On Tuesday, Revere Public School caregivers and social workers participated in a special Family Engagement Night focused on building stress management skills. Hosted by Emmy Porto of North Suffolk Community Services, the discussion covered various activities designed to equip caregivers with practical techniques for managing stress in their daily lives.
Attendees had the opportunity to participate in activities and discussions aimed at enhancing family dynamics and promoting mental well-being. Attendees left with valuable resources and strategies to support navigating the challenges of maintaining mental health.
In her presentation, Porto went over the five types of coping strategies, such as self-soothing, distraction, opposite action, emotional awareness, and mindfulness.
Porto identified the five senses—touching, hearing, seeing, tasting, and smelling—and told attendees that these senses can be used as ways to self-soothe during stressful situations. Using some easy techniques, Porto said, manipulating our five senses can be a gateway to reducing stress and anxiety.
For example, Porto provided some methods to reduce stress using our five senses: For example, Porto provided some methods to reduce stress using our five senses: listening to calming music to soothe the mind, savoring a favorite snack to engage the sense of taste, or focusing on the beauty of nature to enhance visual appreciation. By incorporating these simple yet effective techniques, individuals can create a more calming environment and better manage their stress levels.
The PDFs below in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic are Porto’s full presentation and contain the stress-reducing tools Porto discussed on Tuesday. These tools include mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and physical activities like yoga or walking in nature. Each of these techniques can help individuals manage stress more effectively and improve their overall well-being.