The Family Under Stress

 

What are kinds of things that can trigger stress in a family? Is your family under some circumstance that is putting stress into the relationship? There can be many things that influence and effect the family. With different stressors, different outcomes can come from the triggers. Some of these triggers could be Finances, Divorce, Re-marriage, Illness, Death, and it could be many others that affect families. How can we better handle these stressful times as a family?

What does stress actually mean? Stress is defined by Google as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension. Stress is something that we put on ourselves by analyzing the situation that we are in. We can be going through our everyday activities and experience stress from work, school or peers. Stress can happen anywhere if we allow it too. It can occur in the same re-occurring events throughout a day or it could be a brand new experience that brings on that stress. It is important to remember that some stressors can be unpredictable and something that hasn't been experienced by the family before. 

Now there is stress and then there is crisis which are two different things and different experiences. Crisis is defined by Google as a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. Crisis can be an event such as a death of a loved one or increased financial strains on the family in the early beginning of the family. Stress and Crisis can each effect families differently and put different types of strain on the relationship. Putting that strain on the relationship can cause two different outcomes, the family can come closer together in the end or it can cause barriers to be put up around individuals in the family. Experiencing stress as a family is a very hard situation and can be hard especially on parents as they try to provide for the needs of their children. Parents provide money for children's medical and dental bills, school, activities, etc. and adding another level of stress on them. 

Financial strain is something that is experienced through all stages of marriage. Trying to provide for your family is something that can be stressful in providing everything possible for your children and spouse. In this stressful time it can either bring your together and you learn how to handle your finances better as a couple or the opposite and the couples relationship is put under strain that can damage the relationship in the end. Learning how to work together on finances and how to manage the money that you have is something that can be very tricky but by taking that extra time to sit down and talk about it rather than one person do it can take that strain off of that one person. 

The death of a loved one is another stressor that is one that can be unexpected and unwanted. It can come unexpected which adds that extra stress on the family to provide the means necessary for the funeral and expenses. This can be a same situation as finances and can either bring the family closer in this time of loss or it can cause rifts in the relationship of the family members. This is an event that is not looked forward to in any family and when it happens at unexpected times, but depending on how it is handled can help increase relationships.

Stress and Crisis are things that are not desired in any relationship. They cause contention and feelings that we wish weren't there in any family relationship. I know I have experienced this in my own family but continually working to strengthen relationships can help so that when those times occur, our relationships just get stronger rather than fall apart. Strengthening relationships is one of the most important things that we should always be striving to do and as we do that, the relationships that are strong will continue to be strong.