Pediatric Surgeon's Tips For Parents On Coping With Stress

As a parent, you know that when your child is sick, it can be hard to stay calm. But stress can affect your child just as much as it does you. The effect of stress on a child is often even greater than the effect of stress on an adult. To learn more about how to cope with this, here are some top tips by Dr. LoSasso.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Center of Excellence for Pectus wants to remind parents and caregivers to be diligent about their mental health, so they don't burn out during this stressful time. Dr. LoSasso, one of the world’s leading physicians for treating pectus excavatum, regularly sees the stress parents and caregivers experience when a child has a serious condition or is about to undergo surgery.

A child’s stress can trigger the same anxiety in a parent and vice versa. The high incidence of what has been termed "toxic stress" has serious repercussions in terms of disease, suffering, and financial expenses. Almost 80% percent of Americans claim that they experience physical symptoms as a result of stress and nearly half of adults cite stress for adversely impacting their personal and professional lives. A child’s illness can exacerbate these symptoms significantly, and it is in everyone’s interest to devise appropriate coping mechanisms.

Based on his experience, Dr. LoSasso recommends a number of steps that should be taken if you want to effectively manage your own stress levels when tending to an ailing child. None of them are overly involved or difficult, Dr. LoSasso notes, but with consistency, can help lower stress and protect your mental health. First, you should work to avoid external stimulants like alcohol or drugs: a short-term crutch has a longer-lasting, detrimental effect on your well-being and capacity to be ‘present’ for your child.

In addition to proper nutrition and plenty of sunshine, parents and caregivers are advised to accept help - willingly and gratefully - from family and loved ones. While it may be tempting for you to do all of your regular tasks, in an attempt to feel a measure of normalcy, allowing others to help can dramatically reduce your stress levels. Many times, our friends and extended family feel helpless and hopeless, too. Letting them help out, even in small ways, reduces their stress as well.

By the same token, it is vital that you simply take care of yourself - this, too, is what the suffering child needs. Getting outside, eating right, employing natural relaxation techniques, being kind to yourself, and leaning on loved ones will help enormously to reduce the stress associated with an ill child.

With over 1,000 successful pectus excavatum surgeries completed, Dr. LoSasso - with one of the only centers to also treat Pectus in adults - is well-regarded by peers and patients not only for his surgical skills but also for his compassion.

One patient commented, "Doctor LoSasso is a complete professional with an outstanding bedside manner. He takes the time to explain everything in detail, go over everything so you understand, and answers all of your questions. Doctor LoSasso keeps to his word for timeframes and gives you his feelings and opinions as if he was you.”

Too much stress, too little time. Understanding what causes stress and how to prevent it can help you reduce the impact of stress on your child’s health and wellbeing. Help prevent and manage the symptoms of stress so you and your child can live your best lives by taking the right steps to improve your mental health.

First published in prsync on 10th May 2022.