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.
If you are anything like me you would much rather put others before yourself. Well that is how I use to be. As I found out in 2023 you can’t give and give and give of yourself, especially to people who might not appreciate it. For if you do it can REALLY break you!
Moving forward, I'm going to do a few things differently. First, pray, read a Bible verse or two, something to make sure I’m tapping into the Power of a Higher Being, to me God. If we give everything to Him, then things tend to work out better. I say better which doesn’t always mean the way that we think they should, it means the way He has planned for us.
Secondly, I’m facing my fears, jumping into my feelings more and seeing what to do to change them. As I said in my story post there’s about a month or so of this year that I have a hard time remembering what happened. What was going on then, how was I feeling? Well, I can tell you I had A LOT of anxiety and definitely some depression. I joined a program that has helped me tremendously. I listened to some books “Thriving with Anxiety” and "Take Control of Your Life”. All of these talk about self-care. If your tank is not full it is going to be hard to take care of others.
So the third thing for now is I’m learning more about what self-care is and then making sure I take action. There is so much research out there on the subject of self-care. One article says there are 7 aspects;
Mental - manage stress
Emotional - practice gratitude, setting boundaries
Physical - basic nutrition, hydration, exercise
Environmental - having a space where you feel calm
Spiritual - nourishing our inner being, taking care of matters of the heart
Recreational- hobbies, fun ideas, new activities
Social - connections with others
The social aspect should be nurtured regularly because it affects our mental health, our mental health affects our physical and so on.
I’ll be covering more details of these 7 aspects in later posts. Leave a comment if there is something you do for self-care? Or if there is an area you want help with.
