When anxiety starts taking up too much space
You might be pregnant and worrying about birth, your baby’s wellbeing, or how your life and relationships will change once your baby arrives. Perhaps you’re a new Mum, constantly wondering whether you’re doing the right thing, or feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for someone so new and dependent on you. Are they eating enough? Are they too small or weigh too little? Maybe you’re parenting a toddler and feel as though you never get a break. You’re anticipating the next meltdown, worrying about your child’s development, their behavior in daycare, and how your parenting will affect them later in life. Perhaps you are navigating changing relationships with your friends, family, or partner.
Anxiety can show up lots of different ways.
You might find yourself mentally exhausted, overthinking and imagining the worst case scenarios. You might find yourself physically anxious – heart racing, hypervigilant, always on edge.
And when you’re already navigating so much, anxiety can leave you feeling exhausted, disconnected from yourself, or unable to enjoy moments you thought would feel different.
When you're already carrying so much, anxiety can start to feel like one more thing you have to manage.
Understanding what is happening
Pregnancy and early parenthood involve enormous change. Your body, relationships, identity, routines and sense of responsibility may all be shifting at once. There can be so much to learn, so much uncertainty, and so much that feels outside of your control.
Our minds and bodies are wired to keep us safe. They are constantly taking in information and responding to what they believe is happening around us. Sometimes, however, our nervous system can become stuck in patterns that no longer match the reality of our situation.
This is not your fault. It is not your body or brain's fault.
For some parents, anxiety can develop during or after pregnancy, birth or while parenting. For others, it builds gradually through sleep deprivation, ongoing stress, a lack of support, or the relentless demands of caring for a young child. Sometimes, it can bring up older experiences or vulnerabilities that feel particularly close to the surface during this stage of life.
When we take the time to understand what is going on beneath the surface, anxiety often begins to make a lot more sense and therefore can shift.
How therapy can help
In our sessions we can spend time together discovering what is going on, why it is happening, and what may help.
My approach is warm, collaborative and tailored to you. I do not believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Together, we can explore the experiences, patterns and circumstances that may be contributing to your anxiety and find practical ways to support your nervous system.
Rather than fighting against anxiety, therapy can help you better understand it. The goal is not to get rid of every anxious thought or feeling. The goal is to help you feel more able to manage them, so they no longer take up so much space in your life.
Finding a more peaceful baseline
Over time, therapy can help you develop a greater understanding of your anxiety, feel more grounded in moments of uncertainty, and build confidence in your ability to navigate the challenges of pregnancy and parenthood.
You do not have to stay stuck in survival mode.
Relief is possible. A more peaceful baseline is possible. Life can look very different from how it feels right now.
