In the difficult journey of life, family could be each a supply of help and a possible minefield of stressors therefore, balancing the complexities of household dynamics whereas safeguarding one’s psychological well being is a ability price mastering. It is crucial to handle familial challenges with methods that not solely protect our psychological well being but in addition strengthen our bonds.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Neelam Mishra, Senior Rehabilitation Psychologist and Advisor at LISSUN, outlined key practices to successfully handle household points and foster a harmonious surroundings for psychological well-being –

• Identify the Sources of Strain: Start by pinpointing people inside your loved ones who could also be negatively impacting your psychological well being. It’s important to acknowledge those that provide minimal help or create further stress. Identifying the supply of your misery is step one in the direction of addressing it.
• Avoid Stressful Situations: When doable, keep away from conditions, gatherings, or discussions that set off stress and nervousness. If a specific household occasion or subject constantly brings you down, it’s okay to excuse your self or set boundaries to guard your psychological well being.
• Conflict Resolution: Learn wholesome battle decision abilities. This contains energetic listening, empathy, and discovering mutually agreeable options. Effective battle decision can result in extra harmonious relationships inside the household.
• Prioritise Self-Care: Self-care is essential for sustaining psychological well-being. Engage in actions that assist you calm down and rejuvenate. Listen to soothing music, have heart-to-heart conversations with family members, declutter your dwelling house, and take pleasure in stress-free practices like taking a salt bathtub with scented candles.
• Read Uplifting Material: Cultivate the behavior of studying, however go for content material that conjures up and relaxes you. Choose motivational books, fiction, or any literature that takes your thoughts off your loved ones points. Reading could be a highly effective escape and a supply of psychological respite.
• Stay Connected with Friends: Social help is invaluable. Make an effort to fulfill up with buddies not less than as soon as every week or keep linked via calls and messages. Sharing your ideas and emotions with buddies can present a contemporary perspective and emotional aid.
• Journal Your Thoughts: Consider conserving a journal to precise your feelings, ideas, and experiences. Journaling is a therapeutic solution to course of your emotions and achieve readability in your family-related challenges. It also can function a file of your progress
• Seeking Professional Help: Sometimes, household points might require the help of a psychological well being skilled or household therapist. Don’t hesitate to hunt assist when wanted. Therapy can present worthwhile insights and methods for navigating complicated household dynamics.

Acknowledging that managing household points and dealing with deteriorating psychological well being could be difficult, Dr Himani Narula, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician Director and Co-Founder of Continua youngsters, stated, “Studies have shown that poor family environments, such as family conflict and a lack of warmth and affection, can prevent individuals in the family from receiving emotional support, as well as have difficulty expressing their emotions, which can cause mental health problems. Family stressors may differ across families, but the most frequently observed stressors include financial issues, child-parent issues, and marital discord.”

She highlighted, “In addition, mental illness can create stress due to the disruption they cause in normal functioning. If you’re experiencing deteriorating mental health, it’s crucial to reach out to a mental health professional, such as a developmental paediatrician, adolescent mental health expert, psychologist, counsellor, or psychiatrist. They can provide you with the necessary guidance, support, and treatment options tailored to your specific needs. Honest and open communication with family and therapist is essential when dealing with family issues.”

Dr Himani Narula suggested, “Express your feelings in the right way and listening to others perspectives with open mind is essential. Establish healthy boundaries to protect your mental health. Clearly communicate your limits to family members and be assertive when necessary. Prioritise self-care practices, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and relaxation techniques like mindfulness or meditation. Practice mindfulness techniques to manage stress and stay grounded. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga can help reduce anxiety and improve mental clarity.”

She added, “Organise your time effectively to balance family issues and self-care. Learn coping strategies from a mental health expert. If your mental health deteriorates to the point where medication is necessary, consult a psychiatrist. Medication, when used in conjunction with therapy, can be an effective treatment for various mental health conditions. At the end it is important to know that everyone’s situation is unique, don’t hesitate to seek professional help when needed, as mental health issues and family conflicts can have serious consequences if left unaddressed.”

Bringing his experience to the identical, Dr Austin Fernandes, Psychiatrist at Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai’s Powai, stated, “Life throws so many challenges and among them, navigating family issues can be one of the most complex and demanding experiences. These challenges frequently have a negative impact on our mental health, leaving us feeling helpless and overwhelmed. It is very important to understand these challenges and implement strategies to make you cope with such family issues and prioritise and safeguard your mental well-being.” He urged –

• Open Communication: The key to resolving household conflicts is efficient communication. Make a secure house the place everybody might voice their opinions and considerations that’s secure and judgment-free. Listen fastidiously to everybody’s solutions and perceive them deeply, encouraging concord inside the household by actively and sympathetically listening to every member.
• Set Boundaries: For profitable relationships and bonds, it is vitally essential to have clear boundaries. Be agency whereas expressing your necessities and limitations with others. This makes positive that everybody’s ideas and opinions are appreciated and acknowledged.
• Seek Professional Support: If household points develop into too troublesome to deal with alone, take into account looking for steering from a therapist or counselor. Professional help may also help you present worthwhile instruments and coping processes to navigate troublesome conditions.
• Practice Self-Care: Prioritise your self-care first so as to help your psychological wellness. Engage in joyful and stress-free actions comparable to train, meditation, studying, or time in nature. Taking care of your self lets you help your loved ones and address challenges with sturdy psychological energy.
• Avoid Blame and Judgement: Focus on basic causes of household conflicts, as an alternative of blaming recreation. Deal with conflicts in an empathetic method and search for outcomes which are useful to all events. Avoiding judgment can encourage a extra peaceable environment.
• Set Realistic Expectations: Always remember that not all household conflicts could be resolved instantly. be affected person with the method and set life like expectations on your progress. Strong, healthful household ties and Rome weren’t each constructed in a day.
• Seek Positive Outlets: Engage in optimistic actions to enhance your life. Indulge in inventive actions, socialize your self, or observe your hobbies. This method truly helps you emotionally and is likely to be useful for stress administration.
• Know When to Seek Professional Help: Do not hesitate to hunt skilled steering in case your psychological well being retains getting deteriorated. Professionals like therapists and counselors are geared up to supply you help and steering chances are you’ll require.

It entails effort, endurance and self-compassion when sustaining a fragile steadiness between household points and your psychological well being. You can overcome this by implementing open communication, setting limits, looking for help and working towards self-care you possibly can overcome these obstacles simply with grace and resilience. Always do not forget that asking for skilled assist is an indication of power and bravado and your well-being is price prioritising.