Mindscape 

Mindscape  

Abby Delouya RMFT-CCC, CPTT 

Quick Tips: In Control When Life is Not

Sometimes our lives feel out of control. With simchahs, child-rearing, grandkids, work, elderly parents, our marriages, Yamim Tovim, chesed, community obligations, medical issues, tragedies Rachmana litzlan, shiddichum, and a worldwide pandemic, we can feel utterly overwhelmed. Occasionally that overwhelm can spiral, leaving us feeling anxious and fearful of the future.

When life feels out of control, try these four “Ps”:

1. Pray and connect spiritually. Do it formally or informally (learning a sefer on emunah can work wonders). There’s a wise aphorism: “Where we feel fear, we lack faith.”
2. Pause and take breaks. This is when self-care isn’t optional. Meditate, find moments of intentional calm, connect with yourself and your basic needs: Are you eating properly? Sleeping enough? Exercising at all?
3. Practice gratitude: Write a gratitude list nightly of five things you appreciate in your life.
4. Pass it Along: share the feelings of overwhelm (or the tasks). Sometimes we get into a rut and think we’re the only ones who can take charge. Delegating is crucial.

Disorders Decoded: Postpartum Depression

Most new moms experience “baby blues” after birth which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. (Alternatively, some moms experience “baby pinks” — the opposite). Baby blues are due to the intense hormonal changes, lack of sleep, physical trauma from birth, and emotional transition that comes with a new baby. They usually resolve two to three weeks after birth.