Management of Stress in Parents of Special Children through Positive Therapy

From Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore, 40 parents of mentally retarded children were screened using Case Study Schedule (Hemalatha N atesan, 2008) and S.I. (Stress Inventory, Hemalatha Natesan & Nandini Menon, Revised 2005). Out of them, 35 were selected by Purposive Sampling. There were 10 male and 25 female. They were in the age range of 25-50 years. The sample was divided into 3 batches of around 12 in a batch for Positive Therapy. Positive Therapy evolved by Hemalatha Natesan (2004) is a package, combining the Eastern techniques of Yoga and Western techniques of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Six sessions of Positive Therapy was given in two weeks. Each session lasted for one hour. After two weeks, the subjects were re-assessed using the Case Study Re-assessment Schedule and S.I. Initially, 86% of the sample had 'High'/'Very High' stress. But none of them had 'High'/'Very High' stress after Positive Therapy. There was a significant reduction in the mean stress from 'High' (16.47) before Positive Therapy to 'Moderate' (6.29) after Positive Therapy. Worry was reported by the entire sample; the other common negative emotions experienced by the sample were depression, fear, irritation, anxiety, anger and hatred. The physiological symptoms reported by majority of the sample were sleep disturbance, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, weakness and body pain. After Positive Therapy, there was a drastic reduction in the negative emotions and physiological symptoms of the sample.