Uncover the Uptick of Stress and Anxiety Among Mothers Today
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Being a mother is one of the most rewarding roles an individual can take on. It brings with it a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and joy. But unfortunately, in recent years, there has been an increase in stress and anxiety among mothers due to a variety of factors such as increased workloads, financial considerations, lack of support from family and society at large, and societal expectations.
This article aims to explore the causes behind this uptick of stress and anxiety among mothers today, providing practical advice for how mothers can better look after their mental health during these tough times.
The Uptick: What’s Causing It?
One major factor contributing to the uptick in stress and anxiety among mothers today is the sheer amount of responsibility that comes with the role. On top of their day-to-day duties, mothers are also expected to act as teachers, caregivers, psychologists, and financial planners for their children. This can be an overwhelming burden to bear and can quickly lead to feelings of stress and anxiety.
Furthermore, in today’s society, mothers often feel they need to “do it all” – juggling work and family responsibilities while still managing to look perfect and embody a picture-perfect image on social media – leading them to experience intense bouts of stress and anxiety if they fail to meet these expectations.
Financial considerations are another major factor that contributes to the uptick in stress and anxiety among mothers today, with many struggling financially due to a lack of childcare assistance or other resources while they are working. This can lead to an overwhelming sense of pressure as mothers try to make ends meet and provide for their families.
Finally, the lack of support from family and society at large can be a major source of stress and anxiety for many mothers. Without adequate emotional or practical help from loved ones, mothers often find themselves feeling unsupported in their role – leading to increased levels of stress and anxiety.
Practical Advice: How Can Mothers Better Look After Their Mental Health?
In order to better look after their mental health during these tough times, there are several steps that mothers can take.
Step 1: Recognize Stress and Anxiety
The first step towards managing stress and anxiety is to recognize it in yourself. Signs of stress and anxiety can include physical symptoms such as headaches, neck tension, chest pain, and difficulty sleeping, as well as psychological signs like restlessness, worry, or irritability. It’s essential to be mindful of these symptoms so that you can begin to identify the triggers for your stress and anxiety. Once you’ve identified the cause of your stress and anxiety, you can start to develop a plan for managing it more effectively.
It can also be useful to keep a ‘mood diary’ where you track your thoughts and feelings throughout the day. This will help you gain an insight into how certain situations make you feel and allow you to better understand your emotional reactions. Tracking your mood in this way will also help you become aware of destructive thought patterns which may be contributing to your anxiety levels.
Step 2: Develop Healthy Coping Strategies
Once you’ve identified the triggers for your stress and anxiety, it’s time to develop healthy coping strategies that you can use to manage your emotions. This could include activities such as:
Practice Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is a practice focused on bringing awareness to the present moment without judgment. It can help improve emotional regulation, reduce stress and anxiety levels, as well as increase overall well-being.
Through regular practice of mindfulness techniques, individuals can learn to observe their thoughts and feelings from a place of non-judgmental acceptance. This can help free up mental energy so that individuals can better focus on the task at hand and live in the present moment.
Additionally, mindfulness helps cultivate self-compassion, which is essential for maintaining positive mental health in times of stress and anxiety.
Join a Yoga Class:
Yoga is a holistic practice that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to improve physical and mental well-being. Through regular practice, individuals can learn to connect with their bodies and mind in a deeper way, promoting greater self-awareness. This can help reduce stress and anxiety levels and cultivate feelings of inner peace and contentment.
Yoga also provides an opportunity for self-care and gently reconnecting with the body. Postures are customizable to meet the needs of each individual – allowing them to go at their own pace without over-exerting themselves.
Practicing yoga has also been shown to increase levels of endorphins (the “happy hormones”) which can lead to improved moods, increased energy levels, and reduced fatigue. It is also an excellent way for busy mothers with limited time or resources to take care of themselves physically and mentally.
Start Journaling:
Journalling is a great way for mothers to express and reflect on their thoughts and feelings. It helps to gain clarity and better understand our emotional reactions. This allows us to work through difficult emotions healthily, reducing stress and anxiety levels. Through journaling, we can also become more self-aware of destructive thought patterns which are contributing to our stress and anxiety.
Journalling can take many different forms, such as writing in a traditional paper journal, creating a digital journal, or even recording audio entries. Writing down our thoughts and feelings provides an outlet for self-expression, which can be incredibly healing during times of stress or anxiety.
For mothers who may feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities and duties, journalling can be invaluable for managing stress and anxiety levels. It gives us the space needed to process difficult emotions without judgment or criticism – providing a safe space where we can be open about our innermost thoughts and feelings.
Journalling is also a very creative way to practice self-care and express our authentic selves. Even if it’s just a few sentences, or quotes, taking the time to reflect on our thoughts and feelings can be incredibly healing in times of stress or anxiety. To help you find some inspiration for writing about anxiety, have a look at these anxiety quotes on Everyday Power.
Connect with Other Mothers:
Connecting with other mothers is one of the most effective ways to manage stress and anxiety. Connecting with others can provide a sense of belonging, understanding, and emotional support that we often need during difficult times. In addition, it helps us to feel less isolated in our struggles and more supported in our journey. This can be achieved through activities such as joining a motherhood group, attending a support group, or even talking to friends and family members who are going through similar issues.
Making connections with other mothers allows us to share our experiences and gain insight into the struggles of others. It provides an opportunity to look at matters from new perspectives, which can help us gain a better understanding of ourselves and our own circumstances. Hearing stories from others who have gone through similar experiences can also help us learn how best to cope with stressful situations or how to tackle certain problems.
Ultimately, connecting with other mothers is essential for maintaining positive mental health during difficult times. It provides emotional support when we feel overwhelmed or anxious about parenting responsibilities and duties – allowing us to process our feelings without judgment or criticism in a safe environment.
Experiment with Natural Remedies:
Natural remedies such as vitamins, herbs, and supplements can be effective in combating stress and anxiety in mothers.
- Vitamin B-complex has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels by helping to regulate hormone balance in the body.
- Herbal remedies such as chamomile, lavender, passionflower, and St. John’s wort have all been used historically to help ease symptoms of stress and anxiety.
- Supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium are known to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) levels which can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Beyond taking natural supplements or herbs, mothers can also experiment with a variety of holistic practices designed to reduce stress and anxiety. Aromatherapy is an excellent example of this – it uses essential oils like lavender, lemon balm, chamomile, jasmine, bergamot, frankincense, sandalwood, and many more to help soothe tension in the body and mind. Acupuncture is another popular option for reducing stress levels by targeting points along energy pathways in the body.
Mothers who want to make use of natural remedies should always consult a doctor before undertaking any new treatments or medicines. Natural remedies may not work for everyone, but they can offer an alternative form of treatment that could be suitable for certain individuals dealing with stress or anxiety.
Stress and anxiety can be overwhelming for many mothers in today’s world, but with the right tools and practices, we can manage our mental health more effectively. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that we are never alone in this journey – seeking support from family members or professionals when needed is essential for maintaining positive mental health. By taking small steps each day towards achieving inner peace and balance, we can work towards reducing our stress and anxiety levels as mothers.
*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.
