You found out you are pregnant, and you couldn't be happier. Maybe you had reservations at first, but your excitement grew as the idea of having a child settled in. This is definitely the start of a brand new chapter of your life. To say that there is a lot to plan for would be an understatement. From buying all the essentials baby will need, setting up the nursery, and prepping for the birthing process itself.
There's a lot to do over the next few months. And there are some things that you can't really plan for when it comes to the birth of your child and bringing them into the world. One of these things is figuring out how to handle birth anxiety and bringing a child into a violent and confusing world.
The world gets scary at times. And if you are filled with anxiety about the world your child will be brought into—you aren't alone. Here are just a few tips for keeping yourself calm as you think about the life of your child and all they will experience.
How To Calm Birth Anxiety When The World Is So Violent
Remember What You Can Control
It's hard to remain calm when the news and sometimes local events put you on edge. One of the most important things to remember is what you can control.
You can't control the weather or national disasters. And you can't prevent people from doing horrendous things to one another. It might be hard, especially if you live in an area where bad things are happening a lot, but remember that you have a lot of control over your child's life, especially when they are under your roof.
You can control your child's exposure to the news, especially before they reach the age where they are in school. You have complete control over who has access to your small children. As they get older, of course, that gets harder to do. For right now, though, remind yourself about all of these things.
Teach Them Life Lessons
As we raise children, we instill values and lessons that we hope they carry for the rest of their lives. There is a lot of bad in the world; you can't deny that. But there is also a lot of good in the world.
Don't try to shelter them so much that they remain blind to what is happening in the world as they get older and gain a better understanding of the world outside their home life. You can remind them of a few things when they get scared about what they see on the news or hear from other children. First, be honest. If what is happening doesn't make sense to you, it surely won't to them. Let them know that even as an adult, some things can't be explained or rationalized.
In spite of all the bad in the world, there are plenty of good things to talk about. If you know of something good that happened, talk to them about that. It won't change the fact that bad things are happening, but it can help them to know about positive news stories.
Therapy For Parents
We want to protect our children for as long as possible. Learning how to balance and keep your own anxiety in check can do wonders for helping them with theirs.
If you are bringing a new human into the world, it is never too early to receive support. Parenting therapy or anxiety treatment can help you become the best version of yourself to help them do the same as they grow. Feel free to contact me to learn more about this process.
Comments