How To Combat Stress As A Mom In Today’s World

For Moms raising the next generation of Leaders in a post-pandemic world, finding inner harmony is paramount in setting the stage for a fresh start.

Meet Samala Bygraves, a Certified Women’s Integrative Health Coach, Female Hormone Expert, Writer and Mother of two daughters. Her work brings balance, vitality and harmony to Women and Mothers all over the Globe, guiding them to become their own best healers.

“We all experience everyday stressors. These can reach extremes for Mom’s, compounded by external stimuli. On top of that, there is often a complete disconnection from whatever trauma they themselves may have experienced in their childhood. These can affect their ability to effectively deal with stress as an adult.”

Discover The Root Cause
Trauma at a young age tends to create a new baseline-level of stress at which we operate. Pinpointing the root cause while exploring whole healing, allows for a renewed sense of safety, essential for Mothers to transcend their trauma. 

While many women may not associate with the term ‘trauma’, it’s important to understand that it can refer to any experience of heightened stress that elicits a negative emotional response. From this perspective, we can begin to understand how our childhood may have shaped how we experience the world today, particularly in the presence of both individual and compounding stressors.  With this newfound awareness, healing can begin. 

Physical Remedies For Emotional Wellbeing
“When you’re a Mom, you take on the extra layer of Mom-guilt – I was that Mom. I would think to myself: ‘I can’t do that, I don’t have time for that’. It was my Achilles Heel. I would keep going until things got so bad that I had no choice but to make a change.” – Bygraves

Taking time for ourselves, in the interest of maintaining physical health should be a non-negotiable. Our children do, after all, need us to be at our best! Our emotional well-being is intrinsically linked to our physical health. We all know how heavily physical pain can affect our emotional state. Even in the best of times, maintaining an upbeat, positive demeanor can be near impossible in the presence of physical pain or discomfort. As such, our ability to deal with any additional stress becomes severely compromised. 

As Bygraves shares; “When you realize that you are having more days feeling bad than good, it’s time to do something about the deeper levels of healing.” 

From this perspective, the importance of regular physical activity, along with physical therapy must be reconsidered in the context of its role in matters beyond physical fitness.

Implement The Antidotes
Simplicity cultivates healing, especially in the lives of busy Moms. “Never underestimate the power of simple changes implemented over time, in the presence of other women”, Bygraves shares. Community is an integral healing element for women. When implementing the antidotes listed below, finding a support system is one way to fast-track your life to renewed levels of harmony.

1. Breath deeper: A simple strategy that is deeply effective on bringing awareness and presence, alternate nostril breathing is a favorite method of Bygraves and is easy to implement in a busy day as a Mom.

2. Exposure to sunlight: We can no longer downplay our intrinsic need for time in nature, frequent movement in the fresh air and the removal of artificial stimulants like your phone, social media, tv, excess coffee. Bringing at least 60 minutes of exposure to the sun while moving your body also regulates your sleep hormones and we definitely know Mom’s always need better sleep!

3. Dose up the water: It is our responsibility to “put the healthy stuff in” – optimal stress levels that fuel your body and life are only cultivated in the presence of the right ingredients. “You cannot keep shoving shit into your body and your mind and think that you are going to be ok!”

4. Meditation: It’s the new black according to Bygraves. “Moms with heightened stress levels will feel uncomfortable being still, this is an invitation to go there” She also mentions that it doesn’t have to be meditation specifically, you can try tapping, somatic expression, and intentional self-care practices.

5. Adaptogens: Supporting the nervous system with supplementation only works when utilized in conjunction with the other methods mentioned in this article. Try things like pukka herbs, mushrooms, and ashwagandha. 

In Closing
Cultivating a renewed sense of safety and a harmonious relationship to self happens when we, the mothers and nurturers of this planet are intentional, cultivate the space to heal, and no longer subscribe to the narrative that for so long has put our own needs last.

“We cannot keep shoving things into the earth and think that the earth is going to be ok, you are a representation of the earth… we are the earth, we are one” – Samala Bygraves.