Maternal Stress: Red Flags And Solutions – Being Parents

Now imagine that you are the mother of a baby and find yourself struggling with maternal stress. In many cases, dealing with this situation can be difficult if not impossible for a woman who does not know how to do it. This is why, if you are in this situation, we want to give you some keys that you will need.

As much as possible, becoming a mother should be a conscious and planned act. Although, of course, some women around the world have had a child without ever having received any preparation for how to deal with maternal stress.

The tools to deal with maternal stress are necessary for raising a child. They are necessary because raising a child is a full-time task to which is added household chores and often outside work. In this way, it is quite normal to feel stress at some point in your life.

Stress has many facets

Stress is not something you should worry about too much. It is, to some extent, a natural reaction to physical and emotional pressures.

However, the problems start when the mother somehow gets out of control and this situation affects other family members.

Children learn to deal with their own stress from their parents. This is why it is ideal for you to recognize warning signs and symptoms immediately. You will learn how to provide quick and healthy solutions to prevent damage to other family members.

Warning signs and symptoms of stress in your body

Usually, a stressed person will see their heart rate and respiratory rate increase rapidly. The same goes for his blood pressure and muscle tension.

On the contrary, the process of digestion and resistance to disease will decrease. In addition, digestion can cause stomach acidity, constipation or even diarrhea.

Sleep rhythms are altered, energy levels fluctuate, and the feeling of exhaustion is present even when sleeping well. Stress can also cause irregular periods in women.

It can cause pain or cause illnesses to appear or worsen. Finally, difficulty controlling your nerves can cause fits of rage on different occasions.

Techniques to reduce maternal stress

Without a doubt, being a mother is exhausting work. That’s why it’s important to know strategies that will always help you relax when you find yourself under stress.

Freelance writer Jeremy Lehrer talks about an alternative based on “calming the mind” to the stressful situations that the education process can cause. This alternative is called “mindfulness” and tries to “calm your mind so that you can be more present in the moment”.

It is something like being living in the present moment: here and now. In one of his articles, he suggests three ways or techniques to manage maternal or educational stress in the healthiest possible way. Let’s see what it is:

Conscious breathing

To practice the technique of conscious breathing it is necessary to focus your attention on how the air enters and leaves the body.

You can close your eyes or keep them open. Pick what helps you focus the most. As you inhale and exhale try to focus on the count from 1 to 10 or 2 to 2.

Counting can help you realize when a thought breaks you. When this happens to you, let the thought escape and take your breaths back into account.

You will find that thoughts are continually flowing and your mind is restless. However, the purpose of this conscious breathing exercise is precisely to educate your mind.

You will see that gradually this exercise will become easier and easier. The secret lies in the desire to be disciplined and consistent. If you do this exercise on a daily basis, you will find that you will feel more calm and rested. You will also see that you will carry out your tasks in new layouts.

The perception of sensations

Another technique for dealing with stress is to achieve a conscious level of relaxation. It is about paying attention to the sensations in your body.

To practice this technique you must first focus on your breathing. Breathe in and out deeply until you feel your mind relaxed. You will also begin to feel the different parts of your body.

The goal of this technique is to be aware of the sensations in your body. Not to judge them but to identify them and recognize your body reacting to stress and concerns. The mind and the body need to be in harmony. You will achieve this by being more attentive to the perceptions in your body.

You may also be successful by listening to the sounds around you. The goal is to notice the subtle changes in sounds. Sometimes your mind is so filled with negative thoughts, anxiety, anger, or frustrations that we forget to connect with what is around us.

Conscious relaxation

This technique is especially effective when you’re pissed off or upset, says Lehrer.

When you notice that you are in this state, we suggest that you look for a place in the house where you can try to relax and feel better. Ask to be given a few quiet minutes and avoid any kind of distraction around you.

When you manage to do this, land on the floor, close your eyes, and try to focus on your breathing again. This time try to breathe and feel the different parts of your body normally.

You can start with the feet, feel them and invite them to relax. Then you can move on to the knees, muscles and the rest of the body.

You can also start with your head and feel every muscle in your face, shoulders, hands, and so on, all the way down to your feet. When you are done releasing each part of your body and want to sit up, gently stand up.

There are plenty of videos to help guide you through performing these techniques. Consistently practicing these techniques can help you eliminate maternal stress in a slow manner and help you face everyday challenges with more courage.