Cope With Parenting By Asking For Help

Posted by Prapti Chauhan on June 2nd, 2021

Becoming a parent can be emotionally stressful. With the arrival of your baby, your daily routine will be packed with chores and responsibilities. This sudden upsurge of duties can have an adverse effect on your mental health. While you may want to keep your emotions bottled up, it’s healthier to express your concerns. 

Normally, new parents don’t ask for help because they feel they might be unduly judged. So, you choose to fly solo and ignore the feeling of anxiety bubbling inside. As a result of this, you feel overwhelmed and are unable to cope with the stress.

Remember, communication plays a crucial role in keeping you healthy. Here are some strategies you can use to ask for a helping hand.

Clarify what you need

The battle is half won when you decide to ask for help. However, it’s important to know what is it that you need help with. For starters, take a notebook and jot down all the things that are bothering you. This is a great way to declutter your mind and identify your needs. Once you have gotten that in order, you can now proceed to verbalize your concerns. 

Make a to-do list 

Sometimes, we need to get back to the basics. Since time immemorial, lists have helped us organize our lives. A list is also a hassle-free way of giving directions to others. If a loved one wants to help you out, he or she can always refer to the list of chores you have prepared.

It’s okay to follow up

If your pleas were ignored the first time, don't be afraid to bring it up again. It's difficult to ask for help when your request has been ignored, but you still deserve to be cared for. Talk to your spouse if they are unresponsive or aloof. That way, they will know where they went wrong.

Find supportive online platforms

The online revolution has made our lives simpler. In addition to that, it also gives us a platform to find support groups. Now, there are many apps you can use to unburden yourself from the stress of parenting. 

You can also download parenting apps to make your life simpler.

Choose someone to ask for help on your behalf

If you don’t feel comfortable asking for help, then get someone else to do it. Get a trustworthy friend to reach out to others and save you the effort. As a young mother, it’s best to conserve as much energy as you can, so it’s a good idea to let someone else break the social barriers. 

Social media

If used wisely, social media can be highly beneficial. As mentioned earlier in this article, the online space can connect you with like-minded people. You can find other new moms who are facing the same problems as you. Together, you can share stories and strategies. That way, you will not feel alone as others are also coping with the challenges of parenting. Motherhood is challenging, and it's always good to have allies who will look after you.

Over the years, we have become a culture that glorifies self-reliance. Sometimes, at the expense of our wellbeing. We are afraid of being judged for seeking help, so we build impenetrable walls around us. In the long run, this can cause a lot of emotional stress. To sum it up, don’t be afraid to reach out and go easy on yourself.

Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops content on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, baby's stem cell preservation, umbilical cord lining, and more.