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In most of the cases, Students of any age group, look forward to one thing and that is Holidays. Be it summer vacations or winter vacations. But, to disrupt their happiness comes to the holiday homework. There is an overwhelming gloom around them and they are not able to enjoy the happiness they feel. Hence, they start facing homework stress from the first day of their vacations.

Till the vacations are about to get over, the stress increases a lot and most of the students aren’t able to complete their work. Hence, adding more to the stress.

Thus, below are few tips to deal with homework stress:

1. Create a Schedule:

Most of the websites and books will guide you to create a schedule, but it becomes difficult to actually maintain it. But, as mundane it sounds, keeping a schedule helps you to do your homework as well as play and enjoy your vacations. Hence, create a schedule which includes a homework time as well as sleep and plays time.

2. Start Early:

When the holidays start, we often tend to procrastinate thinking we have a lot of time in our hands. But, soon the time flies away and we end up cramping two months work in one week. Hence, increasing the stress we feel. Thus, the best option is to start early. We think that starting early will interrupt our playtime. But, if we maintain our schedule we will be able to include our homework every day as well as our playtime.

3. Ask Questions:

More often than not, we are not able to understand a question given to us. Hence, it invokes our procrastinating behaviour. We start postponing the question and the work. The best way to get over the question is to ask the question from your parents as well as your teachers. Once the question is explained and understood by you, you will be able to answer the question very easily.

4. Organize a Group:

Studying alone is stressful in itself. It is easily distracting for us as we are constantly checking our mobile phones or watching on our laptops and TVs. Hence, the best option is to organize a homework group. In this, you can call your school friends and start doing the homework together. This way, you will be able to deal with the distractions and will be able to do your homework while enjoying.

5. Eat Healthily:

When the holidays start, every student tends to eat a lot of junk food. But, it is very important to eat healthily. Eating junk food once in a while is ok, but on a regular basis leads to a lot of problems. Having healthy eating habits directly affects the mind. What we eat affects our moods, memory and emotions. Hence, eating healthy is very important to deal with the stress and be able to achieve the work you are trying to achieve.

6. Relax:

Holidays are for relaxing; hence it is important to take time to relax. Also, if you especially take time out to relax you will see that the procrastinating behaviour has reduced a lot. Relaxing gives your mind a space to think as well as refresh yourself. Hence, it is important to set aside a time to relax.

7. Get a Good Night Sleep:

As the time to relax is important, it is also important to get proper sleep. Set a schedule for sleeping, because we often tend to oversleep or under-sleep during our holidays. A good night’s rest helps your mind to refresh, recharge and reboot. Thus, helping you to start the next day enthusiastically and productively.

All the above tips will help you to deal with homework stress. Thus, making your holidays enjoyable as well as productive. But, if you still face a lot of stress due to homework or for any other reason you can always reach out to a counsellor.

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Opening up about going through sexual abuse as a child or as an adult is very difficult. But, if someone is opening up about it to you, then you need to understand that the person is putting an immense amount of trust in you. Hence, it is important that you listen to them.

But, then the question arises, “What should I say to them?”

Hence, below are few tips on what to say to a sexual abuse victim:

Believe them:

It is already very difficult for the person to share this experience. But, when they do, most people don’t believe them. Hence, it is very important to believe what they are saying and sharing with you. You can simply say, “I believe you” if you are not able to find any words.

Acknowledge Them:

It is a very traumatic event for the victims. Thus, it takes double the amount of courage to fight their feelings of guilt and shame and talk about you. You should always acknowledge their courage and appreciate them for opening up. Hence, you could say to them, “I understand, it took a lot of courage from you to tell me about it”.

Remind them It’s Not their Fault:

The victims of sexual abuse have a tendency to blame themselves. They will constantly run the scenario in their head and think if they had not done the thing they have done. Hence, it is up to you to constantly remind them and tell them that it’s not their fault. It is never their fault, instead, it is the fault of the perpetrator and no one else’s. You can reassure them by saying, “It’s not your fault”, or “You didn’t do anything wrong“.

