Content warning:
Anxiety symptoms
Trying to parent while living with anxiety
Mornings are the worst. My heart is racing before I even get out of bed. School runs feel like a performance and I am sure all the other parents can see how close I am to falling apart.
My brain runs through every worst case scenario. What if they struggle in class. What if I miss a letter from school. What if something happens and it is my fault. By the time I get home I feel like I have run a marathon.
Therapy did not fix everything but it gave me tools. Grounding, breathing and writing things down instead of letting them swirl. I still have anxious days but I am starting to see that being honest about it makes me a better parent, not a worse one. My kids are learning that feelings are allowed and that asking for help is strong.
My brain runs through every worst case scenario. What if they struggle in class. What if I miss a letter from school. What if something happens and it is my fault. By the time I get home I feel like I have run a marathon.
Therapy did not fix everything but it gave me tools. Grounding, breathing and writing things down instead of letting them swirl. I still have anxious days but I am starting to see that being honest about it makes me a better parent, not a worse one. My kids are learning that feelings are allowed and that asking for help is strong.