The Iran crisis has taken a toll, especially on families who are struggling with remote work, homeschooling, and disrupted holiday plans to return to their home country. In these ongoing uncertain times, Dr Jane Halsall, a counselling psychologist at Cornerstone Clinic, offers helpful advice for families struggling during this difficult period.
To read the full article, visit THE NATIONAL, article written by Nick Webster
The most common difficulties seen in families were rooted in uncertainty, disrupted routines and the erosion of psychological safety. In the UAE, this has shown up in very tangible ways, such as disrupted sleep, heightened anxiety, and the stress of managing changing work landscapes and homeschooling. Parents are having to be alert, checking news updates or reacting to sounds, a form of hyper vigilance that keeps the body in a state of readiness. This reaction is a normal response as it’s our nervous system’s way of protecting us when life feels unpredictable.
On a psychological level, the most effective shifts I’ve seen are when families move from constant monitoring of the situation to controlled engagement. Consciously managing their exposure to updates, having structured age-appropriate conversations with children rather than avoiding the topic, and setting boundaries on social media usage are all ways of placing their focus on what is within their control. This should help anxiety levels drop noticeably.
