Feel like I’m going insane!

I keep getting fight or flight level overwhelm and I hate it! My baby was a dream of a newborn but now he’s nearly 5 months he’s tough sometimes! I think the sleep regression is hitting his daytime sleep as he realllllly struggles to nod off and stay asleep! He gets overtired and whingey and the noise makes me want to scream! Add to that a dad who just expects me to crack on because he’s always too busy, 2 step kids who mean well but just add to overstimulation (for me and baby) a dog who is constantly under my feet and a house to manage and keep on top of and I just keep losing it! I get to the point where the baby won’t sleep and is crying and the kids are being noisy and the dog is in the way and I just feel like I’m drowning and need to scream! Someone please tell me there’s something I can do to stop myself losing it, overreacting and crying then hating myself for it and arguing with my partner about the outburst 😭 trying to explain that I really don’t want to be like this but I can’t help it 😢partner understands I’m struggling but only to a point - the support stops abruptly if I have a wobble

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My advice would be to take a bit of a break even 5 mins in the bathroom on your own to just sit and breathe. I went through this at around 5 months too I remember days of crying and feeling overwhelmed and I don’t have the step kids/dog/unhelpful partner so I can only imagine how hard it is! It gets sooo much better as the months go on though, mine is 9m now and it’s worlds apart. Hope you’re able to take a breather and things get better soon x

Try loop earplugs I have ADHD and have three boys two dogs am pregnant again and a house to run and it just quiets the overwhelming noises on the days I need x

Thanks both for the suggestions I will definitely look at the loops! If I’m on my own I can have a minute of peace every now and then but it tends to happen at that transition time where I’m trying to get the baby to sleep when partner and step kids come in all excited and loud and then the dog gets all excited to see them then the baby has no chance of sleep and I get completely mind blown 🤯

Yep, I don’t have the step kids but my husband works 12 hour shifts and often all weekend so I have my 4 year old and my baby and a dog who loved to be underfoot (why do they just add to the stress! 😂) I also have ADHD and completely agree that the loops are a godsend. Are the kids old enough to understand what feeling overwhelmed is? We model really open communication about feeling with our son and if I’m feeling really overwhelmed and he’s being too noisy I just tell him that. It helps we have done this from the start but he’s pretty receptive to it. Sometimes I think it’s really healthy for kids to see that adults can get overwhelmed too. I just say right I am feeling overstimulated so me and the baby are going to go upstairs for a bit and be quiet, let me know if you need anything… completely depends on their ages but they may surprise you.

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