Students often have stress due to many factors: being bullied, social problems, bad grades, bad choices, low self esteem, poor anger control, inability to obey authority (follow instruction), substance abuse, sexuality problems, divorce, step-family conflict, verbal or physical abuse, learning deficits or inattention in school, for starters. The childhood and early teen years are critically important developmentally for blue printing future patterns of self esteem and coping. Working out solutions to problems is of critical importance during these impressionable years. Conversely, allowing problems to stagnate during this formative time, can leave indelible, life long psychological scars.
Parents too, are stressed enormously these days! Some of these problems, such as marital conflict, sibling and family conflict, step-family adjustment issues, divorce, poor communication, child rearing difficulties, role overload and role conflict, family loyalty issues, job stresses, and being overwhelmed with chores are just a few of the possible stressors for parents. Financial issues, sexual problems and conflicts, coping with bad habits, substance abuse issues , and anger dyscontrol are yet a few more of the stressors parents often contend with on a day to day basis. If these stresses are not dealt with productively, destructive patterns often emerge in the marriage and family: moodiness, irritability and anger dyscontrol, drinking and drugging, compulsive behaviors (such as excessive TV watching, workaholism, or compulsive spending), or emotional detachment.
Often psychological problems and dysfunction creeps into the mix as well: depression, substance abuse and addictions, anxiety, eating or sleeping dysregulation, bipolar disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder (such as overeating) to name a few. Sometimes just a general lack of motivation, energy, and interest in things germinates. Moreover, physical correlates usually accompany psychological problems, such as: chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and attacks, skin rashes, migraines, back pain, gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, stomach problems, allergies, sore throats, colds and viruses, autoimmune diseases, and on the list goes. Studies tell us that approximately 65% of the physical problems physicians see are actually PSYCHOLOGICALLY INDUCED.
Individual, marital, or family therapy can help guide families through discussions of conflicts and resolve problems productively (no blood shed). It just make good horse sense. We take our car to the mechanic for repair by the expert. We take our broken arm to the physician to get it repaired. Likewise, we should take unresolved problems and conflicts to the expert to help get them resolved, before the problems leave permanent psychological or physical wounds of some sort. Life is too short to let things stagnate. We only get out of things results that are commensurate with the effort and mindfulness we put into them.