Unrealistic Expectations during Motherhood
Let’s break down the harms of social media and motherhood:
Constant Comparison: Social media showcases selected versions of motherhood, often promoting perfectionism. Mothers often compare themselves to these unrealistic standards, leading to feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame.
Emotional Burnout: The pressure to meet impossible standards in parenting, career, and personal life often results in emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout.
Distorted Reality: Highlight reels on social platforms present an idealized version of parenting that rarely reflects the real struggles and messiness of daily life.
Mental Health Strain: Constant exposure to “perfect” lives contributes to anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, as mothers struggle to reconcile their real-life challenges with the images they see online.
Isolation: Despite being connected through social media, many women feel isolated because they believe their struggles are unique, further deepening feelings of inadequacy.
Navigating Interfaith Holidays: A Guide for Mothers Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving and Yom Kippur Together
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in Canada: Honouring the Lives Lost and Supporting Families
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in Ontario provides a vital opportunity to acknowledge the pain of families who have experienced these devastating losses. Whether through participation in events like the Wave of Light or reaching out to a grieving family, October is a time to offer support, raise awareness, and break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss.
Common Myths About Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
pregnancy and postpartum can feel really hard. Here are some myths that can get in the way of healing from our struggles.
Navigating the Shadow Pandemic: Supporting COVID Babies as They Start School
Signs and Symptoms of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
Shining a Light on Hope: How Light Therapy Can Help Perinatal Depression
Perinatal depression, a mood disorder that affects women during pregnancy and after childbirth, is a surprisingly common condition. Studies suggest that up to 20% of expectant and new mothers experience symptoms of depression. Traditional treatments for perinatal anxiety and depression, such as medication and therapy, can be helpful. In addition to these interventions, a promising adjunctive therapy can be applied to your routine: light therapy. Light therapy has been shown to be effective in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. The research suggests that it may also be beneficial for perinatal depression, and can include benefits such as increased energy, facilitation of better sleep, reduction in symptoms of anxiety and in some cases, help provide pain relief.
Embracing Fall: Mental Health Tips for the Perinatal Period
Navigating Back-to-School Worries: A Polyvagal Approach to Brain-Body Parenting and Peaceful Parenting
Navigating Back-to-School Worries: A Polyvagal Approach to Brain-Body Parenting and Peaceful Parenting
Coping Mechanisms for Perinatal Loss: Addressing the Unseen Suffering
Coping Mechanisms for Perinatal Loss: Addressing the Unseen Suffering
The unrealistic loads of motherhood
You are forced to decide between being present with your children, taking care of your home, taking care of yourself, fulfilling the needs of your marriage, and being a good friend, child, or aunt. Saying "yes" should be a conscious decision, not driven by guilt, people-pleasing, or external recognition. It’s unrealistic to expect that you won’t feel stress or that it will always feel good. But if we can find a way to process and address the daily demands with a sense of well-being and helpful stress integration, we may experience more joy in our day and less guilt, shame, and despair. Choose your hard.
Postpartum Journey
Bilateral Stimulation: A Calming Tool for Moms at Sporting Events
As a mother, attending your child's sports events can be an exhilarating experience filled with excitement and pride. However, it can also be a source of anxiety and stress, particularly when the stakes are high, or your child is facing challenges on the field. One powerful technique that can help manage this stress is bilateral stimulation, a method commonly used in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This technique can be a valuable tool for calming the autonomic nervous system, helping you stay grounded and composed during those intense moments at sporting events.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Women
If moms are able to plan ahead, their planning may include support for managing sleep disruptions, mood changes, and quality of life issues that arise due to nighttime infant care. It is also essential to consider both parents when evaluating parenting stress in families affected by ADHD, as co-parenting stress can significantly impact family dynamics.
Anxiety attacks during pregnancy: Coping Strategies
Feeling Disconnected from Baby Postpartum: You're Not Alone
The journey to motherhood is often idealized as a period of pure bliss and instant, unconditional love. While this is a reality for many, it's essential to acknowledge that not every parent experiences this immediate connection with their newborn. Feeling disconnected from your baby postpartum is a common experience that can be overwhelming and isolating.
How to help a friend with Postpartum Depression
Dealing with postpartum depression can be isolating, frequently accompanied by stigma and shame. Having a supportive friend who can normalize these feelings and stay with you during uncomfortable moments can be incredibly valuable. When someone we care about is hurting, our first response is often to stop the pain, but this can leave individuals feeling burdened by our emotions, pressured to feel better, or invalidated.
Rainbow Babies: Beyond the Beautiful Symbol
Here's why rainbow pregnancies can be emotionally challenging:
A Mix of Emotions: You might feel happy for this new life, yet grief for the one you lost. It's okay to have both!
Triggers Everywhere: Everyday experiences can become unexpected reminders of your loss. Be kind to yourself.
Hypervigilance: You might feel an intense need to protect your unborn baby, leading to anxiety. Allow yourself to feel this, but seek support to manage it.
Relationship Strain: Friends and family might be overjoyed, while you're processing your emotions. Communication is key.
Remember, you're not alone. Many parents experience these struggles.
EMDR Therapy for Perinatal Trauma: Untangling Memory Knots
Using EMDR and bilateral movements, we can untangle these memory knots, reconnecting the prefrontal cortex with the back parts of the brain. This allows for the reprocessing of original events and new events in an adaptive, objective way.
