How Anxious Parents Can Let Go of Guilt

Living with anxiety means you become creative with your parenting. You sometimes have to plan staycations instead of faraway vacations. You say no when you want to say yes. You risk your child asking you why a lot. Why can’t we go to the aquarium? Why can’t we go to the baseball game? Why can’t you drive here or there? When I heard those questions, I interpreted them in my mind as, why can’t you be like other moms without anxiety? From there the guilt would seep in.  I am not always the mom who can’t. I’ve had periods in my life where I have been the mom who goes on the school trips, goes shopping alone, and drives further than out of our town. Every few years anxiety will rise up and I relapse into agoraphobia, generalized anxiety and panic. It only stays for a while and it always gets better, but during those times when it is present, it can be difficult. I’ve worked hard every day towards finding solutions and tools to help me cope and keep anxiety at bay, and for the most part, I can. During the times I can’t and anxiety is raging, it feels like life is passing by and moments are missed because of anxiety’s powerful hold. It’s the reality that life still happens despite my temporary hiatus, despite my “be back soon” or “under construction” status. So how do we deal with the guilt? Do we wait and try to make up for lost time when we are better? Do we try to pretend it doesn’t matter an...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Children and Teens Parenting Personal Self-Help Agoraphobia Generalized Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder Guilt Social Anxiety Source Type: blogs