Anxiety and depression suck.
Back in April, we got into an accident that sent me back into a deep depression and extreme anxiety. And while this is terrible enough on it’s own, it was made worst by the fact that I was the primary care taker for my child during the day.
Having troubles physically as well as mentally made the mom guilt hit really hard. In reality, I know that I was doing a good job still. But its hard to see the forest from the trees with the fog of anxiety and depression around.
While we get no days off as mamas, taking time to prioritize our health is NEVER a selfish deed. Its easier to give your all to your little ones when you’re happy and healthy after all. So with that in mind, here are my 5 tips for effectively navigating my anxiety as a mommy.
Practice mindfulness
One of the easiest things we can do to help sooth our anxiety is take some time to check in with ourselves. This is especially great if you feel like you’re on the brink of an anxiety attack.
While your kiddo is occupied with something else for a minute, take some time to do some quick deep breathing and meditation. This will help jump start your parasympathetic nervous system and chill you out–which in turn will also help you think better too.
Make a plan
So I’ll fully admit that I’m a planner girl, so planning is kinda a built in stress reliever for me.But there’s a more practical reason to write down your plans when you’re feeling stressed and anxious.
This goes back to mindfulness. Writing down plans helps you think a bit more critically about your situation at hand, as well as forces you to think about the future– thus taking you out of the moment. And if nothing else, it gives you something to follow so you don’t have to think too much later.
After you have done some deep breathing, take some time while your kids are down to write out what you want to accomplish and the steps you’ll take to get there. And each time you complete a step, you’ll feel a bit more accomplished!
Channel your anxiety
One of the best ways I’ve found to deal with anxiety is to channel that nervous energy into other, often mundane, things.
Doing this helps take my mind off of what is stressing me out and dispels that pinned up energy elsewhere. I have personally found cleaning to be a great way to let go of some of that anxious energy. It allows me to just zone out for a bit and focus on the task at hand instead of what’s stressing me out.
Tackle small task & delegate
In the same vein as the tip above, taking on smaller task helps to keep your to-do list low (lower at least) and keeps things from spiraling further–which will only make you more stressed, anxious and depressed.
And doing even the smallest, simplest things will feel like a victory, so its a great way to build momentum as you try to get back to your normal self.
And don’t be afraid to delegate task either. It can be a very humbling experience for sure, but remember– you can’t do everything. If you need help, know that there is no shame in asking for it.
Connect with good friends
Having a trusted friend or partner to vent to can be a God send when you’re dealing with anxiety. Just being able to vocalize what you’re feeling to someone who will listen can lift a great weight off your chest.
And the feeling of love and support you receive when you connect with trusted friends will leave you feeling much better and ready to tackle your anxiety as well.
You’ve got this mama!
I feel like its important to mention that while these tips were effective for me and many others, anxiety and depression effects us all in different ways. Some people can work through it on their own, others cannot. There’s no shame in seeking professional help when you need it and it does NOT mean that you have failed in some way or another.
Anxiety and depression aren’t generally quick fixes. It takes time to rebuild and repair all the damage that these things leave you with. But these 5 tips for dealing with anxiety helped get me through day by day until I got better, so I hope that this can help you as well.
Which of these tips have you/will you use when you’re feeling anxious? Let me know below!