# 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. - Title: Exhausted but still wired? 4 signs your body is stuck in high… - Summary: 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… - Keywords: mum, high alert, motherhood, stress, meditation, breath control, self development, postnatal, mother fm, georgia devon-shelley, Exhausted, still - Source: MadeForMums — https://madeformums.com/features/exhausted-but-still-wired-4-signs-your-body-is-stuck-in-high-alert-as-a-mum - Read time: 2 min - Topics: mum, high alert, motherhood, stress, meditation, breath control, self development, postnatal, mother fm, georgia devon-shelley ## 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? ## Key takeaway Mums who feel exhausted but still wired may have a body stuck in high alert, requiring techniques like meditation and breath control to relax.