Stress is, unfortunately, a normal part of our lives these days. It’s how we
deal with it that makes the difference in our lives. When you allow your stress
levels to reach higher than normal levels on a regular basis, your health can
start to be affected. As a Mum, you may look invincible or even feel invincible,
but it’s just not true. Stress and good health don’t mix very often.
Stress is our body’s auto-response to outside stimuli. Sure that sounds normal,
but it doesn’t mean very much. When you come home from a long hard day at work,
or you have spent the whole day looking after one or more babies and children,
and the sink is full of dishes, the laundry room is piled high with clothing,
and the sink in the bathroom has been dripping all day, your blood pressure
begins to rise.
The first person who says something to you usually gets to hear about your
frustration. Or, they get to see you run bawling to the bedroom and shut the
door. Sound familiar? This is what we call stress.
Acknowledging that your are stressed
Mums, it is essential to protect our health. If the above scenario is typical of
your daily life, take heed. You need to cease and take proactive steps to
minimize this before you end up in bed or the loony bin! Popping pills is not a
long-term solution to the side effects you are experiencing from your stress.
Antacids and headache medication is not the answer.
Did you know that too much pain medication can irritate your digestive system?
Your body will fight back with bowel trouble or worse. There’s a reason that
labels tell you not to exceed a specified dose in twenty-four hours.
Stress Eating
Do you eat as a reaction to stress – increasing your caloric intake as your
stress increases? I do. I didn’t know it until I had gained about twenty pounds.
Stress can lead to some unhealthy ways of coping. My fix was peanut butter cups.
Do you know how many calories are in those things? I would shield my eyes from
the nutritional information. It’s a wonder I didn’t explode.
Stress can lead to poor eating habits. Overeating or eating the wrong things can
lead to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. I’m sure
you already know a lot of this stuff. These illnesses can lead to heart disease
and stroke. Basically, we’re talking about a premature death. That is not an
option for you, mum.
Other side effects of stress
Stress can also cause ulcers, migraine headaches, and depression, among a myriad
of other conditions. Most of these conditions can be completely avoided when we
take better care of ourselves. Enlist the help of your spouse, parents, sisters,
brothers, and friends. Ask for help when you are not coping. You are not the
first one to suffer stress and you will not be the last. Living with it is not
an attractive option.
As a mum, your children can even help you if you let them. How can that noisy
purple-faced person with jam all over himself help you? Kiss his jam stained
face until all the jam is gone. Jump on the bed with her. Snuggle together with
some books and let all the day’s worries stay outside that door.
Your children may be a reason for some of the stress, but they are also the joy
of your life and one of your main reasons for living. You carry on because of
her angelic face. Really be there for her when she grows up by learning to cope
with stress now.
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