Parenting And Mental Health: What it feels like: Part 5

By Mumma And Her Monsters April 26, 2018 mental health

Welcome back to the series on mental health awareness for parents, if you're new here, hello! This week we're speaking to Nina about her mental health and parenting, if you've missed any of the series you can check them out here , Anyways let's get started.

Hey, I'm Mummy to two, yes, two sets of boy girl Twins. Born 2011 & 2017 Step mum to a teen and wife to a geek.

I survived the rare pregnancy complication Placenta Percreta. I had to have a cesarian Hysterectomy and 11 units of blood transfusion to save our lives!

I'm a stay at home mum dipping my toe into homeschooling, We are planning on travelling throughout the UK and bits of Europe. We are calling it a gap year! I blog about all kinds of things parenting, travel, health, lifestyle & anything else that takes my fancy.

Grab a cuppa and come on over for a cuppa and a chat. You're more than welcome anytime.

1) When did you realize you had a mental health problem? Back in 2004, I lost 3 family members, I was fired from a job I loved and I split from someone I thought I was in love with. I spiralled out of control and it wasn't until my friend took me to the doctors and said she wanted me sectioned for my own safety that something pinged in my head. When I got better from this episode Then When my nan died in 2014, I started having bouts of not being able to get my breath. I thought perhaps they were panic attacks but did nothing about it until on Christmas day I had one major anxiety attack. I thought I was having a heart attack. It was after this I knew I was suffering from my mental health.

2) How did you deal with it? The first bout was dealt with by attending counselling, The second time around I ended up on medication, attending CBT - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, exercise, mindfulness, everything combined

3)How does your mental health affect your parenting? I struggle I have to be honest, I often rely on my mum on dark days, I stress at the kids as my mind wanders into terrible thoughts. I sometimes end up crying and then cant focus on what we are meant to be doing

4)Do your children notice when you have a bad day? Yes, My girl will often give me a hug when I'm low, She is also showing signs of worry like I do

- How does that make you feel? Her hugs make me feel better but I wish I could hide my worrying better.I really don't want her to go through the same as me!

-How do you deal with it? I talk with them and say that sometimes I feel down but that's ok. My girls worrying I just try to reassure her that things are safe and things will be ok.

5)How does your mental health affect your daily life? I fight daily battles in my head of worrying about symptoms, You know the old thing that vicious cycle where you have a symptom so you panic, the panic creates a symptom so you panic, the panic creates a symptom so you panic before you know where you are you cant get out of the cycle

6)If you have, how did you get over your mental health problems? I haven't really, I don't think I ever will I just learn to live with it. I have a very understanding Doctor, and I just try and practice self-care (eating well, exercise, mindfulness, simplifying life which is something I'm going to be blogging about soon and I try to say to my self this is my anxiety speaking it will pass.