Dealing with anxiety: tips for parents

It is normal to worry and feel anxious about parenting.

The problem arises when worry and anxiety become extreme. Then they can affect your health and daily life. They can even prevent you from being the parent you want to be.

That's why dealing with anxiety is important.

Symptoms of anxiety

Here are some common symptoms of anxiety:

• You find it difficult not to worry;
• You feel restless;
• You have trouble relaxing or sleeping;
• You have trouble concentrating;
• You feel tense and frustrated;
• You feel heart palpitations.

It is normal to experience some of these symptoms from time to time. However, if this occurs frequently and interferes with your daily activities, it may be time to seek ways to manage your anxiety.

Dealing with anxiety: tips for everyday life

There are several things you can do if you find yourself in a difficult situation or have a problem that causes you anxiety:

• Give yourself time to calm down before reacting to the situation. For example, if your child comes home from school and tells you that someone has been mean to them, you may feel upset. Instead of immediately going to see their teacher, it may be best to go home and talk to your child first. If you are still concerned the next day, make an appointment to see the teacher.
• Try to focus only on the specific situation and leave other things for later. For example, if you are worried because your child has a fever, just focus on helping them feel better and make an appointment with the doctor. You can worry about things like shopping or laundry later.

You can also take some simple steps to deal with anxiety in general:

• Talk to someone about how you feel—your partner, a family member, or a trusted friend.
• Join a local parenting group or other informal social group to meet other parents who may be in a similar situation and can share advice from their own experience.
• Keep a journal to record how you feel. You may discover a pattern in the things that upset you.
• Try breathing exercises for relaxation, muscle relaxation, or mindfulness exercises.

If these daily tips for coping with anxiety don't help, it's important to seek professional help. Making an appointment with your doctor to talk about these things is a great first step.