You are not alone. The U.S. Surgeon General calls attention to the need to better support parents.
In August 2024, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy highlighted the need to support the mental health and well-being of parents. His advisory calls for a “fundamental shift” due to the important role parents have in society.
In many ways, parents are the backbone of society. Parents have and raise children. Consume goods and services. Parents are among the workforce, commute and contribute to many of the levers of growing economies. When parents struggle, it can impact the well-being of their children and can also create an adverse effect on the country’s stability.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, parents can find it difficult to keep up with the needs of their children, and expectations can seem far-reaching. Parents can also experience higher levels of stress compared to other adults. What’s more, parents may struggle in silence and this, along with other factors, can lead to prolonged stress.
What to Know About Stress
Stress can be the body’s way of responding to situations. We all can experience stress. However, it can be worse for parents. This, in part, is due to parents taking care of themselves while also caring for their child. And the load can sometimes seem overwhelming.
Known Causes of Stress
Increased child care costs, health and education, employment, and not having enough income were among the causes of stress cited by the Advisory.
Another stress factor includes the time needed to work a job while also caring for a child. Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of children, being isolated from others, lack of support, managing technology and the use of social media, meeting expectations, and preparing children for the future.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress is created by external factors. Anxiety is a reaction to stress. While stress usually goes away once external factors are settled, anxiety can persist even when the situation is resolved. Both stress and anxiety can affect the mind and body. Here is more guidance from the National Institute of Mental Health:
What’s essential to note is that stress for parents can be compounded when there is a cycle of continuing issues that never seem to end. If anxiety is present and does not go away, you could experience problems with sleeping, your immune system, digestive, heart and vascular, and reproductive systems. You may also be at risk for developing an anxiety disorder or depression. So, it is important to manage stress.
Ways to Cope
Parenting has a lot of moving parts. You may see someone in public, or social media, and feel you have to be like them. But that’s not true. Do the best you can. Be kind to yourself. And take care of yourself, too.
Here are some options to consider:
And don’t forget nutrition, a balanced diet can give you the energy you need and help keep you healthy.
The more you understand how your body responds the better you can manage stress. Learn what situations trigger mental or emotional strain or tension. And find the right coping methods that work for you.
If you are struggling to cope with stress or anxiety, it may be time to find help.
Resources
- If you are in immediate distress or are thinking of hurting yourself, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.
- The Administration for Children & Families provides toolkits, videos, and webinars for parents and families to address mental health and other related issues.
- If you are pregnant or just had a baby, and need someone to talk to, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Mental Health America provides bullying tips for parents, tips for talking to children about school safety, and ways to cope with parenting while also caring for aging parents.
- If you find yourself in need of immediate food assistance, call 211 to find agencies and community organizations that can help. You can also utilize the USDA National Hunger Hotline. Additionally, HUD provides information on nearby food pantries, as well as rental assistance.
I like to simplify complex topics and hold a baccalaureate from Columbia College, PAHM® designation, and a Certificate of Specialization in Health Care Leadership including certificates in Health Care Strategy, Health Care Economics, Digital Health, and Reducing Racial Disparities in Health Care from Harvard.