3 Coping Mechanisms For Mummy Stress

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You will find information online about the impact of stress on motherhood and how it influences parenting style. More so, it’s not hard to find many articles discussing how stressful parenting can be. And according to reports, chronic stress dramatically increases by 40% in mothers. Thankfully, with appropriate coping mechanisms, mummy stress can be minimised. It is beneficial to help yourself first before handling anyone else, and here are a few ways to do so.

1. Know your stress triggers

No two mothers are the same, but the stress experiences are similar. In these modern times, mothers have to deal with the pressure of combining domestic responsibilities with professional life. Stay-at-home mums are not spared as there is so much to be taken care of in a single day. However, no matter which side of the divide you belong to, it is important to learn your triggers.

Some mothers feel overwhelmed with crying children and may feel their hearts pounding more than usual. Others feel a headache or a sudden mood change depending on the situation. This is quite common with new mothers and those experiencing postpartum depression. Experts say, taking note of these physical signs is a sure way to learn about your personal stress triggers. Your body will usually show signs even before your brain acknowledges what is going on. Knowing your triggers allows you to control your emotions before things get out of hand. This is helpful, especially as it helps you avoid taking the stress out on the kids or partner.

2. Find a good support group or mental health facility

Research has shown that mothers with excellent support systems have reduced stress and often have a positive image of themselves. Their likelihood of sinking into severe depressive episodes also decreases drastically. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for mothers with non-existent support systems. This is why a crucial coping mechanism is to find strong social support systems that help mothers deal with stress and mental health. For example, companies like Psymplicity and PANDAS Foundation do a great job at this.

3. Identify the root cause

Stress never happens in a vacuum. On the contrary, there is always a root cause, and it’s helpful to find out what it is. For mothers, several factors account for their stress, but many cannot point them out. According to the mental-uk.org site, some sources are the fear of not being in control, the need for safety and an unhealthy perfectionism attachment. The site also mentions the severe lack of coping skills as the root cause of countless stressful experiences.

Furthermore, mental health experts say some mothers fear the possibility of repeating the negative parenting styles they were exposed to as children. A 2018 survey on this issue discovered that some mothers did not even know about this particular problem. Many had it deeply buried in the subconscious mind and only manifested as stress. Experts could only detect the root of the problem after therapy sessions. 

Whether you apply active or avoidant coping mechanisms, the overall goal should be to efficiently tackle stress and improve your quality of life.