Anxiety and Motherhood: Ways I'm Learning to Cope. By Ivana Davies

Anxiety and Motherhood: Ways I'm Learning to Cope

When I was pregnant, I took birthing classes, registered for baby gear, read every article about milk supply I could find, and baby proofed the house with care. I knew how to do these things because everyone talked about them. This information was passed down from other mothers and was pretty standard.

What I did not prepare for was the severe anxiety that enveloped me like a fog and started to interfere with my everyday life when I became a mother. No one told me about this, and I felt extremely alone.

My heart raced as my mind rushed through every possible worst-case scenario that could occur. My standard reaction to anything was anger, and I started to feel like I didn't even know myself. I was exhausted from motherhood, from anxiety, and from worrying that my anxiety was ruining my experience of motherhood.

I'm not alone. Neither is any mother experiencing anxiety. Statistics show that many moms have mental health struggles after giving birth, and this can last for years. We need to talk about it so we can face anxiety head on.

The reasons motherhood and anxiety often collide are many. Hormone shifts obviously play a role. Not living near family or having people to help us with the never ending chores of motherhood makes life harder. Sleep deprivation, lack of self-care, and the comparison culture created by social media all add up to stressed out mothers who tumble into the depths of anxiety. However, we can find a path out together.

There are ways to cope with anxiety, and I'm learning to use them. Small steps can lead to big changes, and these five tips are worth a try if you find yourself suffering.

1. Limit Exposure

Social media and access to 24 hours news takes its toll on all of us. After I had children, it was too much to handle. I now limit screen time for myself and try not to fall down rabbit holes that I know will leave me stressed. Get the right amount of information, but don't overload.

2. Sleep

It felt like a joke when people advised me to sleep after I had kids. When was I supposed to do that? However, it's sound advice. A lack of sleep increases the risk of developing anxiety, and it also negatively impacts physical health.

Get your spouse or partner to help, hire a sitter if you can, or simply go to bed when your kids do and grab a few extra hours of rest.

3. Green Exercise Therapy

Time outside among trees and green lowers anxiety rates. That's enough of a reason to put your child in the stroller and take a nice nature walk. Once you're out, the exercise will also help lower your stress level.

A heart rate increase makes serotonin more available to your brain. This gives you a boost that can propel you through the day.

4. Breathe

How can something we do instinctively help us with anxiety? Breathing helps when we do it mindfully. A symptom of anxiety is feeling out of breath or like your body is racing along with your thoughts. It's a feeling of losing control. Closing your eyes and taking five deep, intentional breaths can help get oxygen to your brain and help you get steady.

Using other senses can ground you in the same way. Look around you, reach out and touch something with your fingers, or listen to birds as they chirp near you. These grounding exercises stop the fight or flight response long enough for you to regain control of the situation.

5. Ask for Help

You don't have to navigate anxiety alone. In fact, you shouldn't even try. Tell your partner or a close friend, and see a healthcare professional who can offer support.

Sometimes anxiety can be dealt with without medication. Other times, medication is given to help with the symptoms of anxiety. Either approach is perfectly fine and will be based on your unique needs. Anti-anxiety medication works wonders for many moms and helps them enjoy the motherhood journey without all the extra stress that anxiety creates.

Parenting is hard, no matter what. Living with anxiety doesn't have to make it even more difficult. It's okay to ask for help and take time for yourself.

Author’s bio:

Ivana Davies is an educator turned stay-at-home mom. She’s a proud mom of a beautiful 7 year old girl and a playful 5 year old boy. Since she didn’t have a clue about raising kids, she had to learn it all in a hard way. Ivana managed to find so much information online and it inspired her to turn to blogging to share her experiences and struggles as a mom. Being a mom is not easy. In fact, it can sometimes be pretty isolating. Her blog, Find Your Mom Tribe, is here to help you connect with other moms, as well as to share mom hacks, information, and tools to help you on this parenting journey. You can catch up with her on Facebook and Pinterest.