Supporting a Loved One in Times of Heightened Stress
December 13 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm CST
Don't let stress “spill over” this holiday season, learn coping skills and tools to manage stress in your relationships
Sometimes we know when stressful days are coming for our loved ones. It could be planning for the transition from military service, watching a loved one with PTSD go through an “anniversary reaction” on an important trauma date, or jumping back into family drama during the holiday season. Sometimes thinking about these stressful periods can be a source of dread. We worry about what the stress will do to our families. We brace for the impact as our veteran loved ones become more withdrawn or more irritable. And we might even worry about whether stress might bring out our own impatient sides.
But stressful times are also a chance for close relationships to shine. From our vantage points as partners, family, and friends, we have perspectives on our loved ones that nobody else can see. And when the source of stress is shared, we can come together as a team – even if we might deal with the shared stress in different ways. In this EmpowerEd discussion, we will discuss (1) research on how stress can “spill over” into how we treat each other, (2) what effective support and connecting looks like in stressful times, and (3) how we can prepare for stressful periods ahead of time to set ourselves up for success.
The EmpowerEd trainings/seminars are open to the wider military-affiliated community and are offered Free of charge. Encouraged participants include: the spouse or partner of an active duty service member or post-service veteran, a caregiver or divorced spouse from a veteran or active duty service member, or an active duty service member or veteran.
Once registered, you will be e-mailed a Zoom invite to join via computer, tablet, or phone. You will also be able to access the Zoom information by viewing the event's Online Event Page. The Online Event Page can be accessed by clicking the “View the event” button in your order confirmation email, OR by selecting the “Access this event” button on the right-hand side of this page. Please find a quiet, distraction-free place to attend the session. If no one attends the session after 15 minutes the leader has the option to cancel the meeting.
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