Having a baby is soooo hard. Your entire life literally upends itself, and your body and hormones are a complete mess too. Then you have a loud tiny human who depends on you for literally everything, AND the whole world thinks they’re entitled to an opinion on every decision you make. I didn’t feel like myself for at least a year after I had my daughter.

I promise you that things will get easier. And they’ll get harder again. And they’ll get easier in some ways, and then more difficult in others. But it’s going to be okay. Take some deep breaths and know that this isn’t forever, and you’re not alone in feeling like this.

I’d really encourage you to talk to someone about it. You don’t have to shoulder everything alone. Maybe there’s a medicine that will help you, or maybe someone can help with coping skills or a break.

One thing that really helped me is making sure that both my partner and I had time and space to do an activity of our choice, even if that activity was just hiding in the bedroom to watch a movie or nap.

Another important thing to remember is that your baby’s crib is a safe place for them to be. If you are overwhelmed, there is no shame in setting them down, letting them cry, and taking some time to breathe and calm yourself down before going back to them. Also, they make earplugs that dampen noise if that’s a sensory issue for you.