Stress and Burnout in Motherhood

The MOTHERLOAD…

…is what I call the mental load of motherhood. This load consumes your thoughts day and night.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or work outside the home, you are responsible for keeping your family’s lives together. A never-ending to-do list leaves you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.

There is no time for self-care; you define “me time” as going to the bathroom without a kid hanging onto your leg.

You keep struggling to find joy in parenthood and yearn for a break. On top of it all, you feel like a failure for not being able to handle it all and guilty for feeling this way.

“Everyone else can do this – why can’t I?”

We live in a society where everyone seems to put their lives on public display for the world to see.

While scrolling through the photos of friends and influencers with their kids, you see coordinating outfits for the kids, engaging in fun and educational activities, followed by a family dinner (cooked from scratch from their home-grown garden).

Oh! And the moms look like they came off a magazine shoot, and their homes look like the “after photos” on a home-flipping show.

Meanwhile, you are barely holding it together. These visions of great moms leave you feeling like a failure.

Comparison to others increases your burnout.

Trying to meet these unrealistic expectations that you see in others has led you to experience burnout.

When a parent experiences burnout, they may feel mentally and physically exhausted. As a result, they are more likely to have less patience with their partner or children (short fuse), feel disconnected from others, feel guilty for not being a “perfect” parent, feel anxious about the future, or experience extreme anger or rage.

Parents may even find themselves questioning their choice to become a parent or feel like they are not “cut out for this” or that their children deserve someone “better,” which can lead to “escapist” fantasies.

But here’s the thing to remember. The problem is that those snapshots you see represent posed and curated moments – most likely with a filter and do not represent a realistic portrayal of the day-to-day life of a family.

Let’s work together to give you balance in place of burnout!

With my knowledge from not only clinical but lived experiences, I can help you identify your priorities, implement personal and professional boundaries, and redefine your identity and role in your life. You are more than just a mom and partner!

I will create a space where you feel safe and supported to express your feelings and thoughts without judgment or criticism.

We will collaborate to develop an individualized plan, depending on your unique challenges and strengths. We will address where you are now and establish goals for where you would like to be.

Contact me right now for a complimentary 20-minute consultation. It’s my pleasure and honor to help you.