CLEVELAND, OH (CLEVELAND CLINIC) - If you've ever had feelings of 'mom guilt', you're not alone. And a lot of women can relate, especially when they decide to take some time for themselves.
While it's natural to feel guilty, that shouldn't stop you from taking time for yourself. Self-care is important for your mental and physical health. It gives you the chance to relax and focus on your own needs. Doctors suggest imagining an 'energy bank' – you can't always make withdrawals, you have to make deposits too. And it doesn't have to be anything major. You could do something simple like meditate, go for a walk, take a nice long bath, or spend time with friends.
"It's really not a luxury, this is a necessity. Because at some point when we are under all of this chronic stress and guilt and there's no time – you know, downtime for our nervous system, you know, ends up really down the road creating disease states. Our blood pressure can go up, it can actually increase risk for anxiety and depression," explained Dr. Melissa Young, Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Young says if you notice your stress or anxiety is getting more frequent, or more severe, you should speak with your primary care provider.
