Motherhood comes and completely transforms us. And when I say "completely" it is because It really changes every part of us, from the physical to the emotional. We are not only responsible for a new life, we are also responsible for the new woman we have become and with whom we must become familiar.
After the arrival of the children, there is much talk about caring for and loving our body, but not so much about our emotional well-being. That is why, and on the occasion of World Maternal Mental Health Day, today I want to talk about why it is important to take care of your mental health when you are a mother, as well as some tips to do it.
Why your mental health should also be a priority
When we get sick, we go to the doctor and when a tooth hurts, we go to the dentist. But what about our mental and emotional health? The truth is that we rarely attend to it or give it the attention and importance it deserves. And maybe we are not aware of how necessary it is to take care of our mental health when we are mothers.
In Babies and more "I am one in five", the movement that seeks to raise awareness about the mental health of mothers It is normal that among all the things we have to do, we do not give much importance to our own care. But we must do it, because so that our children are well and to be able to take care of others, first we must be fine we. And with this I don't just mean to do it when we get sick, I also talk about our mental health.
Why is it important then to take care of our mental health? Mainly because it depends on our emotional well-being. The way we think and how we feel affects and influences everything around us, including relationships with other people, such as our family, and the way we react to everyday problems and stress.
By taking care of our mental health, we not only make sure we attend to possible mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression, but also, we learn to better manage our emotions, we get to know each other in depth, and in general, we improve our quality of life.
Tips to take care of your mental health being a mom
Now that we know how important it is to take care of our mental health, an important question comes: how to do it? I know that as a mom it is not easy to find a space among the endless list of pending and daily tasks, but we have to consider mental health as a priority.
Spend time alone
To start caring for her, one of the first steps is to make time for ourselves. As I said, it's not easy being moms, but That's why I say we should do it and not find it, that is, do not wait for an opportunity. If necessary, we must schedule it, as well as schedule a medical appointment or meeting.
In Babies and more Time for mom: why it is important to have itIf we don't dedicate a space for ourselves, we won't have that time to sit down to analyze and understand our thoughts and feelings. I know that for some mothers, wishing time alone is something that makes them feel guilty, but it should not be so, because it is very important and necessary for every human being (with or without children).
Do things that fill your soul
Now that we are mothers, our priority is our children and we don't really have much time for other things. But before we became moms we had passions and hobbies, which eventually we were abandoning, but that at some point made us very happy and They were part of us, of our essence and personality.
And although having children certainly fills us with pride and moments of happiness every day, it is also important to do other things for and for us. Whether reading a book, listening to a playlist with your favorite music or returning to a hobby, are things that we are passionate about and make us feel good about ourselves.
Go to therapy
Many people get scared when they hear the word "psychologist" or automatically relate it to "being crazy." However, therapy could not be further from that stereotype. It is not bad or embarrassing to recognize that you need professional help. In fact, it is something that requires a lot of courage.
Therapy is the best way to take care of our mental health, and particularly in the case of mothers, has been found to be the most effective way to prevent and treat depression during pregnancy and postpartum. Just keep in mind that the therapy does not work as if by magic or overnight, but it is a process in which you will gradually improve.
In Babies and more Taking care of our mental health: how therapy helped me to be a better motherGo out with your friends
Motherhood can be very lonely and without us realizing it, we can gradually isolate ourselves from others. And although it is normal that we are now more focused on our family, living with other people, especially with our friends, is something necessary, because we are sociable beings by nature and this helps us to get out of the routine a bit.
But in addition to helping us to change our airs and recharge our social side, seeing your friends has a positive impact on your childrenWell, one study found that seeing your friends when you are a mother helps improve your children's cognitive development.
Do exercise
It is proven that exercise not only helps us physically, but also It helps us improve our mental health having an antidepressant effect. And when we exercise, we also disconnect from daily problems, helping us think more clearly and releasing stress.
As mothers it is not always easy to find the time to do a complete routine or go to the gym, but sometimes something as simple as dancing, going for a walk or running to the nearest park or practicing some yoga at home, can help us a lot .
Surround yourself with positive affirmations
Although being a mother is a wonderful thing, we are not exempt from having bad days or in which we do not feel good spirits. But instead of letting this feeling grow, let's look for ways to counter it by surrounding ourselves with positive things. Sometimes something as simple as reading a phrase that motivates you and makes you smile or a mantra that helps you remember that it's just a bad day.
My experience with mental health care
I have spoken on several occasions of the problems I had at some time with depression and anxiety. And although no doubt each case is different, that feeling of loss of identity or of feeling that you don't recognize yourself when you look in the mirror, is something that happens to many women after having children.
In my case, psychological therapy, exercise and spending time for me, whether doing the things I like or taking a little trip alone with friends once a year, they have helped me a lot to improve my mental and emotional health, and as a consequence, to have a better performance as a mom.
In Babies and more Mom: you are not doing it wrong, simply motherhood can sometimes be very hardRemember that each person has different problems and needs, but all mothers alike must take care of our mental health. I hope these tips are useful to you, and help you remember that you are not alone, and that needing help or space for you is not something selfish or makes you a bad mother, it is self-esteem.
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