Speaking as a working mother, I can truly empathize with the many patients of mine that are in the same boat. So many expectations that we put on ourselves and and that society puts on us.
whose expectations do we live by?
We’re expected to do it all and smile. But guess what? Most of us are sick and tired – literally. It’s not until we learn that cliched lesson – put your own oxygen mask on before you can help someone else – that we can get past survival and move on to thriving.
I’m happy to say that I learned the lesson of self care a few years ago before things got any worse. And yes, they were bad for too long before I got to the point of really seeking help and making myself a priority. I tell my patients all the time, hopefully without sounding like I’m lecturing, that we women and especially us mothers, must make our health and wellbeing our #1 priority.
priorities – Where does Your Own Health Rank?
I think this is still taboo for many women. “But that’s selfish” you might think. My family is my #1 priority, or my career is my #1 priority. But honestly, how can we give our family or our work our best if we’re just barely getting out of bed, or have pain, or get sick often, or are irritable or depressed? We owe it to them and ourselves to take that leap and make time every single day to do what we need to feel our best. Or at least to begin the healing journey if our problems have been going on for a long time.
When Is it time to ask for help?
For me it all started after the birth of my second child. I was short tempered and irritable and getting thinner and thinner. You’d think a health care practitioner would just take care of herself right? Well, I think I can speak for many in the health care field when I say that we try to take care of ourselves. But that’s just not what worked for me. In hindsight I know I should have sought help from care providers other than myself.
At first, I recognized that I needed help. I delayed for a while being unsure of where to go. Finally, the universe sent me some clues and I followed them. I travelled far to a Chinese herbalist, started a spiritual practice, and also went the functional medicine route. Together, I found a system that I felt good about and care providers that I feel cared about me and did their best to help find out what I needed most.
Today, I feel healthier, stronger, and happier than I can remember over the 20+ years I’ve been dealing with health issues. I want you to know that I am not ashamed to take time out of my busy schedule to do what I need to function at my best. And neither should you!