Appreciate their decision:

As mentioned earlier, it takes a lot of courage for them to trust someone. Hence, you should appreciate their decision that it is you they have decided to share with. Hence, you should be able to empathise with them and understand the horrific experience they have gone through. You can say, “I am here for you and I care about you, and ready to help in any way I can”.

Communicate Empathy:

People who are opening up to you are not seeking sympathy or your opinion. Hence, it is very important to empathise with them. They should know that you are able to understand them, rather than judging them. You can say, “This must be really tough for you” or “I understand what you are going through and thank you for sharing it with me and trusting me”.

While talking to someone who is sharing anything, it is very important that you provide an empathetic ear rather than judging them. Also, if you really care for them, then it is important that you support them in their decisions. But, if you feel they need professional help, you should encourage them to seek professional help.

Hence, if you or someone you know is facing mental health illnesses because of sexual abuse, please consult a mental health professional immediately.

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The trauma one goes through when they are abused as a child remains prevalent for a lifetime. Most of the survivors of sexual abuse suffer from severe mental illnesses. The trauma suffered remains with them, which hampers and interferes with their life. It is also seen that about 90% of the survivors suffer from dreading nightmares. here we tell you 7 ways to Cope If You Were Sexually Abused as a Child.

It is important for people who have suffered such trauma to recover from it.

Thus, below are Seven things you can do if you were sexually abused as a child:

It’s Not Your Fault:

Firstly, the most important thing to know and understand is, that it is not your fault. The mind keeps on rotating about what exactly happened and creates a tendency for self-blame. For Example, it might keep telling you, you shouldn’t have entered that room, or you should have done something at that point in time. But, there are situations which are not in our hands, and it is important to know that. The only person who is at fault is the perpetrator.

A Positive Diary:

Coping up with this trauma is difficult and it creates fear and anxiety within us. Hence, it is important to keep a positive diary with us. The definition of a positive diary is, that you keep writing small motivating notes in the diary and keep that diary with yourself. Whenever the thought of guilt, shame comes to your mind you glance at the diary. This way, you are motivating yourself and simultaneously coping up with your trauma. The world might seem a scary place, but if we look at the positives, then coping up becomes easier.

Talk to Someone:

All the thoughts and feelings inside us, eat us up. Hence, it is important to find a person who you trust, and who wouldn’t judge you. Talking about your feelings will help you cope with it. If all these years you have bottled up these feelings, talking about it will put you at ease. Also, it will lighten your heart and help you to have a better sleep.

Engage in Contemplative Practice:

To keep your body and mind in harmony and to feel control about your body, it is important to engage yourself in contemplative practices. These practices can include, yoga, tai-chi, meditation, prayer etc. But, doing these creates an insight and helps you realize your feelings and thoughts. Everyone’s spiritual finding is different. Hence it is important to find yours.

It’s OK to feel your Feelings:

Often more than not, the basic tendency for anyone is to numb their feelings after trauma. They resort to drinking, smoking or other drugs to get rid of the thoughts. But, using these modes to cope up your feelings makes it worse. The thoughts come back again, and it then leads to worsening the situation. Also, many people due to this fall prey to addiction. Emotions which you feel, are necessary because it also gives the hope that you can also feel happiness. It is important to remember, only after the darkest night comes the brightest day.

Don’t Self-Medicate:

Due to this traumatic experience, people often suffer from severe mental health issues. Their first tendency is to self-medicate. Hence, making the situation worse. Thus, it is not advisable to do self-medication. You should always take professional help before taking any medication. Thus, making the medication actually helping you rather than making the situatiion worse.

Seek Professional Help:

There is nothing to be guilty about or hide from. Seeking a mental health professional will help you cope up with the trauma. Most of the times, we believe that healing isn’t possible from such trauma. But, healing is possible even though it might take time. A mental health professional will help you sail through the journey and you will be able to recover from the trauma you have had suffered.

Hence, if you or someone you know has gone through the experience of childhood sexual abuse, and are facing different mental health problems because of this, then please visit a professional immediately.  

