Some anxiety, eustress, can help you stay on track and get things done. However, intense, prolonged, or excessive worry is not healthy.

You may be experiencing:

• Feeling nervous

• Increased heart rate

• Sweating

• Trembling

• Trouble sleeping

• Concentration troubles

• Thoughts of hurting yourself

• Hopelessness

• Life is not worth living

When to seek assistance:

• Your worry is interfering with your ability to get things done

• Your busy mind is regularly keeping you from getting good sleep

• Anxiety is getting in the way of relationships

• Anxiety is getting in the way of being the kind of parent you want to be

• You have thoughts of suicide or are harming yourself

It's important to note that:

• Postpartum can begin within days or even months of giving birth

• Postpartum depression can affect your child's developmental outcomes

When to seek assistance:

• Your low mood has lasted for 2 or more weeks

• You notice you are self-medicating (drugs or alcohol)

• Your mood is making it hard for you to be the kind of parent you aspire to b

• Your mood is getting in the way of relationships and getting things done

• You are isolating yourself

• You have thoughts of harming yourself

• You have thoughts of harming your baby 

• Postpartum psychosis can be severe for mom and baby. If these symptoms occur, it is important that mom receives medical assistance immediately.

Studies shows that more than 75% of the population has experienced at least one adverse childhood event. Trauma takes many different forms:

• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

• Birth trauma

• Childhood neglect

• Having family members with a substance disorder

• Traumatic birth of your child or baby having to stay in the NICU

• Community violence

• Natural disaster

• Poverty and discrimination

• Generational/historical trauma

You may be feeling:

• Overwhelmed

• Vulnerable

• Betrayed

• Helpless

• Frightened

• Alone

You may be experiencing:

• Anxiousness

• Having a hard time feeling positive emotions

• Having challenges parenting the way you want to 

• Concentration troubles

• Feeling irritable or on edge

• Emotionally distancing (from others as well as yourself)

• Numbness

Trauma and the way you deal with it is as individual as you. The way you deal with trauma is influences by the support you have access to: cultural influences, spiritual beliefs, how you and those around you construct meaning about the trauma, and how the larger system treats you in response to your trauma. 

Untreated trauma has been linked to greater risk of physical and behavioral health problems in adulthood, negative parent and child outcomes, and relationship problems.

When to seek assistance:

• The sooner, the better. 

You matter and seeking support can help you live a full life in spite of your experiences. It takes great courage to start talking about what you have experiences, and you deserve to feel better!

Student parents are more likely to use academic supports more often. It can help to familiarize yourself with services available to students and how to recognize when a student is struggling to help refer them to resources. 

How to recognize struggling students:

• Poor time management

• Avoiding interactions or getting distracted during lectures

• Showing signs of frustration, anger, or anxiety

• Changes in attendance or showing up late

• Not turning in assignments

Know the unique stressors faced by student parents: 

Student parents are more likely to experience:

• Isolation and disconnection from campus

• Difficulty balancing life commitments: family time, childcare, coursework, employment

• Increased stress and anxiety

• Guilt related to not spending as much time as they would like with their children

• Challenges with finances or access to basic needs

• More likely to be facing food insecurity

• More likely to experience distress and panic attacks

How to help student parents: 

Incorporate flexibility for student parents:

• Offer asynchronous learning options to help student parents complete their coursework when it better suits their schedule

• Consider flexible attendance policies and excused absences for student parents who may be navigating unforeseen challenges with childcare, sickness, transportation, etc.

• Facilitate opportunities for student parents to connect with each other outside of class

• Offer virtual office hours

Be able to help connect your student parents to campus and community resources such as Pierpont's Support Services: access@pierpont.edu | 304-534-7878.