Tough times ahead - what can I do?

[Boymama4]

I have an upcoming difficult experience
involving high-risk and lengthy hospital treatment for my baby. This will be followed by a long period of isolation at home.

I am determined to get through this with my mental health in tact, however am very much pouring from an empty cup. I have a history of episodes of poor mental health during stressful times and I am not feeling very confident about my ability to cope.

Does anyone have any suggestions or knowledge about the most successful strategies to stay mentally well and get through? I am very keen to minimise the impact of this trauma on myself and my family.

Thank you in advance (from a very scared mama)

Most mums in this situation are unlikely give themselves a second thought. This is an odd post. Have you suffered with PND?

No PND, just 16 months of caring for my little boy, which has been very tough. I will continue to be his full-time carer once we leave hospital so I need to be mentally well.

Very unhelpful comment and also totally untrue. It is extremely difficult on a parent to watch a child suffer and to be a sole carer of a suffering child and in my opinion it's completely normal to wonder "how will I cope with this" especially if already burnt out and struggling with mental health issues.

OP will you have ANY support or breaks at all during your child's recovery? If so I suggest using those breaks really strategically - although you may want to use them especially if short to scroll on phone or zone out with a TV show, try to use them for short walks outside, a bubble bath, a yoga nidra guided meditation on YouTube, to read a book, to journal your feelings, to have a phone call with a friend, adult colouring in, a nap.