Being a parent is going to have overwhelming moments, no question but being a mom while battling depression and anxiety can feel like living under water, living life in slow motion. Anxiety is the thief of joy not to mention is absolutely exhausting.
I have had depression and anxiety for 20 years and lost precious moments with my children. I have been hospitalized for my depression and had challenges bonding with my children due to depression. One day I had had enough, like you probably have. I will share what I learned with you on how to completely changing how depression and anxiety affects you WITHOUT having to use medication in this post by:
- Restorative breathing techniques
- Enactment of Meditation
- Grievance/Gratitude Journaling
- The Art of healing Tapping
If you are ready to overcome your depression and anxiety WITHOUT the use of medication that you can use anywhere, anytime you have clicked on the right BLOG mama. Your children are only little once, they are with you in your home for a relatively short period of time. You DESERVE to enjoy this journey without anxiety. Let’s get started.
How I kicked depression’s and anxiety’s butt, without medication
After the birth of my first child I thought it would be the most magical experience of my life. When I should have been nursing and bonding I had my first panic attack and the waves of depression and anxiety kept crashing.
The next 15 years was a series of medication, therapy and going through the motions. I had many entrances into the emergency room convinced I was dying and went to a mental hospital briefly which was one of the scariest experiences of my life. Those experiences (and yours) that shake us to our core are what sometimes give us the push to find a solution, for good. I DID. I am sharing it with you and encourage you to share with others as well.
I spent the last 15 years on different medications and SOMETIMES the can be what is needed which is between yourself and your doctor but the side effects for me were almost as worst as my symptoms. Weight gain, mood swings, fatigue. I have 3 kids at this point. I am not living, I am existing. So I threw myself into research and found the secret sauce to reducing my depression and anxiety without meds.
I created a system that can reduce anxiety symptoms on the spot and have had long term success with my depression by using holistic approaches designed for curing depression at the root. Using these 4 methods have turned me from a mom who would never leave the house and struggled every day, to a happy life coach cheering loud (and probably obnoxiously)at her daughter’s softball games .
If you feel like you have tried it all or want to cure your depression at the source without medication or add some processes in addition to your meds (which is absolutely okay) I want to share with you exactly how to do that in 4 steps.
STEP 1 RESTORATIVE BREATHING TECHNIQUES
At the first tingle of unease remember that anxiety is a temporary feeling. Giving energy to feelings good or bad are going to heighten them. Start with a deep breath and slowly count for 4 seconds. Now hold for 4 seconds and release for 4 seconds. Do this a few times. We have regulated our heart beat and are now centered. We have also focused our minds on something other than our unease!
How is something so simple as breathing a solution to anxiety? In Jay Shetty’s Think Like A Monk, he talks about the first thing a monk will learn is the “art of breathing”. Monks live a life free of anxiety and if they are doing this I think it is wise to take a page from their book. Monks are not materialistic; they will not mind that we borrowed this idea.
STEP 2 ENACTMENT OF MEDITATION
Depression is deep rooted in our souls. I don’t know what led to your depression but all depression is created equal in my eyes because it acts as a barrier to achieving our goals and being happy. Do you know how we talk to our souls? Through meditation! I am not someone who EVER thought I would be into meditation. But after 15 years of sinking in a deeper hole of depression I would try anything legal and what has worked for thousands of years still works.
We complicate meditation. We think if our thoughts are racing we aren’t doing it correctly and quit but that is when we need to push through because we are about to break through! To learn more about meditation for beginners check out my post 5 Mantras for Modern Day Meditation. Meditation Methods for the Busy Mama to Cure Anxiety for Good! However you choose to meditate I find first thing in the morning and 5 minutes is the perfect amount for just getting started.
The meditation portion of battling depression is important and for busy moms it can seem overwhelming at first! This is supposed to be your cure, not a burden for you. Guided meditations have been my saving grace but they are not all created equal. Getting into Bliss will retrain your brain to default to bliss in 8 guided meditations. This week you can have access to these healing sessions for Usually $59, Get It Now for Only $28. CLICK HERE.
Meditation is what will cleanse your mind and release your depression. I continue to use meditation to feel my best and work through everyday stresses. I know it can be hard for moms to dedicate time to themselves without guilt but to be the best version of yourself a small investment will pay off ten fold and guided meditation has been the answer for me and I am happy to share this secret with all my mom friends!
There is no reason you have to suffer. I have been in the darkness and my only regret is that I didn’t find this solution earlier. That is what I want for my fellow sisters in motherhood. Start enjoying life and seeing clearer today! Click here!
Step 3 GRIEVANCE/GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Many things can cross your mind while meditating and it needs a place to go. Typically I would not advise someone on how to journal. Journaling is a really private thing but for the purpose of navigating the waters of anxiety and depression it is important to express not only your troubles and fears but your joys and triumphs! What makes you feel better to write about? Happy things or sad things? For every fear write a success, for every worry write a goal. We want to retrain the mind from feeling stuck to growing and learning.
After the end of each week look at your progression in your journal. While journaling and combining your additional steps you will notice a lot less grievance and a lot more gratitude. This will feel really productive and give power over your pain. What would it feel like to not have any fears or trouble to write about? That will be the case. When you run out of grievances (and you will) Write goals or funny stories about your kids (you will forget some sadly as they grow) This is one of my favorite steps because you have concrete evidence of your growth.
STEP 4 THE ART OF HEALING TAPPING
EFT tapping stands for Emotional Freedom Technique. Like I was saying with our restorative breathing, practicing the energy we put into the breathing or tapping gets our mind off the negative feeling we are experiencing which is excellent in itself. Tapping is actually using our fingertips to gently engage our acupressure points on our hands, face, neck and body while focusing on resolving an issue. This technique has many points and methods but I will get you started and keep it simple. If this method works for you and you want more information check out my blog How to Tap Out Anxiety? 4 Tapping Methods to Get Rid of Anxiety for Good
A simple, beginning blend of tapping for anxiety is using the pads of your ring fingers on the inside corners of your inner eye brows. Tap 10 times lightly and move on to under the eyes and tap 10 times. Move next to above the lip. Tap 10 times, now to the chin 10 times and lastly the collar bones, tapping 10 times. Repeat this flow 3 times and feel grounded and relaxed.
Why do these methods work when medication hasn’t? Two reasons, these methods have been around for thousands of years and work to heal the mind, body and soul. Medication works on one thing, the body. When truly anxiety and depression live in the soul, come out as symptoms in your body and torture the mind. The second reason these methods work are that they are yours to use anytime you want. No prescription or appointment necessary. Once you master guided meditation which you can easily do by clicking here the additional steps will all marinade together resulting in a delicious life! I’m so excited for you!
Everyone heals on their own time. It took me 20 years but I hope my research can help you avoid that time frame because you have things to do! If you are not ready to make a commitment with Getting Into Bliss Guided Meditations they will be waiting for you. For now I have a helpful form for Gratitude Journaling that you download for free by using the form below. I offer very affordable Life Coaching sessions via zoom at convenient times that work for the busy mom as well so head to my website www.monkmamas.com for more information.
Check out my other Posts to Help say GOODBYE to Anxiety for Good!
5 Mantras For Modern Day Meditation. Meditation Methods for the Busy Mama to Cure Anxiety for Good!
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