Stressed? Need Help? Not Sure?
Author: Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Stressed - the word is desserts spelled backwards. If only it were that easy. Sometimes, a little chocolate, a long walk, a warm bath, or a lunch with a friend does seem to fix things.
However, sometimes it doesn't.
Parenthood certainly brings much joy. This joy may include that first moment of meeting your newborn or rejoicing when they took their first steps.
Parenthood can also bring additional stressors. From added expenses, to being sleep deprived, to figuring out new roles and responsibilities within the household, parenthood can create new stress or magnify existing stressors.
As a result, sometimes, we all need a little help.
How do you know when you should contact a professional?
The simple answer is that when stress begins to overwhelm you or get in the way of you functioning in a healthy way in your everyday life, you should contact a professional.
This might mean you:
- Are losing sleep (even more sleep than you normally lose with a young child in the house!)
- Have loss of appetite or are perhaps eating too much
- Are angry, nervous, sad, or withdrawn
- Have begun to feel health symptoms that concern you (dizziness, shortness of breath or chest pains, etc.)
If you are answering, "yes, yes, yes and yes!" to the above you may need additional support to manage the stress in your life.
In order to move forward you may start by seeing your family practitioner. However, depending on the conversation, your doctor may refer you to a specialist.
At your initial doctor's visit, be prepared to talk about:
- Factors that are causing concern in your life
- Ways you are dealing with these concerns (i.e. do you exercise? what foods are you eating?)
- Support systems in your life (this could be a significant other, as well as other family and/or friends)
- Any additional information that will help your doctor understand your current circumstances
At the end of the day, you just might need some ice cream, but sometimes you may need something else.
When you do, make the call and ask for help.
You will be glad you did.
