Why Motherhood is Way More Draining Than You Expected + 3 Strategies For Reconnecting With Yourself
Caring for a tiny human is a brand new skill set.
🤯 You grew a whole ass human during those 40 weeks (give or take) of pregnancy and then birthed this little person with barely any recovery time.
🤯 Your sleep cycle has shifted from a biological function that naturally occurred for 6-8 hours each night to an unpredictable treat you may or may not be allowed to indulge in for 10- to 120-minute intervals at random points throughout the day.
🤯 Friends you considered key players in your support system may not know how to show up or may send generic (even hurtful) messages, or may disappear altogether.
🤯 Your relationship with your partner has definitely changed, but who has time to even think about that?
Your life has become one round after another of the game of What Basic Need Will You Fulfill Today? You can shower, eat, or sleep, but you only have time for one! What's it gonna be? The clock is ticking . . .
Sure, help sounds awesome, but how would you even ask for it?
Sometimes you don’t even know what to ask for.
No wonder this feels like a lot. IT IS A LOT!
The good news is that feeling overwhelmed right now does not mean you’ll always feel this way.
You can begin to find moments of peace and calm even while you're a whole new level of exhausted.
You can process what’s happening inside you, reconnect with yourself, and learn how to ask for the support you actually need.
Ready for a deep dive into three strategies that will not only help you survive the challenges of the 4th trimester but also provide a toolkit for the rest of your motherhood adventure? Let’s do this!
10 Realistic Strategies For Managing Postpartum Anxiety
If you’re pregnant or you’ve given birth in the past year and you’ve been experiencing intrusive thoughts (they can get pretty dark but are not suicidal) and overwhelming nervousness and irritability, you may be struggling with a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder.
In case you aren’t aware of the statistics, postpartum mood disorders, such as postpartum depression and anxiety are the #1 complication of childbirth.
Our cultural expectations of women and the lack of support for them is a huge part of the problem, not something that’s broken inside you. And even if you’re genetically predisposed to anxiety and depression, that’s not your fault.
As a licensed therapist certified in perinatal mental health, I have a few things to offer on this topic, and they’re all grounded in reality and science.
The #1 Complication of Childbirth May Surprise You
Even after experiencing postpartum anxiety myself, I was shocked to learn that Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are the #1 complication of childbirth. PMADs is an umbrella term used to refer to postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, pregnancy/postpartum OCD, PTSD, insomnia, postpartum psychosis, and postpartum bipolar.
Of all the things you’ve worried about your entire pregnancy, you may not have considered that the risk of a mental health condition was much higher than the risk of any of the other terrible outcomes you’d played out in your head.
The Best Meditation App For Regulating Emotions While Parenting
Well, I truly think the practice of mindfulness is the most effective coping skill any future (or current) parent can learn. I only wish I’d had this info way back when I was prepping for baby. I have no time machine, but if I can save you from suffering more than necessary, then I’m definitely going to try!
Mindfulness Tips For New Mothers
When you start practicing these skills during pregnancy, you set yourself up for a calmer and healthier postpartum.
Learning about mindful awareness has been the biggest game changer for me in my parenting, relationships, professional life, mental health, and honestly, existence in our very overstimulating and chaotic world.