I’m a mum and suffers anxiety

[Mummy04children]

I am a full time mum and a career to my children, I have 4 under the age a 6. I live with their father and we both stay home parents, happy relationship. This is my first post, hope I’ll explain how I’m feeling and wondering am I the only one. I have never really suffered with anxiety til my youngest was born, he’s not a well child and have multiple health conditions. I’ve noticed I suffer with anxiety now, I’ve been put on medication which has helped me in somethings but not all. I seem to be always anxious now, worry if/when my kids be poorly or if they hurt themselves running around. I worry if I be in a situation where their father/partner won’t be here for some reason (for example falls unwell in hospital) and how can I do it alone as we work together with my children. My partner supports me when I get all anxious but I just want it all away that i can enjoy life then anxious for things, things that may never happen. When I do have an anxious attack I just want to be sick, my heart goes so fast and I’ve got to breath counting to 10. I’ve heard of parental anxiety but surely it’s not this bad. Just want to hear if anyone else is similar to me, so I don’t feel alone.

Firstly, be aware that anxiety is an natural emotion - it's the emotion that tells us something is too important to ignore. So, in relation to your youngest, it's natural for it to ramp up because there's a lot of responsibility and a lot to think about on a long term basis. Where it's NOT useful is the 'what if's', the worrying, the fortune telling (second guessing what the future may bring). This is your anxiety going into overdrive.

What's happened in the past when you've come up against problems? You've coped, that's what. What will happen if and when new problems crop up? Yup, you'll cope - because that's what you do. You learn from both good and bad experiences, you adapt, you draw on external and internal resources and you work out solutions. That's what you've always done and that's what you'll continue to do.

Concentrate on the things you can control in any given moment; ignore anything that's outside your direct control - namely the future.

When you catch yourself feeling anxious, remind yourself that your record for getting through bad days currently stands at 100%

This video might better help you understand anxiety;