From MadeForMums · · 2m
Exhausted but still wired? 4 signs your body is stuck in high alert
Mums feel exhausted but can't switch off? Self-development coach reveals 4 signs your body is stuck in high alert.
In brief
Mums feel exhausted but can't switch off? Self-development coach reveals 4 signs your body is stuck in high alert. Mums who feel exhausted but still wired may have a body stuck in high alert, requiring techniques like meditation and breath control to relax. Originally reported by MadeForMums.
Quick answers
- Exhausted but still wired?
- Feeling exhausted but unable to switch off? A self-development coach explains four signs your body could be stuck in high alert.
- What is the key takeaway from Exhausted but still wired? 4 signs your body is stuck in high alert?
- Mums who feel exhausted but still wired may have a body stuck in high alert, requiring techniques like meditation and breath control to relax.
Exhausted but still wired?
Feeling exhausted but unable to switch off? A self-development coach explains four signs your body could be stuck in high alert.
“Mothers and pop stars are very, very similar, in what's expected of us and the demands to our nervous system and adrenaline”
Sign 1: Can't switch off
When you get rare downtime, you lie awake scrolling or replaying the day instead of relaxing.
“In motherhood, we're in fight or flight quite a lot, that's quite normal at first because of the hormonal shifts and because in that early stage it's our primal role to want to keep our babies safe”
Sign 2: Small things feel overwhelming
Tiny things like knocked over water or forgotten emails suddenly feel like the final straw when you're already overwhelmed.
“There's no real care or interest in mothers having to just cope with general overwhelm and the day-to-day of motherhood, combined with extreme sleep deprivation and extreme hormonal shifts”
Sign 3: Tense even when nothing's wrong
Shoulders tense and jaw clenched during supposed relaxation, even when nothing is happening.
“There's a school of thought that says emotions stay in the body, and somatic release is all about releasing those and helping you feel more energised”
Sign : Putting others before yourself
Your needs get pushed to the bottom of the list while you focus on others' needs.
“Sometimes mothers can really run themselves down, and be completely disconnected from their needs”
What to do
Try meditation, breathing exercises, or small movements to help your body switch off from high alert.
“Meditations help get you into a state where you can focus on your breath and start to feel calm”
Why it happens
Parenthood demands can leave mums in a heightened state of stress, making it hard to switch off.
“Motherhood isn't something you pass or succeed. It's how you evolve to create the life you want to live”
Expert background
Georgia Devon-Shelley is a self-development coach and founder of Mother.fm, a postnatal audio platform for mothers' wellbeing.
“Georgia Devon-Shelley is a self-development coach and founder of Mother.fm, a neuroscience-grounded postnatal audio platform”
When it matters
This advice applies to mums at any stage, not just new parents, as every baby is different.
“Even if it's not your first baby, you are experiencing this particular baby for the first time because every baby is different”
What's next
Mums can use breath, meditation, and stress relief techniques throughout their child's life.
“The challenges of motherhood change as your child gets older, but they don't necessarily weaken. They just evolve into new things”
Why it's important
Recognizing when your body is stuck in high alert helps mums prioritize their own wellbeing.
“Motherhood isn't something you pass or succeed. It's how you evolve to create the life you want to live”
How to help
Give yourself a pep talk or find support to validate your feelings and reduce stress.
“There's a lot of toxic positivity around motherhood and pressure for mothers to be perfect”
Key takeaway
Mums don't need to be perfect; finding things hard doesn't mean they're failing.
“Firstly, know that finding things hard doesn't mean that you're failing in any way”
Long-term impact
Breath, meditation, and stress relief techniques can serve mums throughout their child's life.
“The basics of breath, meditation, and stress relief can serve us throughout that whole period, probably into teenagerhood, who knows?”
The main idea
Mums who feel exhausted but still wired may have a body stuck in high alert, requiring techniques like meditation and breath control to relax.
