Seeking support through counselling can be a challenge and, for parents, it can feel even more difficult or even impossible. Parents are often overwhelmed with stressful and daily experiences, many of which inhibit the feeling of being able to dedicate time and energy to seeking support. Additionally, many parents will also feel unable to support their children while seeking help of their own.
The effects of many mental health issues also make seeking support as a parent especially important. Stress and low moods, for example, can lead to langer and lethargy, both of which can be disruptive to wellness within the home. There is also the concern that many parents experience pertaining to the proximity effects of mental illness, such as depression or anxiety being passed onto or affecting their children.
Even before seeking mental health support, such as counselling by Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy, there are ways in which a parent-child relationship can be improved to facilitate better mental health. Receiving help around the home, for example, with chores and errands, can be a simple step toward relieving a parent of busyness and stress. Children that are encouraged to take on minor tasks around the home also learn about their own responsibilities too.
It is also parenting itself that might be the cause of mental health issues. Worries or fears of parenting ability, especially when considering the judgement of others, can be overwhelming. This pressure can lead to upset, depression, or even overcompensation, with parents developing unhealthy habits of micromanaging so as to retain a sense of control within the home.
Then, there is the mental health of children to consider. Many mental health issues take root during childhood and teenage years, making it a particularly difficult time for parents and children alike. Parents may also feel defeated should they begin to recognise mental illness within their child, placing both the pressure and the blame of such ailments upon their own shoulders.
These situations, however, often arise out of a parent’s control. Children go through a number of unique experiences, especially within school and when interacting with their peers. Parents should, instead, direct their energy toward seeking help, should they believe it is essential. Mental health support is possible for both parents and children, helping each to overcome their individual challenges, working toward better mental health and an ultimately positive parent-child relationship.