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There is a certain innocence with children, which helps them to understand things in a different way. Even when they are being sexually abused or harassed, they don’t understand what is happening. Sometimes, it comes as a play for them and sometimes as a scolding. But, they don’t realise or even understand what is actually happening with them.

For parents, it becomes very difficult to actually know that it has happened, and even when it has happened they don’t usually believe it has happened. Mostly, it is done by their close relatives, siblings or servants working inside the house. Hence, the first step for the parents becomes to accept that it can happen or, if the child is telling them then it has happened. Moreover, it is not the child’s fault that it has happened. Also, it is important for the parents to actually talk with them and educate them.

Thus, below are few ways you can initiate a conversation with your child about sexual harassment and assault:

A Separate Time:

Initiating a conversation around this topic is heavy. It is taxing for you as a parent and for them as a child. Hence, it is important for you to actually find separate time to talk about and around this topic. It is important that you need to find a time when there aren’t any stressors around, and there is very less of distraction. Thus, helping you to properly converse and listen.

Use understandable Terms:

Many parents are afraid to talk about it because they think it will corrupt their mind. But, the truth is, due to advancement in technology, the words are easily accessible. Also, when talking to them, it is important that you reach out to them. You, as a parent, can do that by using terms and words that are easily understood by a child. You can term sexual harassment as “bullying”. Also, you can provide them with sex education, where they should know and understand what their private part is and what restrictions mean.

Take references from Movies:

Movies and pop culture give an opening for a conversation. With easily accessible media, you can educate your child about sexual harassment, assault and sex education. For example, if someone in the movie uses a cuss word, which is demeaning, you can ask them if they know what it means. Using pop culture and movie references will help them understand this topic much easier and help them to open up about it.

Listen:

It is very important to listen to them and understand them. During the conversation, they might open up to their own experiences, in that situation, instead of asking questions to them or criticizing them “just being there for them” is all the help they need. Most of the times, they do want to speak to you about their experience, but they stop themselves from sharing fearing your judgement. Hence, it is important for you to listen to them.

Be open for future Conversations:

Having this conversation once with your child doesn’t actually help. You should talk to them about it at different ages. Having the conversation once with them and leaving it on them doesn’t actually help them. But, it is also important that they should know you are always ready to listen to them. As they grow, the experience for them changes, hence it is important for you to have a conversation with them time to time.

Childhood sexual abuse, assault and harassment are very common, but most of them are afraid to speak up. It is important for the parent to make them understand that No Means No! These conversations should happen with both, boy and girl. It is important that they should be educated, and if they are abused they could easily talk to you, their biggest support.

Also, if your child complains about someone sexually harassing them, then it is important for you to report to proper authorities.

If you or someone you know have experienced a similar situation and is suffering from different mental health issues because of it. Then, it is best to talk to a mental health professional immediately.

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The death of a parent can be a big blow to a child. It can completely shatter their belief about the world being a safe haven. They may feel intense emotional upheaval and might start fearing losing other important and close people from their life as well. Therefore, during such times, what a child seeks most, is care from the other family members, and connection with the other parent who might withdraw due to their own grieving process, and a result may end up leaving the child feel lonely.

Some tips to keep in mind –

• A factor that might help the child cope with the loss of a present is a sense of continuity. Therefore, as difficult as it may seem, one should aim at maintaining the daily household and school routine of the child.
• Make sure that your child does not feel responsible for the death in any way.
• Give the time they need to grieve. Do not expect them to resume their life back to normal instantly. Their performance in academic may get affected for some time. They might lose interest in all activities. Be there for them during this phase. Comfort them. Assure them that they have your love and support no matter what.
• As a grieving spouse, it may be extremely difficult for you to take care of your child when you too are undergoing a grieving process. However, it is essential that you keep all channels of communication open for your child. They might not necessarily want to talk to you immediately, but it is important that you let them know that should they wish to talk about something or express their anger, frustration or grief, then you are there for them.
• Let them know that it is okay for them to feel a lot of emotions. It is okay to grieve. They do not have to feel ashamed or hesitant about expressing themselves. Encourage them to accept their feelings rather than push them away.
• Make them understand that there is no one right way to grieve and that everyone might have their own unique process.

