Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
It seems like life is moving so much faster now that I'm getting to the end of my pregnancy and working on getting ahead on schoolwork, life, and other things. Recently, I have felt like it is not me who is putting the anxiety on myself, but others. I am very small and look way younger than I actually am, which means I have been getting strange stares from strangers that actually stop to look and see my growing stomach. I knew I would eventually get these looks, but the fact that they are happening is really starting to cause me some anxiety. On top of this my family thinks I'm on the crazy side because of some of the natural alternatives I want to take with my child. Cloth diapering, is one that is making my family crazy. I'm not trying to make life easier for them, especially since they live no where near me and they do not realize this. Cloth diapering is something I've done a lot of research about and feel like it is the perfect thing for our family. I love being able to keep diapers out of landfills, save money, and use softer materials on my baby.
I am also someone who tries to keep everyone happy and I try my hardest not to cause any problems, but I know by the time delivery roles around a lot of family members are going to be upset that I do not want anyone in the room until I get time with my new baby and I definetely don't want anyone besides a couple of specified family members in there while I am in pain. I am someone who internalizes a lot of pain and I can't handle people freaking out around me, which is what most of the women in my family do. We have not told our family members this yet. Most of them know that two specific people are super important to me when laboring, but they don't know that I'm not allowing my entire family in the room at any time. I'm rambling, but it feels good to get all of this out and think through it by seeing it and not just random thoughts in my head!
Thank you!
My advice on that would be 1. Start to notice when youre looking at strangers and consider what youre thinking(if you draw attention to your own behavior youll see that most of the time its innocent thoughts)
And 2. Say to yourself "If they are looking, thats okay, because I know what Im doing and they dont"-- to be honest I tell myself everyday while walking home "I dont care what theyre thinking, Im doing me", some days I say it so often im reminded that I obviously do care, but I just say it again and keep going.
As for the family anxiety, every parent feels that way. Trust me. Every parent.
If they make a comment about it say to them(or yourself) "they do whats right for them, i do whats right for me"
I know it can be hard, but youll get through!
I would think you are mad as well using cloth diapers but you know it's ultimately up to you and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks .
I can relate to you with regards to the labor room. I only had my sister in and there was no chance anyone else was going to be allowed to be there. So with that you can tell the hospital you don't want anyone else there and they won't allow it.