PEACE with Anxiety Podcast Episode 26
In this episode, we dive into the complex and deeply personal experience of navigating grief while managing high-functioning anxiety, especially as a mom. Grief is challenging enough on its own, but when you’re also trying to juggle the responsibilities of motherhood, work, and maintaining a sense of normalcy for your family, it can feel overwhelming.
Join me as we explore the emotional rollercoaster that many moms face during these times—balancing the weight of loss, the pressure of daily life, and the fear of not being able to cope. This episode is an honest conversation about the struggles of grieving while trying to be strong for everyone else. I’ll share insights into what this journey looks like, and i'll also share six strategies to help you cope with anxiety while honoring your grief.
In this episode you'll discover:
Griefline's "Let’s Talk About Grief" campaign
The Experience of Moms Navigating Anxiety While Grieving
6 strategies to cope with grief
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Anxiety and Grief
How to cope with grief while dealing with high-functioning anxiety, looking after your family and managing your career as well?
Grief is the emotional response to the intense feelings experienced after a loss. Loss can have many forms as well, it can be the death of a loved one, separation or divorce, the loss of safety or predictability in our lives, the loss of a pet, the loss of your home, the end of a career and loss of a community due to a disaster to name a few. And that is all to say that it’s okay to take the time you need to honour your grief and heal.
Grief is a powerful emotion, and when combined with the pressures of daily life and anxiety, it can feel overwhelming, so in this blog, we'll explore some practical strategies to help you navigate these difficult times.
Let's Talk About Grief' campaign
But before we dive in, I want to share something really special with you. It's the 'Let's Talk About Grief' campaign, a wonderful initiative by Griefline and the National Association for Loss and Grief. This campaign is running throughout August and aims to raise awareness and understanding of grief. They'll be sharing invaluable resources, insights, and events covering topics like loneliness, sleep health, a child’s perspective, end-of-life care, grieving at work and the role of the workplace, infant loss, pet loss, and many other aspects of living losses.
And this campaign is so close to my heart because grief is often overlooked, yet it touches so many lives in profound ways. Griefline and NALAG are doing incredible work to spark meaningful conversations and foster a deeper understanding of what grief is. I'm a huge supporter of Griefline’s impact, and as a volunteer as well, it’s been my privilege to be part of such a compassionate organization. It’s also my mission to spread awareness about grief and to support those who are navigating through it. So, that’s why I’m excited to be part of this campaign and to share its message with you.
For more information on the Let’s Talk About Grief campaign or other grief and loss resources, please see the links below.
E.A.S.T self care guide: https://griefline.org.au/resources/east-self-care-guide/
Let’s Talk About Grief awareness campaign: https://griefline.org.au/2024-grief-awareness-campaign/
Grief and Loss Resource Hub: https://griefline.org.au/resources
![Anxiety and Grief: Navigating Loss While Managing a Family and Career [Ep 27]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fccdfd_67fbc101f6984bf681387f3fdb77fd45~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/fccdfd_67fbc101f6984bf681387f3fdb77fd45~mv2.jpg)
The Experience of Moms Navigating Anxiety While Grieving
I want you to take a moment and truly acknowledge what you’re feeling right now. It's completely understandable to find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster, where sorrow and anxiety seem to blend in a confusing haze.
You’re carrying so much on your shoulders, often feeling like you have to hold everything together for your family while you are navigating your own grief. It’s natural to worry about how your grief might be impacting your children and loved ones, and that weight can feel incredibly heavy. And the uncertainty about the future can be frightening, leaving you feeling lost and unsure of how to move forward. And many of you may be dealing with some physical symptoms as well like fatigue or sleepless nights, which can only deepen that sense of overwhelm. And it’s easy to feel isolated in your pain, in your grief, in your anxiety even when you are surrounded by people who care about you.
As you navigate this journey, you might be questioning your sense of self—wondering who you are without your loved one or without that job without that house or whatever it is that you lost. Please know that you’re not alone in this struggle. If there is one thing I’ve learned through my volunteer work at Griefine is that grief and loss come in so many forms and we all experience them differently.
But what happens when you're grieving? How do you take care of your family when you're struggling to take care of yourself? So here are six practical strategies that can help you manage grief and high-functioning anxiety while maintaining your responsibilities.
1. Set Realistic Goals
When you’re navigating grief and anxiety, it's crucial to set realistic goals. Trying to tackle everything at once can feel incredibly overwhelming. So break down large projects into smaller, manageable steps. This makes tasks more approachable and helps you feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each step. So focus on what truly matters and be kind to yourself by avoiding those unrealistic standards. And, it's okay to not have everything perfect while you are navigating grief and anxiety.
2. Prioritise Self-Compassion
So self-compassion is crucial during times of grief and anxiety. Understanding that perfection, especially during those times isn’t attainable, and that’s perfectly okay. Mistakes are just a natural part of life and growth. So learn slowly how to embrace them as learning opportunities rather than setbacks. And celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they might seem. Even if you were able to get up in the morning, brush your teeth and put on some clothes, that is a great step, and you are doing everything that you can and that is more than enough.
3. Establish Boundaries
Setting boundaries is vital for your well-being, especially during difficult times. So try to set some clear distinctions between work and personal time that are going to help you to prevent burnout. It's important to communicate your limits and needs to those around you. It’s also okay to decline additional responsibilities if it’s just too much for you right now. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to do it, in a few weeks or months, it’s just right now for the next few days it might not be attainable. Remember, taking care of yourself helps you to be more present and therefore effective in both your personal and professional life.
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4. E.A.S.T Approach
This is something that we use at Griefline when we respond to callers, and that is the E.A.S.T. approach. Which stands for Eat and hydrate well, be Active, Sleep well, and spend quality Time with family and friends. So proper nutrition and hydration fuel your body, while regular physical activity can help reduce stress and improve your mood. And then Good sleep is essential for mental health, and also spending time with loved ones can provide that emotional support.
5. Seek Support
Reaching out for support is a sign of strength and The Griefline helpline is always available if you need someone to talk to. Speaking with a volunteer can offer valuable support and comfort and they can give you some personalised tools and help you understand what you are experiencing and navigate through those tough times.
6. Develop effective Coping Strategies
Practice deep breathing exercises that can help to calm your nervous system during stressful moments. Additionally, Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you not only process but manage those anxious feelings more effectively.
Grief and high-functioning anxiety are tough to handle, to say the least, especially when you have a family and career to manage. So please remember that it’s okay to ask for help and to take the time you need to heal.
Now I know how tough it can be to struggle with grief and anxiety, and If you're looking for more support or personalized guidance, then please reach out. If you want more information, click the link here to find out more.
And if you found these strategies helpful, and if you know someone who is dealing with grief please share it with others who might benefit.
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Important Links
🔗 Join our Facebook group! PEACE with Anxiety: Heal High-Functioning Anxiety Support Group
🔗 Find more mental health tools and resources in my Etsy Shop
Have more questions about High-Functioning Anxiety in motherhood?
Apply for a 30-minute FREE Anxiety Relief Call to explore working with me as a private client https://www.ireneevangeloutherapy.com/free-anxiety-relief-call
If you are looking to book just an individual one-on-one Rapid Transformational Therapy Session (RTT), then click the link below
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All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.