The first time I had a panic attack 💔

(2 min read) My heart wouldn't stop racing, I couldn't catch my breath and everything around me looked fuzzy. All I did was bend over to pick up the recycling bin, but the entire world was spinning- what was going on? Jonathan was rubbing my back and modeling deep breathing with his phone in close proximity ready to dial for an ambulance at any moment. My heart rate wouldn't regulate for what seemed like forever but I was finally able to breathe my way to calm. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, my first panic attack and the true consequence of mothering in anxiety.

I have always had some level of anxiety but it was absolutely amplified when becoming a mother and then intensified through pandemic mothering. Anxiety is feeling worried, nervous or concerned about an uncertain outcome and if we truly care for our children, by default we will feel... worried, nervous, or concerned about outcomes in their lives. Based on this logic and the following facts, I'd say we have a pretty big issue as a species. 

1. Consistent maternal anxiety is a risk factor for the development of children's problem behaviors (you can Google this topic and find loads of research).

2. Over 68% (about two thirds) of mothers report having moderate to severe anxiety according to this study.

So how do we solve maternal anxiety? After my mom died, my12 year old self dealt with anxiety by color coordinating my calendar, rearranging furniture, and really zoning in on my schoolwork. This coping mechanism has followed me throughout my life and it has been life changing. I have been able to teach others to use organization as the antidote to their anxiety as well but there are other things to consider too. Here is my secret sauce to lowering toxic anxiety and truly living in peace as a high achieving mom.

   Be intentional about your goals and the goals you have for your children

   Take care of your physical body (sleep, hydrate, exercise, mindfulness, omit inflammatory foods/foods that trigger your specific body)

   Omit/limit distractions on your phone (limit screen time, delete apps that aren't serving you, be intentional about when you are on your phone)

   Finally, get organized. Have a plan for all the important aspects of your life. This requires a lot of time/effort but it is worth it for your overall wellbeing and more importantly for your children. If you're not sure where to start, check out my 5 pillars of motherhood info sheet at the bottom of this email.

The hard fact is that all our children are suffering when any one of us suffers so it is truly important to prioritize minimizing our anxiety instead of masking it or using temporary/unhealthy solutions. To help you I have created a few resources including my free organization library and my life coaching programs for those ready to truly transform their life. 

Honor your importance and safeguard your mind. All our kids depend on it. See you in next Sunday's e-newsletter.

XO, Naomi

mom, founder, certified life + business coach

www.highachievingmomsclub.com