Help For Single Mothers
Who Feel Stressed and Overwhelmed
by www.Sedona.com
There are nearly 14 million single parents in the United States, 84 percent of whom are moms, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Just in time for Mother’s Day, here is some long overdue help for single mothers, including added support and encouragement to keep you and your family going strong.
“Single mothers have the same challenges as all mothers with the added pressure of having to deal with parenthood alone,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “All mothers feel a tremendous sense of responsibility and even sometimes burden in addition to all the joy that comes from having a baby. When a mother is alone she's missing a lot of the usual support that new mothers have.”
In many ways, single moms feel the whirlwind of emotions that come with having children in an even more intense way than co-parents do. Of course, that means more excitement, joy, elation, and love, but at the other end of the spectrum are the difficult emotions that often arise, like fear, anger, anxiety, loneliness and overwhelm.
As the American Psychological Association (APA) puts it:
“Life in a single parent household -- though common -- can be quite stressful for the adult and the children. Members may unrealistically expect that the family can function like a two-parent family, and may feel that something is wrong when it cannot.
The single parent may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of juggling caring for the children, maintaining a job and keeping up with the bills and household chores. And typically, the family's finances and resources are drastically reduced following the parents' breakup.”
Further, the APA points out that single moms face additional struggles that two-parent households may not have to deal with, including:
- Visitation and custody problems
- The effects of continuing conflict between the parents
- Less opportunity for parents and children to spend time together
- Effects of the breakup on children's school performance and peer relations
- Disruptions of extended family relationships
- Problems caused by the parents' dating and entering new relationships
An Essential Helping Hand for Every Single Mom
Ideally, as a single mom you will be able to carve out other sources of support in your life, like family members, friends, neighbors, church groups, support groups and so on.
But even if your outside support is very limited, it’s important to realize that you are enough, just as you are. A key way to getting this knowledge to sink in is learning how to let go of draining feelings of anxiety, fear, depression or inadequacy.
If releasing your negative emotions is difficult for you, as it is for most of us, The Sedona Method can show you how to tap in to your inner ability to do this. It’s simple, quick and scientifically proven.
“The Sedona Method is a wonderful support for all mothers including single moms. It helps lessen the emotional weight that comes from being responsible for another human being,” Dwoskin says. “It also helps parents love their children no matter how challenging they are.”
“The best thing to do if you’re a single mom is to remember that if you are having feelings about your situation or about your child, they are simply feelings. They are not you, and they are not facts, and you can let go,” he continues.
When you release your negative emotions with The Sedona Method, you will be free to let in all the joy surrounding your child, and no longer feel weighed down by fear or stress. If you know a single mom out there this Mother’s Day, this is the ultimate gift you could give her.
Sources
APA Help Center: Single Parenting and Today’s Family
About.com Single Parents | 
