A recent advisory from the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has opened the floodgates to a problem seldom discussed: the rising pressure on parents. Their 2023 study concluded that “33% of parents report high levels of stress compared to 20% of other adults, [while] 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults.”
These statistics shouldn’t be surprising to anyone, given the seemingly endless number of stressors that come with parenting: your child’s health, their exposure to social media and the dangers of the world, unforgiving time commitments, and the financial strain that comes with child-rearing (to name a few). This problem is often overlooked and generally chalked up as just another side effect of raising children.
It may be more surprising, however, that parents are disproportionately affected by mental health issues, likely in part because of this stress.
This report underlies a critical point: Parenting isn’t merely hard. With all the new stressors of modern life, and the rising costs of childcare and additional support, it’s becoming unsustainably stressful. And with this realization, we as a company would like to say we see you, too.
As a company fully committed to the health and wellness of everyone in our community and beyond, this issue is of the utmost importance to IIN. Our core concept of bio-individuality doesn’t just mean that everyone’s bodies are different; it also means that every body, mind, and soul deserves a chance to better themselves.
Read More: Integrative Nutrition’s Secret to Total Health: Bio-Individuality
Parenting is one of the most crucial jobs there is, as they’re actively influencing and teaching the next generation. But parents don’t often get the same lenience or support that other jobs get, despite today’s apparent mental health crisis. The reality is that children do well when their parents do well, so we need to ensure that parents are equipped with the tools they need to handle the stressors of raising children.
As Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA eloquently puts it: “Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us.”
How IIN Can Help Manage Parental Stress
While it’s impossible to take away the stress that comes with parenting, there are ways to make it easier. At IIN, we firmly believe that with the right tools, you can lift at least some of the mental burden off of your shoulders. That is what our courses and resources are all about – helping people help themselves and others.
Through courses focused on nutrition and mental health, mindful eating, stress management, meditation, yoga, and so much more, you can learn how to care for yourself while you care for your little ones.
Remember IIN’s concept of bio-individuality that we mentioned earlier? That applies to stress, too: Each parent’s stress response is different, which means that every person needs a personalized approach to wellness. This is where IIN’s courses really shine — by equipping parents with practical strategies to help manage the stress that comes with helping their children develop.
Not only will these learned strategies help you, but you’ll likely find that they help your entire family thrive!
If you want to learn more about how IIN can help you manage your stress, check out this free Sample Class for the foundational Health Coach Training Program.
Want to learn more about managing stress? Make sure to attend our interactive virtual summit, Wellbeing 2024: Charting Your Path to Enhanced Health and Vitality. Register for free and join us on Friday, October 18th through Sunday, October 20th. On the final day of the three-day session, don't miss the Empowering Resilience and Sustainable Contribution in the Modern World panel featuring Ellen Vora, MD, and Vanessa Bennet, LMFT.
