Being a parent is the greatest feeling in the world – that’s pretty much indisputable. Creating a little person is just about the only thing that we know we’re here for – everything else is just pure speculation. That said, completing the one and only task we know we need to complete feels wonderful! As soon as you hear the news that there will be a baby on the way, you feel this overwhelming sense of love, and a new-found duty of care flows through your entire body. These feelings become massively amplified during and after the arrival!
It’s amazing, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s also very, very difficult at times. Sure, some days parenting is a walk in the park, but the majority of days are pretty hard-hitting. Many people are able to shake off the tough times, but they can have a lasting effect on many other parents.
If you’re a parent that is struggling with the jobs you have ahead of you, then there are things you can do to combat the mental struggles of them all. The stress will always be with you – it comes with the territory – but there are ways to lower its intensity. With any mental health struggle, time is needed, it’s not exactly going to be a quick fix, but it’s something that can absolutely be conquered. Here are a few things you can do:
Talk About It With Your Partner
Simply opening up about what you’re going through would help out a lot. A lot of people are too afraid to talk about their problems because they feel it might burden the other person – it really wouldn’t though. If somebody you love is struggling with all kinds of issues, would you palm away their attempts to share and relieve stress? Of course, you wouldn’t. Open up completely about what your issues are – once they’re out in the open, you’re able to then approach them better.
Keep Active
Well, if you’ve got a child with you, then you’re going to be kept on your toes a lot, so you might not need to do anything else in order to keep fit. You should absolutely keep an eye on your physical fitness, however – you don’t want that thing dropping off because it’ll make your jobs so much harder. Keeping fit and exercising will also clear your mind for a little while, and make you feel a lot more positive and confident. You’ll be in a better headspace whenever you approach certain tasks.
Make Sure You Eat And Drink Enough
Not having enough energy is a big factor that leads to increasingly poor mental health issues. It sounds so simple, but it’s true. This can be amplified when you have a child to take care of. You need the energy to perform certain tasks, and you also need it to stop your mind from going crazy (or crazier!).
Be Grateful For The Situation You’re In
This sounds like a stupid idea – especially when you’re in a pretty torrid predicament – but perhaps you should take a step back and look at the position you’re currently in. It might not mean much to you when you’re not in a great headspace, but lots of people would love to be in your shoes. It might be a little difficult at times, but many people would swap lives with you in an instant.
This kind of thing might not be much of a booster, but it might be able to shine a light of positivity on your situation. It might make you feel as though you’re in a pretty nice position as it is.
Look For Alternative Medicinal Means
If it’s getting all too much for you, then you might want to head to a doctor, and let them figure out a few things. They’ll listen to your story and point you in the right direction. If it means taking a few tablets to calm you down a little, then so be it. It sounds taboo and crazy, but many parents (and people suffering from mental struggles in general) use cannabis in order to relax their minds a little and grab some perspective. It’s obviously still a stigmatized thing, but Cannabis in the UK is looking more and more likely – and that’s due to the positive effect it has on the health and wellbeing of so many people.
Hire A Childminder
If you’ve got the money, then this is a no-brainer. You should take a little break every now and again. You may feel a little too attached to your child, but letting go for a day or two could fix up your mind. You’ll have to chance to refresh and revitalize ahead of another bout of parenting!
*This is a collaborative post*
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