Miriam came to our refugee medical clinic with a list of physical complaints—but as she sat down, it all came out at once.
“My children won’t eat. I have headaches. I have abdominal pain. My children are always angry. I want to leave them and go back to my family in Syria. There’s nothing worth staying for.”
We listened. Beneath her symptoms was a home under strain—conflict with her husband, deep stress, and children who no longer felt secure. We talked about how this instability can surface as anger and difficult behaviour in children.
Together, we explored simple ways Miriam could rebuild a sense of safety for them: recognising their emotional needs and setting aside even a few minutes each day to give them her full attention—listening, playing, holding them close. Simple tools, but powerful ones.
Three weeks later, Miriam returned for a follow-up. This time, she was smiling.
“I’ve started to enjoy my children again. Nothing has changed with my husband, but I did what you suggested. I sit with each of my children—15 minutes at a time. It’s fun. I realise now I have something worth staying for: my children.”
