Skip to main content

THE BREAKDOWN DAY - (warning, kinda personal)

We all have them. We’re busy moms, holding life together by a thread.

You’ve had a series of THINGS happen. And by the way, it’s a BIG misconception, that it just came out of nowhere. No, it didn’t. This meltdown has been building up over time, like lava beneath the earth’s surface.

The “things” can be big or small, it really doesn’t matter. It’s just a bunch of issues over time that build and build. You may have had moments where you thought you had dealt with them.

But in reality, you were probably just dealing with PIECES of the issue, and the rest was getting shoved aside to be handled another time. Only, you’re a BUSY MOM! “Another Time” rarely comes. You’re pushing ahead through the next thing and the next.

I’m just going to use my example really quickly because I know EVERYONE’S situation is different.

Perimenopause is causing a plethora of physical issues including night sweats, fatigue, sleep disruption, mood swings, weight gain, and others. Big Issue.

Crazy schedule for Mini-Me. Small Issue.

We lost my Mother-In-Law. Big Issue.

Hubs traveling to help take care of family matters. Medium Issue.

More crazy schedule for Mini-Me. Small Issue.

My stepdaughter lost a baby. Huge Issue.

Hubs had surgery. Medium Issue.

My sons graduate college. Medium Issue.

Stepson and Step-Daughter-In-Law move away. Big Issue.

See where this is going? You have things happening in your life so once you finally hit that limit, the breakdown erupts. And it doesn’t even have to be anything BAD.

My son hugged me and told me he loved me, and I broke down sobbing. He’s still hugging me and trying to figure out what’s happening and calling for Hubs, and I’m just bawling my eyes out.

So.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A BREAKDOWN HAPPENS?

Well, for me, I cried. Ugly, snot and tears everywhere, crying. Don’t be embarrassed or feel like you have to be strong, hold it together, never-let-them-see-you-cry nonsense. Let that stuff OUT!

Next, hot shower. Personally, even in the summer, I’m going to scorch myself until I’m bright pink. I do not recommend making this a shaving legs/exfoliating/deep-conditioning kind of shower. This is a standing under the water until you get pruney and letting go of the tension kind of shower.

Comfy clothes. No work clothes or jeans or tight shirts or anything. If you can get away with it, bye-bye bra. You need roomy, soft, and comfy. I don’t care how dumb it sounds – you need the space to BREATHE! I also recommend soft, cozy blankets, too.

Then, pick a treat. Now, I want to put this out there before I get in trouble for knowing better as a health coach, that you shouldn’t “eat your feelings”. I know this. There are obviously healthier ways to deal with emotions than eating an entire pan of brownies. And I’m not suggesting you eat a PAN of brownies.

But, girl!

On Breakdown Day, within reason, it’s okay to eat one of your favorite comfort foods. Cookie, brownie, chips, pizza, whatever. Again, I’m not advocating for out-of-control binge eating. If you struggle with binge eating, absolutely DO NOT DO THIS! But I am absolving you of feeling guilty for cheating on your eating habits or whatever.

Now, music. Anything that makes your toe tap or your booty pop. Or anything that soothes your nerves. Rage music to get all the emotions out. Whatever you need. Maybe it’s all of the above – rage, then soothe, then pop your booty. But multiple studies show that music is good for your mood.

At this point, I’m usually calming down enough that I will either:

A.) do some deep breathing exercises;

B.) stretch to release more tension;

C.) journal to get all my feelings out and logic my way through them; or

D.) take a walk to clear my head and re-gather my thoughts and feelings.

If you have your own rituals or routines for dealing with a Breakdown Day, that’s awesome. I’m genuinely happy for you, and would love it if you left a comment about what you do to work through it.

But if you struggle and feel like you’ve failed somehow because you weren’t able to hold it all together, just remember: you’re not alone, we all go through it; if you’re really struggling reach out for help in whatever way you need; you do whatever you gotta do to get through; and as cliché as it sounds, this too shall pass.

If there are bigger issues, definitely seek help IMMEDIATELY! But on a Breakdown Day, do what you must and hang in there. You’ve got this!

www.thehiddenpoweroffood.com

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

QUICK WINS WEDNESDAY

While we may not have all the time in the world with back-to-school creeping in, last minute vacations before summer is officially gone, and dealing with the ridiculous end of summer heat (at least where we’re located), as Busy Moms we still have daily opportunities to get Quick Wins for our health and wellness that don’t require an entire rearranging of our lives to get them. So, here’s my list of five Quick Wins you can implement TODAY with little to no extra effort or going out of your way to make them happen. Eat a Piece of Dark Chocolate Every Day . I know it’s not everyone’s favorite, and to be honest it can be an acquired taste. I didn’t like it years ago, either. But if you get 70% or higher, you’re giving yourself a mini-health boost with vitamins and minerals like copper, manganese, zinc, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, and almost all the B vitamins. From CHOCOLATE! And an added bonus, your kids probably aren’t going to want it because it’s not a...
Post a Comment
Read more

YOU'RE PLAYING IN A STACKED GAME

I don’t know how many of you have ever been to Las Vegas, but there’s a saying that, “The House always wins,” when referring to gambling. As I was taking a walk last night, the thought that we’re “playing” in a rigged system kept popping in my head. We’re constantly surrounded by nutrient-poor food options (fast food and ultra-processed foods); we have chaotic schedules that make it hard to cook nutrient-dense meals or find time for physical activity; we live in spaces that make it more difficult to have movement as a natural part of our days (more driving, long commutes, less walking on average, etc.); and we have financial, environmental, cultural, or social constraints that make it harder to focus on our health, wellness, or weight loss. As Busy Moms, it seems like we’re always trying to play by The House rules, but they always have the edge. The casinos are DESIGNED to give The House the edge. And I kept asking myself, “How do we win against that? As a Busy Mom myself, and as...
Post a Comment
Read more

QUICK WINS FOR HEALTH

(THIS IS ALSO CROSS-POSTED ON SUBSTACK ) I don’t know about y’all, but I cannot BELIEVE summer is more than halfway over. In fact, where we live, school will be starting again in less than a month! Most of the moms I know tend to fall into three categories: The ones who LOVE the Summer with their kids. The fun, the craftiness, all the “adventures” they have, and dread school starting again in the Fall; The ones who LOVE when school starts back up for the stability and the regular routine it provides; And the ones who are a mixture of both – they enjoy certain parts of the summer (not having to wake up so early, some of the activities and vacations, etc.), but they also look forward to getting back into a regular routine and not having to hear, “Mom! I’m BORED!” 500 times a day! This warp-speed passing of summer also means you might have let time get away from YOU , and haven’t been able to put as much energy or focus on your own health goals as you would’ve liked. So, I...
Post a Comment
Read more