BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

This Mom's Viral Video Perfectly Captures What It's Like to Parent With Anxiety

It’s like she’s living our life.
save article
profile picture of Ashley Edwards Walker
By Ashley Edwards Walker, Contributing Writer
Published July 16, 2018

There are so many different ways stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your body and brain pre-, during, and post-pregnancy. Whether it’s obsessive fretting about geting pregnant, agonizing over all the possible ways you could harm your baby in utero, or losing sleep thanks to postpartum anxiety, you are not alone. In fact, 33 percent of women will experience an anxiety disorder at some point during their lifetime.

That’s probably why this latest video from Tiffany Jenkins of the popular blog Juggling the Jenkins has gone viral—so many people can relate to the struggle of living with anxiety, especially when you’re a parent and have little ones to care for in addition to yourself.

In the video, which is the second installment of a two-part series, the first of which she released in May, Jenkins hilariously nails exactly what it’s like to be a mom living with anxiety—or really what it’s like to be anyone living with anxiety.

The video starts off with Jenkins asleep in bed until her anxiety (played by a goth version of Jenkins, obviously) kindly wakes her up.

“It’s time to wake up,” Anxiety tells her. “We’ve got a lot to do today. We’re not going to get any of it done, but we will spend a lot of time obsessing over it.”

Sound familiar? Yeah, to us too.

Next, Jenkins’ daughter asks her if she can sleepover at a friend’s house, to which Jenkins says yes—until her anxiety makes her reconsider.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa no,” her anxiety chastises her. “Have you not seen Chris Hanson’s To Catch a Predator? She’s going to end up on Dateline.”

Jenkins then quickly retracts her permission for the sleepover, offering this infamous mom excuse instead: “Maybe next week.”

Throughout the video, Jenkins’ anxiety also talks her out of calls and plans with friends, convinces her that her appendix is probably going to burst any second, and ensures that she has a horrible time falling asleep by reminding her that she has to go to the grocery store and put gas in the car in the morning even though her debit card might not work.

The whole thing, which you can watch in full below, feels hilariously accurate.

The sketch, which had already been viewed more than 6 million times as we went to press, resonated with many of her followers.

“My life in a nut shell. Every. Single. Day,” one woman wrote in the comments.

“You really hit the nail on the head with this video!” wrote another. “So true especially the moment you lay down, constant thoughts!

“My anxiety gives me cancer and any other terminal illness in the world,” confessed a third. “It kidnaps my son, leaves him trapped in a burning house with no way out (all in my head of course) tells me I’m too fat to wear that, won’t let me hangout with people because I might actually have to talk, and me and my anxiety both know I’m not as cool as I should be. I’m tired, I’m stressed, and it’s just plain exhausting. Side note: It feels good to know that I’m not alone in this. Thanks for your honesty.”

The best part? Jenkins ends the videos by assuring viewers struggling with anxiety that it’s okay to ask for help, which is absolutely true.

If you’re dealing with anxiety or any type of mental health concern, there are resources available to help. And you can start here, with these 11 tips aimed at helping you de-stress.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mom looking at baby napping
Viral Video Jokes About the All-to-Real Naptime Freedom Paralysis
By Wyndi Kappes
funny tiktok video of dad gentle parenting
One Dad's "Gentle Parenting With Malicious Intent" TikTok Goes Viral
By Wyndi Kappes
costumed creepy easter bunny
15 Hilarious Photo Fails of Kids Meeting the Easter Bunny
By Ashlee Neuman
ADVERTISEMENT
close up of lit candles on a birthday cake
Mom Hilariously Opens Up About Celebrating Son’s Birthday on the Wrong Day
By Nehal Aggarwal
This Reddit Thread Is Celebrating Moms and All Their #MomFail Moments
This Reddit Thread Is Celebrating Moms and All Their #MomFail Moments
By Nehal Aggarwal
Annoying Things Almost All Parents Say
Annoying Things Almost All Parents Say
By Elena Donovan Mauer
20 slides
20 Funny Baby Onesies for Future Jokesters
20 Funny Baby Onesies for Future Jokesters
By Emily Platt
ADVERTISEMENT
you're mom illustrated humorous book cover
Liz Climo’s New Picture Book for Adults Is the Content Parents Need
By Nehal Aggarwal
amy schumer with her bay son and husband walking in the park
The Hilarious Reason Amy Schumer Changed Her Son's Name
By Nehal Aggarwal
celebrity chrissy teigen
Chrissy Teigen Just Wants a Few Minutes Alone and Every Mom Can Relate
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
amy schumer walks in rainy city street
Amy Schumer Shares Hilarious Parenting Hack on Her YouTube Channel
By Nehal Aggarwal
babies dressed up for valentines day in a chocolate heart box
Babies Dressed as Valentine’s Day Chocolates Are Too Cute to Handle
By Nehal Aggarwal
parents nap on couch at newborn shoot
Exhausted Parents Adorably Fall Asleep During Baby’s Photoshoot
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Happy baby wearing a onesie thats "born awesome."
25 Reasons Babies Rock
By Lissa Poirot and Sarah Yang
elf on the shelf fails
The Funniest Elf on the Shelf Fails of the Season
By Christin Perry
chrissy teigen holding her toddler daughter
Chrissy Teigen Says No One Takes Photos of Her and Moms Can Relate
By Nehal Aggarwal
toddler holds envelope addressed to santa
18 Kids Who Wrote the Cutest Letters to Santa
By Holly Pevzner
ADVERTISEMENT
baby monitor with red filter
Scary Baby Monitor Image Is Going Viral and the Comments Are Hilarious
By Nehal Aggarwal
little girl sitting on steps with pumpkins
Moms Are Carving Pumpkins to Replicate “Mom Life”—and It’s Hilarious
By Nehal Aggarwal
Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse available to rent on Airbnb
You Can Stay at Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse—for Only $60 a Night
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.