JA Family Education Day Keynote: The Ups and Downs of Arthritis--How to foster your family's resilience and build emotional well-being while living with chronic illness
This document discusses how to foster family resilience and emotional well-being while living with chronic illness. It outlines common mental health issues like depression and anxiety that family members may experience. It provides guidance on identifying when professional help is needed and where to find counseling services. The document emphasizes that building a support system, focusing on family strengths, and developing coping skills can help families adapt to chronic illness and boost their resilience over time.
Similar to JA Family Education Day Keynote: The Ups and Downs of Arthritis--How to foster your family's resilience and build emotional well-being while living with chronic illness
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JA Family Education Day Keynote: The Ups and Downs of Arthritis--How to foster your family's resilience and build emotional well-being while living with chronic illness
1. How to foster your family's resilience and build
emotional well-being while living with chronic illness
Caroline Hill, LCSW
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
2.
3. Introduction
How to know if someone in your family needs
psychological help
Most common mental health conditions
Different kinds of help available and how to access
services
Issues pertaining to siblings and parents
What you can do as parents to support your family’s
emotional well-being and resilience
4.
5. The Emotional Life of Chronic Illness
A lifelong process with ups and downs
Characterized by periods of stability and periods of
challenge, not necessarily illness related
Additional burdens of chronic illness
Big range of normal reactions
Different family members may respond differently
Most families regain stability within weeks to months
6. Siblings
Feelings of fear, anger, jealousy, confusion, worry
Minimizing or disbelief
Express their feelings in a variety of ways
Withdrawal/clinginess
Regression (younger children)
Attention getting or “acting out” behaviors
Complaints that they feel sick too
7. Parents
Feelings of guilt, frustration, responsibility and
helplessness
Vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety and depression
Torn between the needs of the child with chronic
illness and the needs of their other children
Changing roles/identities
Work stress
Financial burden
8. Depression vs. Anxiety
Depressive symptoms Anxiety symptoms
Depressed/”down” mood; in
children/teens anger or
irritability
Loss of interest or pleasure in
activities
Significant weight loss or gain
Insomnia or sleeping too much
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or
excessive guilt
Problems with concentration
Recurrent thoughts of death
Excessive worry
For children, clinginess,
school refusal, loss of
milestones
Restlessness or feeling on
edge
Easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance
10. Red Flags
Marked change in behavior
Cutting or other forms of self harm
Suicidal thoughts, notes or statements
Thoughts of hurting others
Substance abuse
11. Where to Start
Pediatrician
Rheumatology team
School counselor or social worker
Local mental health agency
Insurance plan for information and referrals
Emergency room or 911
12. A Bit About Counseling
A very common referral
A series of conversations with a trained professional
Variables:
Kind of counseling (individual, marital, group, etc.)
Setting (private office, school, hospital, etc.)
Training (LCSW, LMFT, Ph.D., MD)
Modality (CBT, brief, play therapy, etc.)
13. Counseling (con’t)
2 main benefits:
Emotional outlet in a confidential space
Help with coping and problem solving
Family-therapist fit is important: interview a few
therapists
Give it a chance
14. Good News
Depression and anxiety are very treatable conditions
(and not necessarily with medications)
Many different modalities besides medication that
have been proven effective (talk/play therapy, art
therapy, biofeedback and other integrative therapies)
Changes in lifestyle (e.g. diet, sleep, exercise) can yield
positive results
Benefits possible within a few weeks of treatment
15.
16. Resilience
The ability to adapt and do well despite adversity
Children facing chronic adversity do better when they:
Have a positive relationship with a competent adult
Are good learners and problems solvers
Have areas of competence that they value
17. Building Family Resilience
Develop a support network
Have an outlet for feelings
Identify and build on your family’s strengths
Help your children have valued roles in the family
Spend time together having fun
Help others in need
Encourage and model self care
18. Family Resilience (con’t)
Help your child identify their skills and strengths
Maintain perspective and hope for the future
Educate yourself and your children about the diagnosis
Know your child’s educational rights (504 Plan)
Consider being an advocate or helping your child to be
one
19. Conclusions
Children and teens living with chronic illness are at
higher risk for mental health disorders as are their
families
Help is available in a variety of forms
Building resilience in your family is possible and can
make your family stronger, happier, and better
prepared to cope with the challenges of living with
chronic illness