Parenting can be stressful. Not only you need to take care of your children, but you should be a good role model in raising them to be good people. No one is perfect, and it's a fact that everyone-- especially parents-- needs to accept. There is no such thing as perfect parents nor perfect parenting. However, you can always be a better parent if you allow yourself to be one.
When you're a parent, most of your time and energy goes to your children. Looking after them and raising them can cause a lot of stress. But, as a parent, you just want what's best for your children's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. You tend to be more focused on their well-being that you almost forget yours. Parents need to realize that they should also think of themselves and take care of themselves because if they don't this will affect their parenting ways. There might be days that you feel worn out and exhausted from taking care of your family and children, and although this is normal, you need to be able to cope up with it. And what better way to cope up with stress is therapy.
To most people, when they hear the word therapy, they would instantly assume that there is something wrong with a person mentally. Worse, they associate it with mental illness. Therapy is for everyone. Anyone can go to therapy. Whether you are diagnosed with a mental illness or you are just stressed and feeling down lately, therapy can make you feel better.
Therapy can also bring positive energy to parents in their parenting ways. Here are just some of the few benefits that therapy can contribute to your parenting life.
Therapy makes you be aware that you are not alone.
Although seeing how amazing parenthood can be on social media posts, admit it, parenting is stressful. Sometimes, parents tend to feel the weight of the world is on their shoulders and will think that they are alone. Most of the time, it's the mothers who feel such strong mixed emotions. Therapy lets parents to be open with their fears, anxieties, and worries about being a parent. The therapists will be there to listen to them and let them understand such feelings and why they are feeling it.
Therapy will help you overcome postpartum depression.
This is mainly for mothers only. A lot of women go under postpartum depression. Worst case scenario, this postpartum depression does not guarantee to get OK in just a few months. Some mothers experience postpartum depression even a few years after they gave birth. According to the American Psychological Association, 1 in 7 women suffers in PPD. Questions and confused thoughts will cross a mother's mind that will cause stress and more self-doubt. This can be helped by a therapist and help them understand that postpartum symptoms are normal.
Therapy is a good "me" time.
Parents get so busy raising their children and working with their jobs too and having a therapy session at least once a month can be your time off from your responsibilities. Therapy makes you recharge and think more of yourself and focus on self-care. Therapy will not last more than an hour and it is a perfect time for you to rejuvenate your mind off things.
Although parents have a lot of responsibility on their plate, it is important to keep in mind that they are human beings too and not robots. It is always a good idea to go on therapy and it will definitely help you in becoming better parents.
ALSO READ: Postpartum Can Be Just As Stressful As Pregnancy, Here's How to Cope
