Hello lovelies,
I have always had mild anxiety ever since I was a teenager. Overthinking things. Wondering "what if I did that" or "what if I said this instead". It was never an issue, it was always something I dealt with and for me, it was my "normal".
Fast forward to having my first child and finding my new "normal" as a mother was hard, because I dealt with pretty severe PPA and never told anyone, not even my husband. After my first pregnancy, my anxiety was something I truly suffered with, especially social anxiety. My mind would conjure up the worst what if's possible and it got so bad that I could hardly even speak to my own friends and family without turning red and shaking with anxiousness. I never went on medication and it did start to get noticeably better after I went back to work at 8 months post-partum. For the most part it was gone after less than a year PP.
Fast forward to me getting pregnant a second time and this time with twins, I told my husband everything. I wanted to be "prepared" this time and I also wanted him to know the signs and what to watch out for on my behalf. Being pregnant with twins, literally does mean double the hormones, which this time in my case, also meant double the anxiety. My PPA came much later than it did with my first, however it was still prevalent early on in different ways. I became very irritable and impatient in the beginning and then around 10 months PP it turned into anxiousness, nausea, and severe irritability.
I am not the type of person to go on medication, I like to deal with things internally and through mindfulness. Being a mother of three (and twins) is definitely a challenge at times. Add my hectic work schedule and having a life on top of it all, while still dealing with PPA (15 months PP), I have come to accept many things. I have also come to accept the fact that I do need to have more me time and also be open to trying new things. With that being said, taking ownership in the fact that anxiety is now a part of my new "normal", I have been on the look out for natural products to help relieve my stress on a day to day basis - for when it can all get a little too overwhelming.
I recently stumbled upon Birch + Fog on Instagram and they were kind enough to send me some products to try out. I picked out some of their edibles that are infused with CBD (cannabidiol) and if you know me, you would know that of course I picked their EP Simply CBD Dark Chocolate and their Simply Jane Double Dose Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. CBD is an all-natural cannabis compound that provides all of the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the feeling of being “high”. In fact, CBD can actually counter-balance the effects of THC, which makes it a great tool for re-stabilizing your consciousness after a night of fun, or in my case, a night of work from home and crazy kids who don't like too sleep.
Whenever I am feeling anxious at work or if I want to wind down at the end of the day, one square from the bar, or a bite from the peanut butter cup does the trick.
If you want to try out products from Birch + Fog be sure to use my promo code "annpaige" at checkout to SAVE $20 off your purchase!
They offer a wide range of other CBD products, as well as oils for headache and menstrual cramp relief (also a new fav product of mine!), to THC and hemp products. Also be sure to check out their skin care and bath bombs too!
In addition to trying out CBD products, I also practice deep breathing and never leave the house without my mala bracelets. Collectively they are all really helping me to live with and manage my anxiety. If you too are dealing with anxiety, just know that you are not alone. Let those closest to you know what you are going through, so that they can be aware and also help you find the right tools that work for you.
I hope that this post has been helpful to any other mommas out there who are also coping with PPA or just anyone in general who is living with anxiety.
Thank you so much for reading this post and comment below if you have any tips or favourite products that help you relieve stress and anxiety.
Until next time....
xoxo
annpaige
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