May is Maternal, Mental Health Month. It is a month to celebrate all the hard work that mothers do. No matter what kind of mom you are…a pregnant mom, a new mom, a stay at home mom or a working mom, being a mom is difficult, and during the CoVID-19 Pandemic, even more so than usual. Motherhood is a tough job that sadly doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Being a mom means that you are “on” 24/7 and you don’t get a break or a vacation. It’s hard. We all love our children but we must remember that we also need to take care of ourselves. You know how they say on an airplane that if oxygen is needed you should put your mask on first so you can take care of others around you? That’s true…. moms need to take care of themselves so that they can better care for their children.
According to the Blue Dot Project, a project that raises awareness of maternal mental health disorders:
- 1 in 5 women suffer from Mental Health issues
- Traumatic Child Birth affects up to 34% of women
- Less than 15% of Women receive Mental Health Treatment
Maternal Mental Health disorders include a range of conditions including depression, anxiety, and psychosis and can occur within pregnancy or following the birth of a child. When left untreated, these disorders can cause devastating consequences for the mother, her baby, her family and society. These issues can persist and get worse over time. If you’re not sure if you have any of these diagnosis or symptoms click here to check:
https://www.thebluedotproject.org/whataremmhdisorders.
Regardless of whether you have a formal diagnosis or not, being a mom is hard work.
Five things you can do to take care of yourself:
1. Get support– Join an online group while staying at home. There is nothing better than talking to other moms who are at the same stage of parenting as you. This can become a safe place to ask questions that are on your mind. You may think your questions are silly or irrelevant, but chances are, they are probably on the minds of other moms out there. Here is a list of 10 different Mom’s groups that may meet your needs. https://www.mother.ly/work/find-your-group-10-mom-groups-that-are-totally-amazing.
2. Write in a Gratitude Journal— Sometimes it’s hard to find the good things in our lives. Research has shown that when we write down things we are grateful for it is a reminder that even though things might not seem great, there are always some good things in our life. Try to write down two things every day. Even if it’s something simple like, “My child smiled at me” or I took a shower today. It’s helpful to go back in your journal and read the things that went well or that were good when you are feeling down. This Gratitude Journal is from the https://www.theshopforward.com/collections/espwa which all proceeds go towards supporting Mother’s programs in Haiti.
3. Get outside and take a walk– Even though you may not feel like leaving your house right now, physical activity and a change of scenery is good food for your soul. Research shows that getting physical exercise releases endorphins in your body that make you feel better. Take your child or children for a walk, or if you need some time for yourself, use this time as “Me” time and take a 15-30 min walk all by yourself.
4. Listen to a podcast- – Listen to something that is positive or helps you learn something new. Learn about what other mothers are doing to cope with babies, preschoolers or teens. Sometimes hearing experiences from other mothers can help you not feel so alone. Not only can connecting to others and learning from them make you feel better, but it is always helpful to learn a few tips on how to cope during this difficult time. Here are the Top 10 Podcasts for moms. https://podcastreview.org/list/best-podcasts-for-moms/
5. Get Professional Support–Often as mothers we feel like we should be able to handle all our problems, take care of our children, our partner and take care of ourselves. Getting professional help does not mean you are a failure. Professional help can be the first step you take in not only helping and taking care of yourself but also taking care of your child or children. Professional help with an objective person who can give you nonjudgmental support and guidance will help you navigate the struggles of motherhood. We provide counseling for mother’s at Crossroads and you can contact us at info@crossroadsfamilycc.com or here is a site you can check out resources in your area;https; https://www.consumersadvocate.org/online-therapy
We believe at Crossroads Family Counseling in helping the entire family and supporting all family members. This month we are focusing on supporting mothers and helping strengthen them emotionally, physically and socially which in turn supports strengthening children emotionally, physically and socially.
Happy Mother’s Day!