Let's Talk Anxiety
Let’s talk anxiety. I never imagined that the hardest part of pregnancy would be managing my mind, but it’s been getting the better of me these last few weeks.
I didn’t really notice my anxious thoughts until about 2011 after a really bad crash in the halfpipe. That crash unraveled my belief in my ability to control my fate and keep myself safe. My mind became the master of, not just thinking about, but seeing the worst-case scenario unfold in almost any situation.
Obviously, this is not helpful for peak athletic performance, so I got to work figuring out how to manage my mind (& anxiety) to keep myself in competition. These tactics have proven to be very helpful in my life, far beyond the competition circuit.
When I notice that I’m spinning in a loop of anxious thoughts, here’s what I do:
Take 6 deep breaths. (I don’t know why 6, but my acupuncturist told me this years ago and it seems to be a great number).
Bring my attention to the present moment and what is directly in my control.
Pull back from the muddy waters of my thinking to become the observer of my thoughts.
Question the validity of every thought and/or belief (hint: they’re most likely not true).
Ask worst-case, best-case, most-likely to happen.
Create an affirmation around a positive, most-likely to happen outcome.
This approach has been helpful throughout pregnancy, but since my contractions/irritable uterus stuff (yes, that’s a thing), it hasn’t been working as well. These hormones are real. And the pressure of being responsible for the life that is growing INSIDE me and not being able to really look to know that he’s okay (or not okay), is rattling for a control-enthusiast like myself.
So, for these last 6 weeks, I’ve taken a few extra steps that are more environmental than mental. I’ve set some boundaries for myself.
If I’m having a day with a lot of contractions, I’m not allowed to work from home by myself. When I’m home alone, I seem to get myself a lot more worked up. And going to Labor & Delivery every time this happens is not a viable option for the next 6 weeks.
I’m not allowed to google ANYTHING related to babies even if it seems like a positive thing to be researching. Google is a trap where one thing leads to the next and you suddenly have something new to worry about! If I have a question that HAS to be answered, then I HAVE to call my doctor.
Pregnant or not, I hope this was helpful for you in how you approach anxiety! Whatever you’re going through, you got this. If you have anything you want to share about how you’ve managed your anxiety, let us know in the comments below.