When I look back at the years after my babies were born, there are three things that really stand out to me when it comes to why I was stuck for so long in the spiral of depletion.
1. I didn’t question the modern way of living with young babies.
I didn’t rest. I didn’t stop. I took on far too much. I just carried on with my usual pace of life, pushed through my crippling anxiety, fatigue and overwhelm. It didn't occur to me that there might be a better way.
It took a lot of practice, intention, slowing down, sleep and radical rest to change things for me.
2. I was unwilling for a long time to give up my independence, perfectionism and self-sufficiency.
I felt that if I was asking for help that meant I was doing something wrong. And if I needed help that meant I was failing as a mother and a woman in our Western culture. I had deeply internalized this belief that my worthiness was tied to my productivity. I thought I should be able to do everything on my own. Once I started intentionally building my village of support, I felt a huge difference.
3. I didn’t make the connection between nutrition and food and how I was feeling.
And I’m trained as a dietitian! This took me a few years, lots of research, training and work with different professionals before I made some profound shifts in how I was eating and also how I was feeling!
I eat with purpose and intention now. I eat to deeply nourish my body. I eat foods that feel really good and give me energy.
It took time, effort and support, but once I worked through these three areas, I started to see changes happen much more quickly.
Healing from postpartum depletion isn’t a quick and easy process. It requires a multifactor approach and support.
Warmly,
Amy
P.S. - What is something you feel is keeping you stuck? I’d love to hear from you! Send me a message with the contact form below.
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