As a parent, your first instinct will always be to put your children first. However, it is important to remember that if you don’t take care of yourself - both physically and mentally - you won’t be able to care for your children in the same way. Therefore, it is important that you take some time out of your hectic routine, and focus on your own well-being - especially if you deal with anxiety or related disorders.
With that in mind, here are some tips for handling anxiety as a parent.
Take a break
Parents are always busy. Whether you are dropping the children off at school on the way to work or cooking dinner whilst doing the ironing - it’s likely that you’ll have your hands full. As a result, you’ll likely push any of your own issues aside, telling yourself you will deal with them later. However, ignoring a problem does not make it go away. It will only continue to grow until you address it.
Therefore, one way in which you can help yourself manage stress and anxiety is by giving yourself some time off. Spend some time alone in your happy place. Allow yourself some time to think and reflect. Baba West has a wonderful mamas collection, with some very interesting products that can help you relax and unwind after a stressful day. Allow yourself to process your thoughts and find a resolution that helps you relax.
One way in which you can handle anxious thoughts is by asking yourself if this issue will matter in 10 years? If the answer is yes, work through possible solutions and decide on a course of action. If not, ask if it will worry in 5? The more the number reduces, the calmer you should feel. It can help put into perspective that you really shouldn’t sweat the small stuff.
Consider journaling
Studies have shown that journaling is a great way to relieve anxiety, as it allows you to get thoughts out of your head and onto paper. This is especially useful if you find whatever you are dealing with to be hard to talk about. Once written down, you’ll be able to understand how you are feeling more quickly and find new ways of dealing with it.
Start meditating
Meditating has always been associated with feeling calm and relaxed and as a result, can be a great way to combat anxiety in your day-to-day life. If you’ve never meditated before, there are plenty of guides online that make the process easy. Even better, you can even find a way to get the kids involved!
Make the most of every resource
If you google, ‘anxiety tips, you’ll find thousands of resources to guide you through your journey. You must do your research and find the best course of action for yourself. You can find a lot of online articles, Youtube videos that can help you understand and give you tips on how to deal with your anxiety.
Consider therapy
No matter how self-sufficient you are, sometimes we cannot deal with our problems alone. As a result, you may benefit from getting in touch with a therapist who can help you get to the root of your anxiety and provide you with a range of tips and techniques to better manage it in your day-to-day life. Therapy does not have to be scary - talking to someone you don’t know about how you feel can help lift a heavy weight from your shoulders.
Reach out to those around you
Sometimes, being a parent can feel a little isolated, as you spend all of your time with your children. This can be especially true if you are a stay-at-home mum or the first in your friendship group to have children, and you see your friends less frequently or feel as though they don’t understand you. Be assured that your friends do not love you any less, they just haven’t experienced everything that comes along with motherhood. However, this does not mean that they are not there to support you. If you need help, reach out to those around you. You could also benefit from joining a support group with other mothers who are battling anxiety, providing guidance and support to each other.
Read a self-help book
Self-help books can be a great way to help you find new ways of managing your stress and anxiety, therefore it may be worth getting your hands on a copy. Do your research to ensure you are buying a book that offers the kind of advice you will need, and try and spend a few minutes each day going through the book.
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