Many parents struggle with excessive demands. The number of consultations on this matter increased by 86.96 percent to 86 percent in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period last year. Stress for parents increases even further, especially during the holidays, when children and young people spend more time at home.
“I can’t do it anymore,” “It’s all too much for me,” are statements that the team at elternseite.at, the advice service for parents and caregivers of Rat auf Draht, currently hears very often.
“Overwhelm has a major impact on your well-being. Parents report feeling more stressed, rushed, emotional, exhausted, overloaded, dissatisfied, irritable, or out of balance. This is often noticeable during consultations,” says Lena Kaiser, psychologist and consultant at elternseite.at.
Triggers are diverse
There are many reasons for the overload: challenging phases of the children, deviations, conflicts or parenting problems are just as important as busy schedules, uneven division of tasks, too high demands or perfectionism.
Conflicts between couples, upheavals in life (e.g. crises, divorces), children’s tantrums, learning difficulties or the challenge of setting boundaries for children are also mentioned time and again.
“Recognize your own needs”
“Depending on the subject or the causes, we provide individual advice. In general, we provide initial care and we look at the resources together. We encourage you to accept outside support and acknowledge your own feelings and needs. In addition to tips, ideas or suggestions for parenting, we offer psychoeducation and try to open new perspectives for parents,” says Kaiser.
Overwhelm knows no gender, no income level, no age and no origin, a new video clip wants to make it clear:
Additional professional support is often needed for the child or parents. It’s common for parents to put their own self-care aside. But this is necessary and important to cope well with everyday life.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
