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Dr. Deepti Priya 

Psychologist and Author

Mindful healthy practices ameliorate in navigating unanticipated turns

Copyright © Deepti Priya 2020

In present circumstances, lifestyle to education everything has taken an unanticipated turn. The cardinal stressors social distancing, staying home, minimised freedom, online classes etc., has potential to increase emotional distress, even among children. In scenarios like today, worry is real. Worry consumes our time, energy and affects mental health. Here we intend to discuss how parents can assist or teenagers can help themselves.

The undermentioned psychological hungers propounded by psychiatrist Dr. Eric Berne, may help in disclosing the yearnings camouflaged as distress affixed to current situation.

  1. Contact- physical touch, hugging, hand holding
  2. Recognition- a need to be noticed
  3. Incident- a need for anything exciting
  4. Stimulus- a need for sensation involving five senses
  5. Structure- a need to self-direct one’s life
  6. Passion / sexual- a need for procreation

Self-enquiry will help to unearth longings behind distress.

  • What do you want? Why (psychological hunger)?
  • What are significant challenges?
  • How can you overcome them (ensuring precautions)?
  • What could be alternative approaches to satiate your desires?

(questions can be re-framed for children below 7 years)

Unfulfilled supra desires create worry. We can minimise it by differentiating between kinds of worry and taking suitable measures.

Worry

Measures

Real worries- are actual problems affecting us currently

Plan, take appropriate action.

Hypothetical worries- are about problems that do not exist in present time, thinking of worst scenarios.

  • Practice mindfulness; Bring yourself back to present moment. Focus on breath.
    • Step1 - Inhale- observe your breath in; Exhale- observe your breath out
    • Step2 - Inhale- (affirm) I’m calm and healthy; Exhale- (affirm) I release all stress

                (do it for 12 counts)

  • Practice worry postponement. Postpone the worry for 30 min, then 2-hours, 6-hours, later to next day.
  • Engage in activity that needs physical exercise or involves cognitive functions
  • Notice instant thoughts. Try challenging your unhealthy thoughts turning it healthy. Example, Unhealthy thought- “I’m bored at home” Healthy thought- “It’s my home, I’m safe”
  • Imagine if your loved one was stressed how would you respond? Use same compassion with yourself. Respond to yourself with kindness, strength, wisdom and warmth

 

Parents Role

When parents exemplify home as safe, healthy, comfortable space; children are smarter to find their own ease at home.

  1. Help children (also self) to replace unhealthy thoughts with healthy ones; Initial result is usually slow, but it ingrains healthy outlook in subconscious, giving stronger foundations for development, instils togetherness, safety, belongingness, compassion in children
  2. Managing households together with working/attending classes from home, might be overwhelming for parents and children. Discussing over stumbling blocks will help children to wider their horizons. Allow children to speak, even-if perceived un-necessary
  3. Being disciplined is key to avoid procrastinations, balance work life and it helps in accepting every aspects of life healthily

 

Online classes

Practical issues of attending online classes like having single laptop, clash of timings, preparing documents, no printers etc. these aspects may add to stress; discussing and planning will make a difference, instead of panicking

  1. Let children plan, make strategy and priorities. Help them to understand their priorities, make healthy boundaries augmenting their actions
  2. Increased screen time and other practical issues may trigger emotional or physiological stress. Plan water breaks; use well-lit space; follow healthy computer practices; regularly perform stretching exercises; and practicing ten minutes meditation every night helps in releasing unwanted stress crept unknowingly
  3. 20/20/20 rule helps to reduce eye strain
  • after every 20 minutes of screen-time
  • look at any object 20 feet away
  • for 20 seconds
  1. Ensure fun time every-day, even in the busiest day. It nourishes good mental health
  2. Ensure to engage with physical activity and sunlight exposure every-day. This improves healthy hormones in the body, reduces dullness, panic, sadness and enhances energies of happiness

Mindful healthy practices ameliorate in navigating, unanticipated turns. Plan and act on your plans, precautions are essential.

Dr. Deepti Priya

Psychologist | Healer

 

About Dr. Deepti Priya

Dr. Deepti Priya (PhD in Psychology). She has worked as a "Clinical Psychologist" and "Child Development Officer" for premier institute like "National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development", Regional Center, Bengaluru. Dr. Deepti Priya has been working continuously for a decade on a topic like "Psychological difficulties in learning of children", currently as a "psychologist", she is working for a private clinic. She also acts as a life coach at the spiritual level and is practicing it with faith in energy healing through Reiki. Dr. Deepti Priya is also the author of two books.

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