Motherhood isn’t easy and comes with a lot of mental health challenges. Not only are most mothers tasked with looking after their children all of the time, but they are also responsible for breastfeeding and weaning, which can put a lot of stress on their bodies and, as a consequence, their minds. Several well-known mental health conditions affect mothers exclusively, like postpartum depression, for example.
If you are close to a mother who is suffering from mental illness or are one yourself, learning strategies to combat poor mental health is essential. This post will thoroughly explore this topic so you know what to do.Hormonal Fluctuations
One of the main reasons many women experience feelings of depression and anxiety during the early months of their children’s lives is because of massive hormonal fluctuations. During pregnancy and shortly after, a woman’s hormones are everywhere. This can be made worse if a woman decides to breastfeed. Fortunately, there is treatment for anxiety and depression, which women can engage with to help regulate their hormones and get themselves in better mental spaces. Hormonal fluctuations gradually go away as a child gets older, too.
Sleep Deprivation
In the early stages of a child’s life, especially if they are breastfed, they will keep their parents up and deprive them of sleep. Sleep deprivation is often much more difficult for mothers than it is for fathers because mothers have to breastfeed and nurse their children as well, which puts immense physical stress on their bodies. Sleep deprivation during the postpartum period can be very hard on women and can be a catalyst for the onset of mental health issues.
If you have been experiencing sleep deprivation, try to see if anybody can look after your child for you while you sleep, and see a mental health professional.Unrealistic Expectations
Unrealistic expectations are, sadly, something a lot of first-time mothers have to deal with. Even though we live in a society that claims to be forward-thinking and tolerant, a lot of outdated ideas still persist. One of these is that mothers should do the lion’s share of the work when it comes to looking after children. However, this is unfair and unreasonable. Still, it is one of the main reasons that many women end up suffering from mental health issues in the postpartum period. They are, in other words, forced to look after children, no matter how they are feeling, and their partners typically believe they are able to do this, just because they are mothers.
Lack of Support
Many women have a lack of support. This leaves them feeling alienated and unable to turn to anybody for help, which can either destroy their mental health or make them more resilient. Unfortunately, for most women, alienation does not lead to resilience, however, but instead anxiety and depression. If you are a woman dealing with a lack of support during the postpartum period, get in touch with a mental health practitioner today. A mental health professional will be able to help you work through your issues and find support networks.
Mental illness is, sadly, common among mothers. When you consider the immense pressure put upon them, it’s not hard to see why this is. If you are a mother dealing with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or stress, get in touch with a professional today.