In the beautiful chaos of motherhood, it's easy to prioritize everyone else's well-being above our own. Yet, amidst the daily hustle, it's crucial to pause and acknowledge the importance of our mental health. Understanding common mental health conditions is not just about awareness; it's about equipping ourselves with the knowledge and compassion needed to navigate our own journeys and support those around us.
Anxiety: Unraveling the Knots of Worry
Anxiety can often feel like a constant companion, tightening its grip on our hearts as we try to balance the demands of motherhood with our own inner struggles. Whether it's the relentless worry, the racing thoughts, or the overwhelming sense of dread, anxiety can leave us feeling trapped. But by understanding its details and learning coping strategies, we can begin to untangle the knots of worry and reclaim a sense of peace within ourselves.
Depression: Finding Light in the Darkness
Depression is not simply feeling sad; it's like navigating through a thick fog that clouds our minds and weighs down our spirits. For me it also looked like wanting to lay on the couch and do nothing and sleep. As overcommitted moms, the pressure to appear strong and capable can sometimes exacerbate these feelings of emptiness and despair. But by recognizing the signs and reaching out for support, we can start to find glimpses of light in the darkness and take the first steps towards healing.
Self-Care: Nurturing Our Inner Garden
In the midst of our busy schedules and endless to-do lists, self-care often takes a backseat. Yet, just as we tend to the needs of our children, so too must we nurture our own well-being. Whether it's carving out moments of solitude, engaging in activities that bring us joy, or seeking professional help when needed, prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining our mental health and resilience.
Did you ever just want to fit in? To belong to something? Whether it is going to school, going to church, joining a group or even at work for the most part we want to be around people who “get us”. One way to do this is to be around like-minded people. If you want to be more positive you can’t surround yourself with negative people and expect you will miraculously become more positive. If you want to eat healthy but everyone around you just wants to eat junk food, it’s going to be real hard for you to eat healthy. Now, does this mean NEVER be around these people NO. We are always going to have family members, friends, coworkers, etc that get us in different ways, that are just fun to be around, that we can learn something from, or that inspire us in other ways.
Before you can surround yourself with like minded people you have to know what are your beliefs, dreams, and goals. What energizes you? What can you see yourself doing that you don’t already do? What impact do you want to have with your friends, community and maybe even the world? If you like to go camping, don’t just join a group that like to go camping. Join one that likes tent camping, or camper camping. Believe in yourself. You can do it! Take a few minutes, say up to an hour and write down everything that comes to your mind that you enjoy or have a desire to do. After an hour at the most STOP and come back to it later so you are not too overwhelmed.
Once you find a person, a group or a community to belong to, think about what can I give to this instead of what can I get from it. What can I add instead of just taking? When we do that we build relationships with people that can trust us.
Be okay with this taking time. Miracles don’t generally happen overnight. Just like planting a garden, you have to plant the seeds, then water, and cultivate the seeds before they will produce flowers, fruit, vegetables, or whatever you planted. Sometimes this can take weeks, months or even years. That’s okay! Relationships take time to grow, for people to trust you, but then you can have people that stay around and that you connect with for a lifetime.
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