  

• Once some time has lapsed, discuss your fond memories with each other, create rituals to remember the deceased and maintain a connection with them. You also take help with psychologist

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For children, the death of their grandparent is often the first exposure they have to the idea of mortality. Therefore, before anything else, they first need to be introduced and familiarised with the concept of death. The child might struggle with a range of emotions during such times, just like any other adult. They might feel angry, upset, and confused. However, unlike adults, children are not yet equipped to deal with such a mixed bag of emotions. Therefore, the support of their parents comes to the forefront, to help them cope with the loss. Additionally, because this might be their first encounter with the death of someone, they might have a lost of questions to ask. Thus, giving them a patient hear and clearing their doubts also becomes important.

How children respond to death and grieve will determine how they handle such losses in the future as well. How much and how they grieve will also depend on the relationship proximity they shared with their grandparent. Children often tend to be extremely close to their grandparents during their childhood as they act as secondary, if not primary caregivers. Therefore, losing them can be a big blow for a child.

The following tips might help you support your child as they cope with the loss of heir grandparent –

• Answer their questions honestly and maintain consistency.
• Avoid using euphemisms. Use simple language.
• Provide the platform to express themselves freely. Listen and accept their feelings. Comfort them.
• Give them the time and space they need to grieve. Understand that some children may grieve way after the death has occurred.
• Try not to put the entire onus of death on old age as this might instill a fear in the child about losing everyone who is turning old.
• Ensure that the child does not feel that they are to be blamed for the death in any way. Tell them that death is a natural part of life and not a form of punishment.

  

• Create a ritual or ceremony that helps the child remember and preserve their good memories.

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Art therapy is a modern form of therapy.  It replaces the traditional therapy model by making use of imaginative structures. It is generally combined with other forms of psychotherapy. Although more beneficial for children, especially those who have trouble expressing their emotions, art therapy can be used with adults as well. Everyone can be creative in some form or the other. Therefore, what art therapy aims to do is, provide people the opportunity to think and act creatively. For this purpose, it uses a variety of modalities such as clay, paint, paper, color pencils etc.

It has the following benefits –

• Self-exploration: Art therapy offers a means of catharsis, by providing an insight into feelings that one might not have been previously aware of.
• Self-worth: The entire process (creative and analytical) involved in the creation of an artwork and then seeing a tangible end product provides a sense of fulfillment.
• Empowerment: Art therapy allows one to express one’s emotions and fears that one might not have been able to verbally. Thus, by allowing a sense of control over one’s feelings, it provides a sense of empowerment.
• Brain connectivity and plasticity: By encouraging creative thinking, art therapy simulates the process of creation of new pathways in your brain.
• Stress buster: Artistic and creative activities help you forget your problems and calm down. It provides you a mental escape and helps you connect with yourself better.

• Mental health: Art therapy improves the mental health of people suffering from other illnesses or traumatic experiences as well. Art therapy has benefits for – cancer patients; survivors of violence; substance abuser and addicts; people suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other emotional issues. It also helps people deal with relationship issues.
• Rapport Formation: It serves as a great tool for ice breaking, especially with children.

Psychologist is explain more about the Art therapy

Art therapy is not a tool for aiding healing, but an instrument for promoting mental well-being.

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When someone you know dies of committing a suicide, it can be one of the scariest and upsetting experiences of your life. It is perhaps one of the worst ways of losing someone you love as it often leaves one with feelings of helplessness and guilt. Why someone commits suicide is hard enough for adults to understand and accept, and so explaining or talking about it to children becomes even more of a challenge.

The reasons why most adults tend to hesitate or avoid having conversations about death (especially suicide) with children are twofold. One, these conversations make us feel uncomfortable. Two, we feel protective abou them. Therefore, we are afraid of the kind of impact they might have on the child. However, sooner or later, depending on how prepared you feel you as well as the child are to have the conversation, you will have to have this conversation with your child.

