Barriers to Trusting Our Intuition

It can be hard to know the difference between perinatal anxiety and our intuition telling us something is actually wrong.

One of the first steps that can be helpful is trying to address the physical symptoms of potential anxiety.

This is because, when we are anxious, the thinking part of our brain - the part that can help us tap into logic and reason - may be having a difficult time working, and we are primarily operating from the emotional and survival parts of our brain.

Using calming practices, such as breathing techniques, can be a way to bring our thinking brain back online.

However, even when the thinking brain is working again, there is another potential barrier that may get in the way of assessing anxiety vs. intuition: the negative beliefs we hold for ourselves.

And, a very common negative belief that impacts our ability to trust our intuition is “I am being dramatic/over-reacting/too emotional”.

This negative belief is a deep rooted one; often beginning in early childhood.People who have this belief:

• Often feel they are “too much” for others

• May have been told by their caregivers to “stop crying”

• Had their emotions frequently dismissed by others in their life

A lot of people who hold this belief learn to trust other people’s opinions and judgments over their own.

I was one of those people in my first pregnancy. Despite *knowing* something was wrong, I believed my doctor’s opinion over my own. 

Unfortunately, I went on to develop severe pre-eclampsia; and, while I wish I had advocated more for myself sooner, I took that life lesson with me, and reclaimed my pregnancy and birth experiences with my second daughter. 

If your intuition is trying to tell you something, please trust it.

If you think it could be anxiety, try some calming techniques first.

But if that intuition remains, please trust it

You have every right to advocate for yourself, especially when it comes to your health.

If you are interested in getting more information, insight, and resources from me, click here to get access to my weekly email!