HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Many new parents struggle with the adjustment to having a young child, and some struggle with the added stress.
Counselors say there are steps parents can take if they feel overwhelmed or angry with their child.
- 1st step: Take a breath
- Parents must care for themselves
- Parents should realize they're not alone
Mental health counselor Melissa Dardiz works with families on a weekly basis. She said it’s normal for many new parents to feel overwhelmed.
“We feel like we’re backed into a corner, we’re hopeless and have no options, but we always have options, so we have to always remember that there’s some solution to get better than what it is,” Dardiz said.
She said the first step for parents is to simply take a breath.
“If they’re a newborn, if you can put them in their crib or in their bassinet and just take a couple of minutes to walk out of the room, take a couple of deep breaths and then recompose yourself to figure out what’s a good solution moving forward,” Dardiz explained.
She said it’s also important parents make sure they’re taking care of themselves.
“If we’re not getting a good night sleep, if we’re not eating enough calories each day to exert the energy that we need to, if we’re not getting some kind of positive social interaction or physical activity it is like running a car on a empty tank," she explained. "We’re not getting the things we need to be able to be the best parent that we can."
And most importantly, Dardiz said parents should realize they’re not alone.
“A lot of new moms and dads need some extra support, and coming into speak to someone outside the situation can be good self-care for yourself,” she said.
Dardiz also said having a positive group around you can really help out new parents, whether it’s family, counselors, or other support groups.