Some guidelines to help you go about doing it are as follows:

• Use simple language and avoid euphemisms such as “he/she went to a better place”. Be factual.
• Be honest. Explain suicide the way you would any other kind of death. Just like any other form of death is caused by a physical problem, explain how suicide is a result of issues related to mental health, without any blaming or judgment.
• Alter your content based on the child’s age.
• Encourage questions and be prepared to answer a lot of them.
• Be prepared to handle a range of reactions (such as disinterest, numbness, aggression, distress or withdrawal).

  

• Give them time to process this new information and support them in this process.
• Reassure them about their security.

It is important to understand that talking about suicide does not increase the risk of it.

Instead, it makes one aware how important mental health is in one’s life. It also helps one recognize suicide as an outcome of an illness rather than an act of selfishness or irresponsibility. It encourages one to be vigilant and seek as well as offer help in time.

Among youth aged between 10-24 years, suicide is the second most leading cause of death. With mounting pressure of exams and competition with peers, suicides are on a rise. Therefore, it becomes all the more important to talk about it with your child, so that they know that they can discuss it with you anytime they want. Understanding of the mental health issues that lead one to commit suicide, will help children recognize what places them at risk and talk about it.

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Benefits of owning a pet are coming to the forefront, as more and more research is being dedicated to this line of thought.

Following are the benefits that will hopefully motivate you to get a pet for yourself:

1. They love you unconditionally, and are a great source of support.
2. Pets provide you constant companionship and prevent against isolation. They make you feel needed.

   

3. They act as great listeners, and thus, provide a vent for your feelings.
4. Some pets need to be taken out for walks. As a result, they act as motivators for you to step out, exercise and interact with people. Thus, acting as protective factors against heart diseases and depression.
5. They help children with developmental disorders. For example, in case of autism, pets help improve their social interaction; in case of ADHD, they help children release their excess energy. They also help reduce the anxiety and stress that these children experience as a result of their daily life challenges.

   

6. A snuggle with your pet will help you calm down and get rid of your anxiety and stress.

   

7. By giving you a reason to wake up every morning, they provide your life with a sense of purpose.
8. Pets help provide some structure and routine to your day-to-day life.

It is because of the recognition of these mental health benefits that pets serve, that animals now are being used for therapy in the form of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT).

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Incidents like an older, taller boy troubling the shorter boy of his class or a junior by snatching away his tiffin or tripping him are fairly common.

We have all been a part of bullying at some point in our childhood. Whether it was as a survivor, a perpetrator or a bystander. Although these incidents in retrospect or from a distance may seem very trivial, bullying is a very serious act that can have grave consequences both in the short-term as well as the long-term for the survivor as well as the perpetrator. Possible effects for all three parties involved are mentioned below –

For the Survivor

• Bunking or dropping out of school
• Social and emotional withdrawal
• Loss of self-confidence
• Having nightmares; trouble falling asleep
• Loss of appetite
• Adverse impact on academic performance
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• Anger outbursts
• Developing mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, depression or PTSD as a result of the trauma experienced in extreme cases
• Engaging in self-harm
• Increased risk of committing suicide

Dr Prerna Kohli India’s Top Psychologist Talks about Effects of Childhood Bullying

For the Perpetrator

• Difficulty forming relationships due to lack of empathy or style of relating with others
• Engaging in high-risk behaviors
• Increased risk of substance abuse and also developing an antisocial personality disorder

For the Bystander

• Increased risk of substance abuse
• Constant fear of becoming the target, therefore skipping school
• Increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder or depression

It is important to realize that a bystander makes an active choice when he/she decides not to do anything about witnessing bullying. They then are doing any one of the following three things – 1) they are either choosing to ignore the situation because it does not affect them directly, 2) they are too scared to report the matter, 3) they are actually deriving sadistic pleasure by seeing someone else suffer. Not intervening when one witnesses bullying is a way of encouraging the bully to carry on with his behavior. Whichever be the case, observing and not intervening in such situations is not only the wrong thing to do but also has harmful effects on the bystander.

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