We've got psychotherapist,
Doctor Nannette Funderburk and
licensed clinical social worker
Adam Goldammer and we're there here
answering your questions and so let's
go back to our discussion guys.
As we were having it, this person was
asking if you're uncomfortable leaning
on others when you're feeling down,
what are their options?
Can you do?
Adam, what do you think?
One of the things that I always
suggest is seeking out a professional
and in that situation a counselor,
but even more so to the point of the
question would be also like utilized like
journaling or drawing as a technique.
If you don't like to utilize
other people to lean on,
being able to write down your
thoughts as a way to process them.
That is a great way.
All those different things
that creativeness so that it
gets out of your mind again.
OK, the net this person says.
Can you explain why I feel so much
better when I talk about a serious or
traumatic event with friends and family?
I often repeat myself,
but I find that it helps.
Why is that?
You know, I often look at it
like you know when we take in.
It's like taking in food when
we take in literal food and
this is a little a little TMI.
But you have to.
But whenever you take in anything,
it has to come out basically
and so emotionally.
It's the same way when we
take in this emotional food,
it has to come out of us and whether we eat,
whether we have good food or
healthy food or junk food,
it has to come out of us.
Same thing with this emotional stuff.
That we're taking in.
It has to come out of us,
and once it does,
we do tend to feel a little bit better.
OK,
let's talk about social media and TV.
I mean, anytime, anything like
something like this happens,
it is all over TV.
It is all over social media.
I know Adam.
You were saying that you thought
parents need to be careful about what
they say with all of those things.
Absolutely. I think that just being
mindful of your environment and knowing
that the kids are always listening.
I think that that's a big part of it
and not exposing them to too much detail
that they might not be ready for.
I think is a big part of that.
It is a social media age.
There are going to be things
across social media that get
go from one person to the next,
so we don't want to add to that
panic at all in this situation,
make sure that we're only giving
them the information that we feel
is necessary for them to process.
Yeah, and is it something
that everyone no matter what age they are,
needs to maybe give themselves some
parameters of how much they're going to watch
or read or look at Internet? Absolutely,
absolutely because you know what
you take in is what you take in and.
And I would also say for those
parents and caregivers out there,
we know parents are scared to
parents get or in caregivers.
Get your own help in this situation
because when you are well you are
then able to help your child be well.
Alright, let's talk about that.
Let's talk about the mental health of
the adults in this situation because a
lot of parents are very fearful right
now and are just kind of like hanging on.
So what do we do as parents to
calm ourselves down so that we
can be the best help to our kids?
Adam, let's start with you.
And then I know and Annette will follow
that up. So I think that a lot of
things that can happen is just
bouncing ideas off of 1 another.
Make sure you're taking that
with a grain of salt as well,
because each kid is going to be
at their own developmental set
and you might say to yourself,
Oh well, my kids not there yet,
and that is OK for your kid
not to be there yet.
You gotta look at this from a
developmental standpoint and not every
kid is going to be ready for that,
but also just be ready or
your own mental health.
I go back to the analogy of if you're
Woon did you're not going to be
able to to probably help someone.
Else that's woon.
Did in that situation as well,
so just make sure that you're
being mindful of the things
that are coming to your mind,
and make sure that you're seeking out the
help whether it's peer or professional.
And definitely parents.
You know the things that you do, you are.
You are models for your children,
so if you seek help and if you find
it easy or at least demonstrate that
it's easy to seek help, it will be
easier for them to seek help as well.
So you want to have a conversation
about hey yeah, I'm going to my therapy
session or Mommy and Auntie so.
And so we're about to, you know,
we're just gonna go have some adult
time and just have some conversation.
This has been too much.
For me or something like that,
just letting them know that I
don't have to shoulder this as
though it didn't impact me because
it has impacted everybody.
Yeah, I think sometimes we think
that we have to be the strong one
and show that there is no weakness,
but we need to also model for
them what it's like to be positive
in looking for help and using
that during this situation.
Thank you both for joining us.
Lending your expertise.