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| Michelle De Faria is doing her placement at Eating Disorders of York Region. |
Until August 10, she will routinely answer different questions pertaining to family dynamics (in other words, how a family works) in relation to mental health.
Today, Michelle talks about daily routines and family rituals.
Question: What is a daily routine?
Answer: A daily routine involves daily
behaviours or activities that a family would take part in to maintain balance
and structure. This routine is important because it gives the family a sturdy
foundation. For example, bedtime, chores
and mealtime are all daily routines.
Question: How might a family member who has
a mental health issue affect a family’s daily routine?
Answer: A family’s daily routines can
be interrupted by the symptoms the person struggling may experience. The daily
routine can also be affected by how family members react. Over time, daily
routines are sometimes structured around the individual struggling to
accommodate his or her needs. For example, a mother may stay up passed her
bedtime if her child with bulimia nervosa purges late at night.
Question: What is a family ritual?
Answer: A family ritual is an activity
or group of activities that a family would share. The family may partake in
these rituals on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Family rituals may
also take place during special occasions. They can be transmitted from one
generation to the next or can be created at any time. Examples include, but are
not limited to, family celebrations, family birthdays, family vacations, family
reunions and holidays.
Question: How can a mental health concern
affect a family ritual?
Answer: A mental health concern can easily interrupt family rituals. For example, a family might decline an invitation to a family reunion because a member with anorexia nervosa may experience anxiety and feel overwhelmed at the event. As the disorder progresses, more rituals may be disrupted. It is important to strive to keep these family rituals active to ensure a balanced family system. Stress, tension and sometimes resentment within the family could result if these rituals are disrupted. As a whole, the family will both acknowledge and feel the loss of structure and balance.
Answer: A mental health concern can easily interrupt family rituals. For example, a family might decline an invitation to a family reunion because a member with anorexia nervosa may experience anxiety and feel overwhelmed at the event. As the disorder progresses, more rituals may be disrupted. It is important to strive to keep these family rituals active to ensure a balanced family system. Stress, tension and sometimes resentment within the family could result if these rituals are disrupted. As a whole, the family will both acknowledge and feel the loss of structure and balance.
The above post contains facts and suggestions found in Chemical Dependency: A Family Affair by Olivia Curtis, a textbook used in the Addictions and Mental Health program at
Durham College.
You can also read Conquering Eating Disorders: How Family Communication Heals by Sue Cooper and Peggy Norton for more information on this topic.
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