel they’re alone.
2. Do Activities with Them
Another way to help a family member destress is to plan activities with them. This shall keep them busy and distracted by keeping their mind elsewhere. Make plans to go shopping, watch movies, garden together, cook, and more. You never know what might end up being therapeutic for them. That being said, it’s important that you give them a shoulder to release all their problems on. Whatever activity you’re planning, make sure your family member participates fully to keep themselves engaged.
3. Consider Their Feelings
The thing is, we, as human beings, sometimes aren’t able to comprehend others’ feelings. That’s all right, but sometimes, it becomes necessary to have an open mind. Broaden your horizons, so you’re able to put yourself in your family member’s shoes to understand what they’re going through. Everybody has a different set of problems, right? Not all share the same issues, and you can’t nullify someone’s problems just because of that.
4. Make Them Laugh
Whoever said “laughter’s the best medicine” couldn’t have been more spot on. Do funny shticks, tell jokes, engage in physical comedy, mimic someone – do whatever it takes to make the sufferer laugh or at least smile. It may not be a permanent solution, but it can definitely help for the time being. Funny limericks or knock-knock jokes may be considered lame and silly, but hey, if they’re making someone laugh, then why not?
5. Normalize Therapy
You should make going to therapy a normal thing and fully encourage and support them to seek such sessions. Stress can be bad as it is; your family member doesn’t need someone judging them for going to therapy. Hence, normalize going to therapy in your household and try to provide whatever support you can – financial or emotional. Seeking professional help to solve your problems is nothing to be ashamed of, and anybody who frowns upon it should understand how serious and delicate mental health can be.
