Every family will have their ups-and-downs, and that is part of life. But there will be times when some family issues can just get too much.
We at Stepping Out, can understand that this can be extremely difficult, especially when you are young.
There are all sorts of family of issues, but the most stressful one are:
- Separation or divorce.
- Constant disagreements and arguments.
- Difficult financial situations.
- Not spending enough time as a family.
But never fear, there are a number of ways to cope with the amount of stress that you are facing when comes to dealing with family issues. Below, I have listed down three proven and most effective ways in coping with stress.
1. Tell Yourself That You Are Not the Only One
Let us take a look at the bigger picture; the world has more than 7 billion people. So, the question you need to ask yourself is whether these people have stress free lives? The answer is no!
Everyone goes through some sort struggle in life. It is normal. I know it is difficult to see this at the moment, but you really need to appreciate this fact.
One of the main problems in today’s world is caused by social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.
When you visit these websites, you are constantly bombarded with pictures of your friends having amazing parties and wonderful holidays. But here’s the truth, these people only want to show people what going good in their lives. They will never broadcast anything that is not good at all. And if they do, they are ones who usually seek pity, and you don’t want to be that kind of person.
People who constantly post good things on Facebook are more likely to feel ashamed when they are going through a tough time. And that is because they have difficulty in accepting their problem.
Once you acknowledge the fact that you are not the only one who is going through a tough time. Then you will gain a new perspective on your issue, and you will start to feel more relaxed.
2. Organise A Family Meeting
Once you have accepted the fact that you are not the only one who is dealing with this sort of problem. You can then move on to negotiating with your family. And the best way to do that is to organise a family meeting. It is very easy to organise a family meeting, you do it over dinner, whilst you are in kitchen. Anytime.
Once you have organised your family meeting, this is your opportunity to tell them how you feel about the situation. This will allow you to get any issues or concerns off your chest. Just remember one thing, when you tell your family about your concerns or issue, make sure you do it in calm and amicable manner.
Once you tell your family about your feelings, you will immediately feel better because you took the courage in facing your problems. Many people choose to avoid confronting their problems and resort to harmful measures, like alcohol and drugs, in an effort to cope with stress. In the long term, that’s bad for your health.
3. Don’t Forget to Listen Them
There are two sides to every story. Just because you’re family, will not mean you think in the same way. Having these family meetings will allow you and your family to clear the air and be able to reach a solution.
It may not eliminate the problems completely, after all money does not grow on trees, but it is the first step in the right direction.