By: Laura Bennett
The COVID-19 crisis has tested the resilience of families across the world. In Australia, our lockdowns feel never-ending, and we have to ask ourselves, how do we build resilience through this and, if you’ve got kids, teach them to do the same?
Noel McDermott is a UK-based psychotherapist and encourages families to look at their successes throughout this pandemic, rather than look to the unknown.
“If we can contain our fear through better knowledge and insight into the current situation, we go a long way to helping our children do the same,” Noel said.
“Children copy us, they don’t usually listen to us. Don’t run around shouting ‘don’t panic’ at the top of your lungs, be congruent in the verbal, behavioural and emotional messaging you give to your kids.”
A UK-based psychotherapist is encouraging families to look at their successes throughout this pandemic, rather than look to the unknown.
Along with educating ourselves, Noel said to “focus on the here and now”.
“Ask yourself, in this moment, ‘am I OK?’
“If the answer is yes, then you are OK and will be so in the next moment, and the next.
“Mostly, in the here and now we are fine. The more we can allow us to inhabit that, the less stress we will feel and the better equipped we will be to deal with change and challenge.
“Teaching your kids to do the same will be of enormous benefit to them, through truth be known usually it’s kids who can teach us adults more about this skill than we can teach them.
“Depending on the age of your child they will be very adept at finding what is pleasurable in this moment.”
Resilience check list for parents and children
- Eat, sleep, hydrate, exercise, go outside
- Get involved in (online) activities with others that allow you to meet new people with shared interests
- Stay in the here and now when you being to worry about the future
- Develop or maintain your talk times at home to discuss worries
- Get informed and educated about the current phase of the pandemic
- Volunteer and help others, this will contextualise your concerns and make the world a better place
Noel McDermott is a psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience in health, social care, and education. He is the founder and CEO of three organisations, Psychotherapy and Consultancy Ltd, Sober Help Ltd and Mental HealthWorks Ltd. Noel’s company offer at-home mental health care and will source, identify and coordinate personalised care teams for the individual. They have recently launched a range of online therapy resources in order to help clients access help without leaving home. noelmcdermott.net
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
About the Author: Laura is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.