All people feel stressed sometimes. It’s a normal part of life. Even kids have pressures that sometimes seem overwhelming—pressures related to friends, school, sports, and family life.

If your child has recently suffered from a brain injury, you may notice that she is more stressed than she was before. Maybe she is bothered by things she used to take in stride, or maybe she has a short fuse and is stressed by somewhat normal demands.

Parents need to understand that dealing with the aftermath of a brain injury is, in and of itself, pretty stressful. Your child may be frustrated that he can’t as easily do the things he used to do, or may be overwhelmed with cognitive, physical, and emotional changes.

If your child appears to be unhappy or sad, it could be due to stress. First of all, it’s important that your child receives counseling/psychotherapy to help her deal with the effects of the brain injury. In many cases, your child will be taught stress release and relaxation methods to help her cope.

1. Encourage your child to talk to people about his feelings. One way to relieve stress is to let your feelings go. Talking to people can really help.
2. Make sure that your child gets an adequate amount of exercise every day, appropriate to her abilities. Exercise helps the muscles relax and makes the body feel less tight. When the body feels more relaxed, so does the brain.
3. Teach your child some effective relaxation techniques that can be used during stressful moments. Have your child close his eyes and take three deep breaths, exhaling to the count of three. Next, have your child tense and relax each muscle in his body, starting at his toes and working upward.
4. Schedule mini-meditations to ward off stress. Schedule a time each day where your child practices guided imagery, in which they close their eyes and picture a place they want to be. Add some relaxing music or aromatherapy to complete the mood.
5. Schedule a weekly or bi-weekly massage for your child. Like exercise, massage relaxes your child’s muscles, which will, in turn, relax your child’s brain.