Each one of us will experience and understand home differently. Home is more than a place where we lay our heads at night. Home is equal parts where we eat and sleep, our neighbors, where we catch the bus or even where we go to the store. All of these parts of home can impact our mental wellness. Home is made up of many communities and environments that surround us. Sometimes home is something that uplifts us. Other times, home can be a place that is a source of a lot of stress. When home is stressful, it ripples throughout the rest of our daily lives and can impact other areas of our social, mental and physical health.
When Home is Stressful
When home is free of violence and is stable and supportive, we can focus on other things in our lives like school, relationship, and work. However, instability, chaos and violence can shake-up our entire sense of self. It can even cause us to numb our feelings, bury our heads in the sand, and feel anger and rage. If you have felt or are feeling this way, know that you are not alone! Lots of people have dealt with and are dealing with similar issues. There are resources available that can help you navigate toxic stress that is coming from home. The first step is reaching out. Use our Find Support page to find resources in your area.
There are hardships and pain that are caused by factors outside of our control and it can feel overwhelming. Finding someone to talk to about what is going on can provide you with thorough and thoughtful action and planning steps to get on top of your mental wellness. Your situation right now does not define you, your self-worth or who you will be tomorrow. When we reach out for help, we show our strength and we are reminded that things can change.
Foster Care
Going through the foster care system can be challenging and sometimes scary. Whether we are placed in a new home, in a group setting or with relatives, the stress that comes with entering the foster care system is real and can have an impact on our well-being. Again, not everyone’s experience with foster care is the same. We all enter the system for many different reasons and it is crucial that you know you are not alone. Foster care stress can impact other areas of our lives like our relationships and school. In fact, youth who are dealing with the stress of foster care have an increased risk of dropping out of school before graduation. There are several groups and organizations that were created by and for those in foster care. Finding someone to reach out to can really help. You can use our Find Support page to locate a group in your area.
Experiencing Houselessness
To be in between housing is really tough. No one plans to go without a house and this experience can really have an effect on us. If you are currently experiencing houselessness remember this does not define who you are. Being between homes is NOT an identity. Whether you are in this situation with family, alone or with those in your care, the trauma that can come from being between housing can carry through to other parts of our life. School may become harder, relationships may seem impossible and coping with this added stress can feel unbearable.
Individuals who are in experiencing life between housing have increased risk of dealing with trauma and violence. There are others out there who can relate to what you are going through and there are resources available to help. Opening up about this is incredibly difficult but it can make all the difference. Take a look at our Find Support page to see who is available in your area.
Safety
If you do not feel safe at home, talk to someone. If you ever feel that you or others are in immediate danger or risk, call 911. Resources such as the Crisis Text Line are available to help. You can talk to someone immediately by texting 4HOPE to 741 741. Remember support is available. You can check out our Find Support page to locate someone in your area who is able to offer help and support.
Talking About It
If issues at home are really affecting you, it is important to realize you are not alone. There are many of us who are dealing with or have gone through similar things. Finding the right resources and communities to talk with can have a real impact for the better. Talking about home can be scary for all of us. What goes on at home is private and sometimes we think of it as no one else’s business. There may be people in your community who can already offer support, advice, and a plan for help. You can find them in your schools, in faith/church-based organizations at a local Boys and Girls Club and other organizations in your area. Check out our Find Support page and see who is in your area.
