Page 31 - Silver Lakes April 2021

TODAY'S CHILD

previously brought them pleasure or
being able to find the will to engage
with previously fun activities. We need
to dig deep and reignite those fires.
• Connect with others. Social distancing
practices have increased our isolation
and loneliness. But there are ways we
can connect despite the trying Covid
limitations. WhatsApp, IG, FB or a good
old-fashioned phone call, even if you do
not feel like it, reach out for your sake
and for the other person’s sake.
• Try physical activity. When you are
nervous, angry, or upset, release the
pressure through exercise or physical
activity. Running, walking, playing
tennis or working in your garden are
just some of the activities you might
try. Physical exercise will relieve
that “uptight” feeling and relax you.
Remember, your body and your mind
work together.
• Share your stress. It helps to talk
to someone about your concerns
and worries. Perhaps a friend, family
member or psychologist can help you
see your problem in a different light. situation. Change the scene by reading from reaching out to a friend, making the
There is a mindset with covid that we all a good book or playing music to create phone call, sending the message. We must
are struggling with... just carry on. While a sense of peace and tranquillity. work actively against the silence.
that is true, there is no need to struggle • Avoid self-medication. Although
on alone when help is available. you can use prescription or over-the Covid is a health concern; we must work
• Take care of yourself. Get enough rest counter medications to relieve stress collectively against it being a mental
and eat well. If you are irritable and temporarily, they do not remove the health disaster as well.
tense from lack of sleep or if you are underlying stressors that caused the
not eating correctly, you will have less stress in the first place. Medications, in
ability to deal with stressful situations. fact, may be habit-forming and also may
• Make time for fun. Schedule time for reduce your efficiency, thus creating
both work and recreation. Play can be more stress than they take away.
just as important to your well-being as Before taking medication for stress,
work; you need a break from your daily try contacting a doctor/psychologist.
routine to relax and have fun. Also be sure to engage with the root
• Be a participant. One way to keep of the problem instead of masking the
from getting bored, sad and lonely is symptoms with medication. • Marital, Couples & Family
to go where it is all happening. Sitting Therapy
alone can make you feel frustrated. Get My departing comment from a process • Counselling Children,
involved and become a participant. Get level: “The most noticeable stress reaction Adolescents & Adults
involved in the world and the people I am seeing is that, broadly speaking, • “Teen” Challenges
around you, and you’ll find they will people have stopped talking over the last • Behavioural & Adjustment
be attracted to you. You will be on year. People make statements like “there’s Challenges
your way to making new friends and nothing left to say about covid”. People are • Stress-Related Challenges
enjoying new activities. It is a bit tricky losing touch with friends and connections • Adjustment to Depression &
now with restrictions; however, we can that were invaluable Pre-Covid. While it Anxiety
get creative in the way we participate, as is true that the Covid situation may not • Subject & Career Counselling
well as with whom we participate. change for the foreseeable future, the • Psychometric Testing
• Tick off your tasks. Trying to take consequences of ‘not talking’, of losing our
care of everything at once can seem voices and remaining silent gives the covid For an appointment please call
overwhelming and, as a result, you may dominant discourse far too much power. 083 376 1995
not accomplish anything. Instead, make
a list of what tasks you have to do and We all need to oppose narratives that Fees are charged according to Scale of
then do one at a time, ticking them off render us voiceless at this time. Oppose Benefits
as they are completed. Give priority to narratives and conversations that create
the most important ones. Do those first. further distance between ourselves and Practice Address: 27 Fish Eagle Street,
• Create a quiet scene. You cannot others. This is absolutely necessary to Silver Lakes, Pretoria
always run away but you can “dream remain safe. And, even then, when we
the impossible dream”. A quiet scene need to social distance and isolate, let us Pr. Nr. 0860000114022
painted mentally or on canvas, can take be sure to do it on terms where we still Reg. No.: PS 0080543
you out of the turmoil of a stressful connect with others. Nothing stops us

INTRA MUROS APRIL 2021 29