| Have you ever watched a group of children playing | | | | |
| together? There's so much energy and so much | | | | The good news is that even if you missed out on |
| smiling. There's lots of running around, and then | | | | this as a child because you were abused, you can still |
| inevitably, somebody starts crying. Someone gets | | | | learn to do it as an adult. |
| mad. There's a bit of emotional chaos. Sometimes | | | | First, you can enroll in therapy if you haven't |
| a grown-up has to step in and sometimes the kids | | | | already. I suggest trying to find a therapist that |
| work it out themselves. | | | | practices cognitive-behavioral therapy, as that |
| | | | | particular style of therapy works on helping you |
| You might call it child's play. | | | | develop skills to change your thinking patterns and |
| After all that's what children do. They run around, | | | | your actions, which is how you change anything in |
| they have fun, they quarrel, and then they get up | | | | your life. A good therapeutic relationship helps you |
| and do it all over again. But there's something a bit | | | | rebuild a sense of trust in yourself in the world and |
| deeper going on that most of us don't even realize. | | | | helps you relearn how to relate to others in a healthy |
| It's the learning of how to handle the ups and downs | | | | manner. |
| of relationships. It's a vital skill. | | | | |
| | | | | Secondly, once you have a secure trusting base (i.e., |
| It even goes on with preschoolers. | | | | therapy) you can begin to branch out and make new |
| Researchers noted that at the start of a school | | | | connections. Try new activities that interest you |
| year, preschoolers who are the most outgoing and | | | | and that hopefully give you a chance to connect with |
| socially adept show a high amount of activity in the | | | | like-minded individuals. Give yourself a chance to |
| brain circuit that triggers stress hormones. These | | | | "play" as it were. You may be dealing with feelings |
| "jitters" are actually helpful to them as they help | | | | of emptiness as you go through this. That's ok. |
| them prepare to deal with an uncertain situation. As | | | | Grieve in the safe space you create with your |
| the school year winds on, however, the stress | | | | therapist. It may feel like rough going at first, but |
| hormone levels gradually decline as these children | | | | you've got to keep trying. |
| learn to master the ups and downs of the social | | | | |
| playground. In contrast, socially isolated and | | | | You may not have a happy childhood, but you can |
| unhappy preschoolers maintain high stress hormone | | | | still have a great adult life. |
| levels and in some cases, they even increase. | | | | Just start learning how to play again. You don't |
| | | | | have to throw a temper tantrum like a preschooler, |
| This is why successful mastery of child's play is so | | | | but once you learn how to start enjoying life like one, |
| important. It teaches you how to navigate social | | | | you'll find yourself smiling a lot more often. And |
| situations with grace, an important component of | | | | that's something worth shooting for. |
| building and maintaining relationships. | | | | |