Caring for yourself
Right now, you are very focused on taking good care of your child. But remember that it’s also important to take good care of yourself at this time. Doing so will keep you feeling healthy, strong and well-equipped to deal with your responsibilities as a new parent. It can also help you develop and maintain a positive frame of mind, which is necessary for meeting new challenges successfully.
Here are some tips many new parents have found helpful for reducing anxiety and stress:
Be patient with yourself. The road to acceptance is a process, so give yourself time to deal with your emotional responses. Your feelings are valid, so be easy on yourself. Don’t feel guilty when you have a bad day. Allow yourself guilt-free moments of anger, sadness, jealousy and elation.
Build a support system. It may be tempting to keep to yourself at this time, but doing so can result in feelings of isolation. Reach out to trusted friends or family members. This allows your loved ones to understand what you’re going through and gives them a chance to offer comfort and support. You can always let them know how much help you need or desire, and if you want time alone, don’t hesitate to say so. Join a support group, or form a relationship with a family facing a similar diagnosis or situation.
Practice “living in the moment.” While it is important to plan ahead, worrying about the future can easily lead to anxiety. Although it may be hard, try to focus only on what you can do realistically in the present. Focus on the joys and accomplishments of today – a smile, interest in a favorite toy, contagious laughter – not on what tomorrow may or may not bring.
Take care of your physical health. Healthy eating and exercise can reduce fatigue, irritability and overall make you feel better. Develop a plan that works for you and make an effort to stick to it, especially during times of high stress. Be sure to get regular medical check-ups as well.
Don’t lose sight of the important things in life. Nurture your relationships with your partner, children, friends and family. Communicate with each other, laugh, do fun things together, celebrate traditions, and be sure to spend quality time with your child that doesn’t focus on his or her special needs. The fact that your child has special needs is life changing. But it doesn’t change the things that are truly important in life