A Letter to Parents in Response to the Latest Public Health Advisory:
When working from home, I like to turn on the local news radio station and listen to the weather forecast. My husband teases me that I should just look outside. But my mom used to do the same thing when I was little. So there I was typing away, listening for the weather report, waiting for my daughter to get home from school, when a new Public Health Advisory came over the radio waves.
The Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, had just announced a new public health concern: parenting. Well, OK, it wasn't parenting, exactly, but the stress parents endure from being, well, parents. (1)
So, yeah. Parenting is now a public health concern.
Public Health Advisory: The Mental Health Concerns of Stressed Parents
Americans are stressed, no question about it. But this announcement wasn't about the Presidential election or any of the conflicts going on in the world. Surgeon General’s Advisories are public statements that call the American people’s attention to a critical public health issue. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action. (2)
Dr. Murthy recognizes that the nature of raising a child leads to stress. And parents are feeling it.
“Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us,” Murthy said. “And the health and well-being of those who are caring for our children should matter to us as well.”
(3)
What are we stressed about?
Is it colicky babies or sassy teen angst troubling parents? No, not so much. In fact, it's more likely the need to provide for our children. So financial worries and housing insecurity stem from the need to give children a secure and happy childhood.
As reported in The Guardian, "Some of the foremost stressors for parents include financial worries, concerns over children’s safety, anxiety over the scarcity of time away from work, and fears about minors’ unhealthy relationship to social media and technology." (4)
Robin Hilmantel, senior director of editorial strategy and growth at What to Expect, part of Everyday Health, explained it to Fox News Digital this way:
"There are a lot of reasons why being a parent today is so challenging — parenthood is isolating, as 76% of moms say they don’t have enough support in the form of a 'village.'"
She also pointed out that this advisory "feels like a long-overdue acknowledgment of what has been obvious for a while now: Parents are struggling." (5)
Feeling Stressed?
We've got you!
Stress of any kind leads to changes in hormones, lower immune function, less energy – all things you do need to handle the wonderful pressures of raising a child.
Something has to change.
Sure, the Surgeon General can look at parenting from a policy perspective. The report pushes for the government to make reforms including increased access to paid family leave and access to mental health programs. (6)
But that takes time. You and I need support now.
Many Moms and Dads over the years have raised families while working, so it seems that struggles have come, in part, to perceptions and expectations. Let's try to change that conversation with a few solutions of our own.
5 Ways to Address Stress
1. Eat Well
Magnesium: This critical mineral assists with up to 300 processes in the body. As you might imagine, without it, you can get pretty tired and stressed. And unfortunately, the more stressed you are, the more you use up magnesium. So this can be a problem that spirals into chronic issues. (7)
Pro Tip: Your body benefits the most from several different kinds of magnesium, working in combination.
Ashwagandha: As one of the best adaptogenic herbs, ashwagandha helps modulate your stress response, as well as reduce anxiety and food cravings. In other words, it helps calm you in times of great stress, yet won't keep you drowsy when you need to be on your game. (8)
Complex Carbohydrates: Chock full of B vitamins, complex carbs include oatmeal and chia seeds, as well as sweet potatoes, apples, and beans. Their fiber content slows digestion, so you have a steady stream of energy. And the B vitamins help your body produce energy and combat stress. (9, 10)
Dr. Henry Ealy said, “The absence of energy leads us into a ton of bad decisions, but the presence of it creates an effortless approach through life that is wonderful for managing any perceived stresses at the same time.”
2. Exercise & Get Outside
Simply taking a walk in Nature will ease tension. Touching the Earth, called earthing or grounding, reduces tension by countering some of the free radicals in your body. And humans innately crave images in Nature, like green grass, pink flowers, and changing hues of trees.
Bring your little one outside, too!
Exercise, of course, also relieves pent-up tension. Just be careful not to overdo, as excess exercise is, itself, stressful and may raise cortisol levels. An exercise like rebounding offers movement that's easy on the body but has profound benefits.
3. Unplug
Whether during exercise or another time of day, take some time to literally unplug. Turn off all devices and get away from EMFs if possible.
For example, when you go out for a walk, leave the electronics at home. At first, it may be challenging. You may think your child needs to be entertained, but boredom is the mother of creative thought.
Maybe you don't want to be bored either! Listen to soothing music while in airplane mode to lessen the amount of EMFs around you.
Using electronics as short-term distractions for your child may lead to long-term consequences, such as short attention span, nearsightedness, and a lack of imagination. (11)
As an added benefit, if your child grows up with some long moments of quiet, many challenges in life will be easier to face.
Pro Tip: Getting grounded and away from EMFs can be both beautiful and life-changing. Check out the resources at My Healing Garden.
4. Take A Bath
If you could give yourself one gift a week, what would it be? Maybe a warm bath with scented Epsom salt. The combination of essential oils and magnesium really help calm nerves.
By the way, this is great for Dads, too! Just skip the lavender scent. While lavender is often touted as the best scent for relieving stress, it isn't the best for men. Opt instead for frankincense or orange.
Learn more about using essential oils and herbs for relieving stress in David Wolfe's Stress Hacks Course! Click HERE.
5. Find A Group
Loneliness is perhaps one of the biggest challenges for new parents. Moms groups offer community and support. Don't lose track of old friends either! Even if they don't have children, make a point of keeping in touch.
Finding a tribe is certainly helpful in staving off those feelings of loneliness. But you should not feel alone with your child. With that other being with you, you are never alone.
Pro Tip: If you are searching for a home as you go along the journey of parenting, join us in the Inner Circle, where we have a community of healers and homemakers, as well as people facing pressures from kids, finances, schools, and others. Here we lean on each other and learn the value of holding true to what we think is the best path for our families.
The solutions, as with your health, come from the inside.
We agree that, as a society, we need to value the contributions of parents and caregivers.
Instead of relying on the government to intervene, though, you deserve tools to take control of your health and well-being. Then, you'll be on a path that emphasizes being in the present, being in control of your health, and accepting that our best is all we have and is all we need.
Sometimes that path runs into obstacles or veers suddenly to a new course. That's all OK! Parenting should not be placed under a Public Health Advisory. Every job worth doing presents challenges that must be overcome. The challenge isn't the problem. Yet how we choose to strive, to hold on to our values, and – yes! – to embrace parenting is the solution.
We are here for you, and we hope these easy solutions will bring some comfort and strength in the sometimes turbulent waters of parenting.
