We all need support, no matter who we are. As a pediatrician, CEO and a mom, I am constantly juggling priorities, schedules and child care. Some days are just plain hard and I’ve learned that the only way to get through the tough days and weeks is to practice self care.
Self care is about how we can be our best selves in order to be of support to those around us. For children to lead healthier lives, they need a healthy adult who can act as an emotional buffer to stressful or traumatic experiences. In other words, taking care of my own emotional health and well-being is one of the best investments that I can make for my kids’ health.
Regardless of zip code or walk of life, between half and two-thirds of Americans experience at least one major stressor such as parental separation or divorce, domestic violence, or parental depression before age 18. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente shows that these exposures, known as Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs, can profoundly affect health over a lifetime, increasing the risk of chronic illness like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
At the Center for Youth Wellness, we screen every child for exposure to ACEs because research also shows that early detection and intervention can make a big difference. Emerging science tells us that when kids are exposed to ACEs, it can activate a cascade of hormones and other chemicals designed to prepare the body for “fight or flight.” Left unaddressed, these stress hormones can actually be harmful to the developing brain and other body systems over time.
To continue reading this article by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, go to: http://www.centerforyouthwellness.org/blog/Selfcare
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