“To be a good parent, you need to take care of yourself so that you can have the physical and emotional energy to take care of your family.”
— Michelle Obama
Parenting is hard work, but it can also be gratifying at the same time. It takes tremendous work and sacrifice to support children in their growth.
A lot of these sacrifices happen behind the scenes, in silence. And because parenting often happens behind closed doors, we don’t often hear about the struggles and challenges that many mothers go through after the birth of their child.
Postpartum Depression: How Balanced Living Can Help to Manage Symptoms
Earlier this month, I interviewed Vaishnavi Nadesu, a registered psychotherapist at Psychology For Growth.
You can watch the entire interview by clicking here.
Our interview predominantly revolved around the topic of postpartum depression (a condition that affects almost one-quarter – about 23% – of mothers).
However, as the interview progressed, I found that many of the points Vaishnavi was raising related to the mental health of mothers, fathers, and the entire family system. It’s a reminder that childbirth can impact the mental health of everyone in the family.
Another thing that stood out in the interview was how many of the solutions and strategies for overcoming postpartum depression are also many of the same principles related to living a more balanced life.
Here are examples of what I mean:
1. Building and Connecting With a Support System.
If you’re a parent, you know how much your life changed once your child came into the world. Having a child brings a lot of joy, but there’s also A LOT of work. As a result, it’s helpful to have a support system – an individual(s) you can reach out to if you need help.
A support system can include your partner, another family member, a friend, or even some community resources.
Building a support system illustrates the importance of having meaningful relationships in your life, which is one of the components of a balanced life. Relationships are another domain needing attention and energy because they improve the quality of emotions you feel – the core of your Promise Wheel.
When you have a support system in place, especially if you’re a first-time parent, you have help around the corner, which is invaluable when you want to rest, catch up on work, or take a few moments to engage in a hobby that fills your cup.
If you have someone, you can rely on for help or someone you can vent and open up to, not only will it help you as a parent, but it will help you toward your attempts at living a more balanced life.
Having people who support you can help validate your challenges as a parent.
2. Sleep and Rest.
Speak to any parent, and they’ll tell you about their experiences with sleep deprivation, especially when their kids were younger. When I work with first-time parents, one of their significant complaints is that they’re just not getting enough sleep.
It’s a challenging issue to work through, but any investment you make into getting quality sleep is an investment worthwhile.
Sleep is also one of the sub-domains that falls under the letter P in Promise, which represents the physical domain of your life.
When you take time to rest your body and your mind, you feel less irritable.
You’re more patient and calm.
You are a better parent when you feel rested.
Relationships and Rest: Two Solutions for Many Problems.
February is Psychology Month in Canada. It’s a reminder that your psychological health is a fundamental part of your overall health.
When you build healthy relationships with people and give yourself the right amount of rest, you’re on the way to living a better life while allowing yourself to be the best parent you can be.
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