Mindful chatterbox

Do you ever hear voices? Whispers in your mind rehashing old issues or cyclic comments like, “I’ll never be a good enough parent”? Mental chatter is to blame for the repetitive thoughts that buzz inside the human brain and cause anxiety and stress. But, take heart. If mental chatter is causing you stress, there are some positive ways to calm the chaos.

With the demands of parenthood, it often kicks troublesome thoughts into high gear. I wish I could stop thinking about how my birth plan didn’t go as I’d hoped. Why can’t I breastfeed? My child can’t roll over yet but others his/her age can, why?

Parenthood is a wild ride filled with heart-warming moments, challenge, stress and uncertainty. There’s angst over doing things the “right” way, a baby that won’t settle no matter what trick you pull out of the latest must-have parenting bible, and the inevitable sleepless nights can make you feel like you’re going a little crazy. As well as poor sleep, parental anxiety can also lead to changes in appetite, and obsessive worry about many aspects of parenting.