Stress in the Family
Spousal relationships, children, household chores, bills to be paid, can all cause stress in the family. Maximum stress in the family arises due to the day-to-day stressors like infidelity, financial problems, loss of job, or crisis in the family like a death of a family member, natural calamities, divorce, and others.
A certain amount of stress in the family is inevitable, though how a family handles and copes with the stress is what really counts. The best way to know if your family is experiencing stress is through the individual feelings of family members. When there is stress in the family, some of the following things are noticed:
- There is less time to spend together as a family.
- There are mostly explosive arguments.
- Most of the meals are eaten hurriedly or in haste.
- Family members tend to escape into their own work or indulge into other activities.
- There is always a sense of urgency.
- There is a desire for leading a simpler, peaceful, and content life.
- A few of the family members are left with a sense of guilt, with no time to make amends or the courage to make an effort.
- Everyone in the family seems to be constantly rushing from place to place, with no time to spare for each other.
- There seem to be no time to relax, no outings, no get together, and no relaxation with the family where family members can discuss, talk, and just be together.
- The rooms of the house remain isolated and quiet.
- Most of the conversations are centered on time and tasks, rather than on people and their feelings.
- There is a sense of frustration with too much to do, leading to bickering as well.
- Parents remain stressed because of their children’s actions.
- Children remain stressed because of their parents, more so if they are having any kind of problems in their relationships, or at their school, college, and work place.
Stress in the family not only affects the sufferer but it also affects the moods and attitudes of those around them. Stress in the family varies, though learning to cope and manage the stress together strengthens the family, and makes it easier to cope with the various family crisis as well.
You may also like to read my article on coping with family stress, something that all of us look forward to know and deal with.
What are the other factors that add to the stress in the family? Do share your views.
Photo Credit: Danilo Rizzuti
Disclaimer: We're not offering any medical advice here. These ideas are for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always seek a professional medical opinion from a physician of your choosing before making any medical decision. The information provided here is not intended to be a substitute to the advice given by your physician or another healthcare professional.
Hi Harleena
I imagine that financial pressure must cause a lot of stress these days. There’s so much pressure on children (and therefore parents) to have expensive consumer articles that it must be dreadful for families who can’t afford to indulge their children as much as they’d like to.
Joy – Blogging After Dark
I certainly agree with this Harleena. Thanks…I’d like to share your article.
Harleena –
There are always opportunities to stress. Our society is so fast paced these days! I think lack of time is a major cause of stress. We don’t have enough face to face time with each other.
When my daughter was little, I used to curl up and read to her. Then I gave long back rubs and sang lullabies. It didn’t make the stress go away, but it always helped us to focus on family and talk about our feelings. Now I do that with my granddaughters. I thought they would outgrow it, but they still ask for Nana’s back rubs when they are piled down with homework, or have a lot of busyness in their lives.
I love the way you always address problems head on and encourage others to do the same.
xo Karen:)
For me I think factors that add on the stress in the family is highly dependant on the kind of family structure one has – joint, nuclear, big, small, urban, rural. These are things that make for deciding factors. But yes, you mention some highly important factors here and I would agree to all of them. Conflicting beliefs, different expectations, clash of family ideals, clash of cultural acceptance, differences of opinions, inability to express oneself, changing demands, increasing pressure, household difficulties, financial strains are just some on the back of my mind.
Stress in the family can be very uncomfortable not only for the parents but also for the kids. It might influence them for a long time to come. And especially when stress takes an ugly turn of conflicts and isn’t resolved in a healthy manner.
This is a very serious concern for most families. This issue needs a lot of awareness!
You are absolutely right Hajra!
The kind of stress in the family you face, may not be the same in my case or in any one else’s case. Each family has their own stresses and has to find ways and means to deal with them. Family structure and your outlook towards it- are all factors that could add to the stress in the family.
I like your list of factors too, and think they are important ones like difference of opinions, increasing pressure, inability to express oneself, household difficulties, and of course financial strains. There are of course many others, though it again comes back to which ones best relate to you and your family.
Stress of any kind can only do harm, to the parents, kids, elders at home, and even the pets if you have any!! I see my dog look worried and get disturbed if there are any kind of raised voices in the house! So, we do need to take care of the smallest of things before we really invite in any kind of stress related issues 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Stress is everywhere as long as it bothers your thought even in the little things that becomes an issue to you then it can be considered as stress. There’s no way that you can get away with it as long as you exist they becomes parcel of every individuals life. Too much dwelling with it can be really tormenting.
Glad you could resonate with the post Yena!
Yes indeed, stress is everywhere and is a part of our daily lives. Stress in the family is however something that you can try and reduce or lessen by learning how to cope with family stress. That would help you and your family as a whole.
Thanks for stopping-by. 🙂
your blog will be of use to many.
write on
@nadiThanks for liking the blog, and your kind – encouraging words!
@KellyGlad you liked it!
Too true!