Let's be honest, having young children can be exhausting. It can drain us and leave us feeling like we are "not doing enough", feeling overwhelmed- but feeling too guilty to ask for help. It is common that with young children we are consumed with their needs, we neglect our own needs.
Karen Casey, wrote a passage in one of the books that really caught my attention. In her book, "Codependency and the Power of Detachment", she wrote about a women named Claire that was hospitalized many times for depression. There was a part of Claire that enjoyed being hospitalized because it gave her relief from trying to do the work of a wife and mother-work at which she felt unsuccessful.
To those who have gone through bits and pieces of postpartum struggles, we can relate to the idea of wanting some relief. Especially when there are critic voices speaking loudly to us. It is a painful place to be.
I am going to tell you what many of you probably heard before. That we are truly the best caretakers when we take care of ourselves. This is a challenge. For many of us, our reality is that we struggle to even eat a normal dinner without being pulled in a different direction. Yet, small steps can go a long way. I heard a saying once, "peace of mind, comes piece by piece." There is a beautiful change that happens overtime if we make a commitment to take better care of ourselves.
If your looking for a miracle to happen, it might have already happened because you are here looking to better yourself.
The first step is to evaluate what is truly going on. Be honest with yourself. In another post I will write specific signs and symptoms of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. If you relate to any of the symptoms, you make want to seek assistance and get the needed support that is essential to one's recovery.