This blog post is all about Surrendering Mom Anxiety to God.
No one really prepares you for the weight of mom anxiety during pregnancy, in the newborn haze, or any time in between. Mom anxiety can steal joy from the simplest moments, such as taking a quiet walk, driving to run errands, or trusting someone else to care for your baby, even if only for a few minutes.
And those relentless “what-ifs”? They can loop in your mind until you feel utterly exhausted.
I remember lying in bed, as tense as if I’d run a marathon, simply from the burden of my thoughts and the tight knot in my chest. After my firstborn arrived, my postpartum mom anxiety hit me harder than I ever expected. I would burst into tears over imagined disasters, my vivid imagination spinning terrifying scenarios out of thin air. Whenever my husband took our little one to work with him at the farm, I felt paralyzed by fear, convinced something awful was just around the corner.
Yet even in my anxiety, God was faithful. Nearly two years and two babies later, I still face mom anxiety, but I’ve discovered how to surrender every fear to Him. I’ve learned to entrust my daughters to His gentle care, day by day.
If you’re feeling the weight of mom anxiety the way I once did, mama, keep reading.
Mom Anxiety
What is Mom Anxiety?
Mom anxiety is a state where you worry excessively or have excessive fear.
More often than not, this state of anxiety is from feeling like you have no control. It can also stem from watching videos, reading posts, or hearing about things that happen to other families, often involving the loss of little ones.
Feeling anxiety is normal and common. However, if it interferes with your daily life, it can start to impact the overall quality of life for your family.
What Makes Mom Anxiety Worse?
Mom anxiety can stem from various factors. It can begin with hormonal changes, or it may arise from the overwhelming awareness of life’s uncertainties and the deep love you feel for your little one, making it hard to imagine life without them.
Hormones are a huge factor in causing anxiety. During pregnancy, postpartum, and even a few years after, your hormones go through many highs and many lows. They change during all these seasons of life, which can heighten your anxiety. Usually, after you are done breastfeeding, your body returns to normal. However, for some mothers, this is not the case, and it can significantly impact their emotions.
Media, whether that’s from blogs, social media, regular cable TV, etc, is another massive contributor to Mom’s anxiety. The amount of negative information you consume on a daily basis, not on purpose, is beyond what anyone should be consuming. Seeing videos or reading stories of families going through difficult times or losing one of their little ones can send you into a spiral.
I know for myself having social media makes my anxiety ten times worse than it is. It pierces my heart when I hear or see stories that involve children. Even weeks later, I will be thinking of what I once saw. For this reason, I have zero social media!
Family or friends can pass on local stories about what happened to a particular family, which can also start triggering mom anxiety, especially if it hits close to home.
Surrendering Mom Anxiety To God
Turn to Scripture
The BEST way to ease your mom’s anxiety is to turn to scripture. This is why it’s SO IMPORTANT for you to read your bible. How will you surrender to God if you don’t know why or how he will take care of you? Or how he will take care of your little ones?
“Give all your worries and care to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then, you will experience God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” Isaiah 40:11
“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4
When you experience anxiety, repeat these scriptures and release your emotions and anxieties onto Him.
Choose a scripture, write it down, and memorize it.
Place it in an area where you can easily access scriptures to calm your spirit.
If you have trouble starting to read your bible and actually stay committed, read THIS blog post next!
Letting Go of Control
Mom anxiety is more often than not triggered by realizing you have zero control over your little one’s life.
Death is now a real thing. It’s daunting.
You cannot imagine life without those little feet stopping around the home. The little giggles and mispronunciation of words.
The “what-ifs” start taking over every single thought.
The first thing you try to do is control their environment. What they do and what they don’t do. You don’t let them out of your sight, no matter how much you trust that individual. Everything you do, you start thinking about the what-ifs.
It’s a draining cycle. I have been there mama. Sometimes I even revert back but then I remind myself to let go of control.
Jeremiah 10:23 says, “I know, LORD (Yahweh) that a person’s life is not their own; it’s not for them to direct their steps,” and Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD (Yahweh) that will stand.”
You can try to direct every little step in your family’s life, thinking that you know best, but God knows better. He is the one who is ultimately in control over EVERYTHING. All the worrying is for absolutely nothing. It just takes life and joy away.
This isn’t to say that you should let your kids be feral and not protect, love, discipline, and guide, but letting go of the anxiety of the what-ifs and constant rumination and imagination of the terrible things that could happen will free you so much.
Isaish 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD (YAHWEH) forever, for the LORD (YAHWEH), the LORD (YAHWEH) himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Prayer Journal
One of the best ways to release mom anxiety is through prayer journaling.
There have been studies that prove that writing down your emotions will significantly decrease anxiety and depression. You can find those links here and here.
The reason why I call it a prayer journal is because I have dedicated it to Yahweh. It’s how I am able to actually express my emotions without losing my train of thought. For example, sometimes, when I am praying, I will start thinking of something else, and my thoughts will drift away from the prayer rather than staying focused.
ADHD? Who knows?
Journaling is simple and effective. It also costs approximately $15 or even less to get started.
Notebooks and pens, you know?
What Triggers My Anxiety?
“What set my anxiety off?“
Did you watch something on TikTok or Instagram that triggered your anxiety? Did you hear a story? Or did your thoughts get out of control, and suddenly you feel anxious?
It’s so important to figure out what is triggering your anxiety. That way, you can either avoid watching or reading something triggering or taking your thoughts captive before they go wild.
If family members are discussing a subject that you know will stress you out, let them know. If social media is a trigger, let it go.
Find a Trusted Friend
Friends are God’s greatest gift to us.
Finding a friend who is faithful to Christ will change your life. A friend who can turn you to God and scripture instead of mediocre motherhood will change the way you handle anxiety.
You do not want the mom friend who discredits your mom anxiety and turns you to “wine o’clock.”
You want a mom friend who reminds you of God’s Word and who validates your feelings without judgment.
“A true friend shows love at all times And is a brother who is born for times of distress.” Proverbs 17:17
“As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens his friend.”Proverbs 27:17
Conclusion
Mom’s anxiety can be debilitating. But surrendering to God will release you of the chains that anxiety keeps you in.
Memorize scripture. Know that God will and is there to provide you with anything and everything you need.
Find a trusted friend in Christ to help you during this season of life.
