Cognitive Reframing for Strengthening Resilience
The Impact of Prolonged Stress on Maternal Brain Health Stress is a natural part of life, and in short bursts, it can actually enhance focus and motivation. But when stress is constant and unrelieved, it starts to wear down the brain. When exposed to stress for long periods of time, the brain shifts into survival mode. The amygdala, the brain’s internal alarm system, stays on high alert, scanning for danger, even in the absence of an immediate threat. At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps a person think clearly, make decisions, and maintain emotional balance, has a harder time doing its job.
Mothers are encouraged to build mental flexibility, the ability to see challenges from different angles. By practicing cognitive reframing, they can learn to shift from rumination to problem- solving, and from fear-based thinking to possibility thinking. + COGNITIVE RESETS: Taking brief brain breaks every 90 minutes to prevent fatigue + GUIDED VISUALIZATION: Rehearsing calm responses and visualizing mental safe spaces + MINDFULNESS MICROPRACTICES: Breathing or doing a grounding exercise for three to five minutes
The body’s reaction to stress is not a personal failure; it’s biology, and it can show up in ways that feel deeply familiar.
THIS CAN LEAD TO: + Difficulty concentrating and prioritizing tasks + Mood swings, anxiety, and irritability + Poor sleep, memory loss, and reduced patience.
+ EVENING GRATITUDE REFLECTIONS: Focusing attention on what went well to rewire stress responses
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