Stress-busting for new mothers
Stress. It makes your mood spike and crash. It is influenced by sleeplessness, by being all things to all people, by having to face chores, like laundry, that are never, ever, completely finished. New mothers have special needs and special methods for stress-busting.
According to an article on the BBC Parenting site, this is the single quickest way to combat a stressful moment:
1. Take a slow deep breath in and let it out again. Keep breathing as gently and calmly as you can.
2. Drop your shoulders and let your hands flop down to dangle at your sides.
3. Release all the tension in your face. Relax your forehead, let your jaw drop slightly.
4. Pay attention to your mind relaxing as your body softens up. Notice all the positive changes.
Other methods that work to give me a bit of immediate relief:
- Stepping out onto the balcony or go into the garden for just a few moments of fresh air and weather.
- Drinking a large, cold glass of water.
- Telephoning or instant messaging a friend
- Thinking of people in the world who have real problems, like not being able to afford medicine for their sick children, or not having enough to eat
Don’t despair. The anxiety and tension of stress can rush through your body, making you feel like you’re under attack, but even those extreme feelings can be managed with small actions. Sure, it won’t solve every problem permanently, but all you really need to do is improve your outlook for today.
Tags: how-to-deal-with-stress, stress-and-motherhood, stress-busting-for-new-mothersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Mental Health
4 opinions for Stress-busting for new mothers
Helen
Apr 18, 2006 at 5:52 am
Hi Kate
The best stress reliever I have found over the years is laughing really hard.
Find something to laugh along with whether it is a hilarious book, magazine article, or rewind and play a scene from a film that sends you over the edge. Anything as long as it gets you laughing for about a minute or more.
Then with a smile on your face and the body snatching attacker well and truly on its way, you can face the washing up, laundry or other chores with a smile on your face. You will be surprised how quickly the time will fly past then while you are doing the day to day things.
Even laughing with your baby is extremely healing and aids the bond to grown stronger between you both.
Helen
kbaggott
Apr 18, 2006 at 6:03 am
You are so right! I think that’s why every parenting magazine has a humour column. The biggest pay off from parenting, a stressful job, is getting the laughs!
Jane
Apr 18, 2006 at 4:31 pm
I’m just learning this myself - practicing “non-resistance”. Much of the stress comes from resisting and wanting to control and change what can’t be controlled (namely everything outside of yourself).
kbaggott
Apr 19, 2006 at 1:13 am
Yeah, life is full of the uncontrolable
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