Dictionary For Dads

Fathers are constantly subjected to various types of anxiety and stress. In order to manage your children or family you must learn to mange your own stress levels and emotions.  Therefore, it is essential to know and understand the amount of stress you are under, as well as the anxiety that you may be experiencing and transferring to your spouse or children. As a man, it is often difficult to admit and discuss the topics of stress and anxiety.  However, it is not only your responsibility as a parent to maintain good mental health but also to teach our children how to be emotionally capable in managing their stress, anxieties, and emotions in a healthy productive manner.

In order to understand stress and anxiety, you must first learn exactly what these two concepts are comprised of. Stress is the way your body  responds to situations, circumstances, and other similar aspects to life. These situations are commonly referred to as stressors. There is however a misconception that stressors are only related to un-wanted situations but that is false. Obtaining a new job or losing an old job both can create stress; one is good stress the other is bad stress.

As humans begin to experience stress, their body starts to release various chemicals which cause a physiological reaction. Many times these physiological reactions are overlooked or they are attributed to non- related causes. These reactions manifest in increased body tempeture,  increased heart rate, feeling very energetic or lathorgic, breathing difficulties and restlessness. It is also a known fact that your glands inflame when you are experiencing high levels of stress. 

Developing an outlet to release the stress is your life is very beneficial to the mind and body. It is also  instrumental in maintaining a stable healthy and manageable life. Unfortunately, many fathers, mothers, children and teenagers hold on to stress. This causes them to experience high levels of anxiety sometimes on a daily basis. This is all because many individuals simply are not equipped with the coping skills and tools to release and or manage the stress in their lives.

There are many different things that may lead to a fathers stress and anxiety. The following details a small list of potential stressors:

• Medical and health concerns
• Employment
• Family Life
• Child Care
• Age
• Relationships
• Separation/Divorce
• Experiencing loss
• Re-locating
• New Job
• Time Management Problems
• Bad Investments
• Financial Difficulties
• Personal Emotions
• Unsafe Living Arrangements and/or Conditions for Self or Children

Many fathers today suffer from anxiety. This is a direct result of the high amount of stress they experience and lack of skills/tools to deal with it. Anxiety occurs when an individual is experiencing a constant state of fear and worrying about upcoming events or their lack of confidence/ability to deal with life or a situation. This constant worrying and fear can result in a number of cognitive, physical and emotional symptoms. These Include:

• Being irritable
• Nausea and vomiting
• Appearing faint or sweaty
• Headaches, Neck Aches, Backaches
• Complications in breathing
• Sleep problems – too much or too little
• Changes in appetite or weight loss/gain
• Isolating
• Self medicating
• Excessive Alcohol Use

• Recognize stress
• See if there really is something you can change or control in the situation and if not accept it
• Give yourself a break if only for a few moments every day/hour. 
• Address each task as it comes, or selectively deal with matters in some priority.
• Ask for help when you need it from friends, family and outside sources
• Learn how to de-escalate stress and relax yourself with exercise, reading, golf or simply watching football or baseball.
• Remove yourself from the stressful situation when you are able; some folks are stress addicts do not be one
• Meditation and breathing exercises have been proven to be very effective in controlling stress.  Practice clearing your mind of all the noise that is causing stress.
• Do something good for others to help get your mind off your own stressors
• Engage in 8 hours of Sleep every night sleep if possible
• Do not engage in any type of self-medicating or high risk behaviors (alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling etc..These solutions juts prevent you from dealing with the reality of your life and always cause additional stress. They do not remove the stressors and only mask the anxiety temporarily and allow them to snowball into totally un-manageable situations.
• If you think that stress is affecting your life, seek help through your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or local counseling center. There is also an abundance of Stress management courses at community centers and local colleges.