I'm mum to 3 beautiful, healthy girls and happily married but feel like life is getting on top of me. I'm starting to suffer anxiety, which I've never had before. I've suffered depression in the past and been medicated for it but successfully weaned off those and have been relatively good up until recently. This year I've started working 3 days a week, our youngest has started day care and my older 2 are doing dancing, cheerleading and netball- to say our lives are busy in an understatement! And I guess what I'm asking is whether I'm just a tired, stressed mum with a lot on her plate or whether I should seek further help because how I'm feeling isn't right?
As I mentioned I've begun feeling an anxiety in day to day life.. Every morning before work I have the runs because I get so worked up and nervous and it makes me physically sick. There is absolutely no reason for me to be nervous, I have a great job, it's flexible and I have a lovely boss. I lie in bed at night and get myself so worked up thinking about everything that I need to do and how I'm scared and stressed that I can't manage it all. Then I get annoyed and frustrated at myself for feeling this way and I can't really understand why I feel this way but then I get anxious again and it's a vicious cycle. I've broken down to hubby a couple of times and although he's supportive he just can't understand why I'm feeling like this so he doesn't really know what to do or say. On top of all this, when things get too much (which is quite regularly these days) I eat to make myself feel better :( Late last year I worked hard to lose a whole lot of weight and now I'm starting to pile it all back on and feel I have no control over my desire for food and the emotions that go with it. Having so much on my mind leaves me muddled up, forgetful and feeling lost so much of the time and I don't know whether it's relatively normal or if I should see someone??
I'll greatly appreciate your thoughts fellow mums xx
Daily life too much or something else?
Daily life too much or something else?
Posted in:
Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression
2 Replies
Ok go back to your doctor. I find depression and anxiety are not a one time deal. It takes careful management to stay well and even then I can still have bumps.
So back to your GP for a mental health care plan including a referral to a psychologist. The psychologist can help you find that correct balance in life for now.
I've found I have to say no to being really busy, I just can't sustain it in the long term because it does lead to breakdown in me. It took me awhile to be ok with that but believe me your kids would rather have a healthy happy mum in the long term than a mum who spread herself too thin getting kids to extra curricular activities etc and had break downs
Definitely agree that you should see your doctor to have a chat about it.
I have had anxiety and depression but was on medication when I started work. I found that starting work, although fantastic, really impacted me. It took me about 6 months to really feel as if I had a handle on everything otherwise I felt stressed/wired/excited/anxious etc. For me, and I'm sure a lot of women returning to work after a break, it is a huge adjustment.
You're not alone with the anxiety about life but please try and see a doctor so they can let you know what resources are available to provide the support you may require. Best of luck :)