Maybe you have experienced anxiety your whole life. Maybe you have a new baby and are experiencing anxiety for the first time. Either way, having a few strategies to help calm the anxiety when you feel it building is an extremely helpful step in the process of managing perinatal anxiety.
In our group we will sometimes share strategies that are helpful for managing anxiety, but there's no one-size-fits-all trick that works for everyone. Just like in infant feeding where what works for one baby is the opposite for what works for another baby, this is yet another situation where what work for you is unique - and important.
Below I've shared links to a few blog posts from Kate Borsado - she does a great job of explaining what is happening when you experience anxiety and offers some very accessible ways to manage your.
This post focuses on anxiety in pregnancy and discusses some of the basics around where anxiety comes from and what can trigger anxiety in pregnancy. Even though it focuses on pregnancy, a lot of information is definitely applicable to postpartum.
For some helpful ways to manage anxiety, check out these posts:
Now, like I said, there is no magic solution for anxiety that will work for everyone. But think about what helps you feel calm and centred outside of anxiety times. Do you like to sit and drink a cup of tea? Do you like going for a walk? Do you listen to music? Start by picking a few things that help you feel calm and relaxed, because these things are a great place to start as your go-to strategies when you're feeling anxious. Make a list. Put it on your fridge, tape it up in the bathroom, save it on your phone -- Have it somewhere that is easy to find when you need it.
And while finding strategies that work for you are a great start, if you are finding that anxiety is impeding your day to day life, or if people around you are noticing that it is impacting you on a daily basis, consider discussing your concerns with your family physician or meeting with a counsellor or therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health.