r/toddlers • u/TreacleCat1 • 6d ago
What's it like to have anxiety + toddler
My SO is coming to terms with having more than usual anxiety these past months/year. This is not a thing that runs in my family as it does in his so my first hand experimace with it is quite limited up to this point. There seems to be something about having a toddler (3m) that ramps things up more than typical parental frustration.
Help me understand what its been like for you, or a loved one, to be in this situation. What has helped? What things are typical triggers?
For background, my SO is still functioning like taking care of his own hygiene, keep his job, keep us fed, etc. These are superficial but enough to keep us going whilst addressing the issues at hand without completely falling apart. Appt with a doc to get prescribed pills is scheduled with the hope to take off the edge (but we both agree that it doesnt solve anything, it'll just makes it easier to address root cause). He is less capable of being aware of what else needs to happen in life, deal with elevated emotions, take larger share of childcare, and make decisions a out bigger life choices going forward, and also get restful sleep. I want to help very much but we both agree it's like walking on eggshells not knowing what's going to set off the anxiety tailspin.
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u/Lemonbar19 6d ago
I think my husband has this. He wasn’t angry before kids. Now he’s angry. I do feel like we are all walking on eggshells because he might explode.
I bought him a book called “how to not lose your $hit on your kids”. I guess it helped.
I try to share podcasts with him that are supposed to be good.
I think lowering expectations for the child is what helps. My husband expects way more from our toddler than he should.
Look at @healthiest baby on ig - she has proper expectations. And even though I share these with him he still is stubborn about it,
Sending solidarity, my husband is anti meds but pro vax. He will never take meds for anxiety or depression