Stress and Motherhood
Balancing the demands of motherhood has never been an easy task. Every day, moms are pulled in a million directions trying to meet the competing needs of their kids, their spouse, their friends and their job — and it often takes a toll on their mental health.
“One of the most common concerns I hear from mothers is that they are struggling to find a balance,” says Dayton Brasfield, LPC, a therapist at Right Track Medical Group. “It’s also common to have feelings of burnout — from needing to play all roles at all times.”
Unfortunately, these struggles have only been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents are serving as teacher or tutor while working to constantly engage and entertain children that are spending more time at home and less with their friends or involved in extracurricular activities.
“For many moms, the pandemic has made it hard to focus on the things they need to get done outside of parenting.”
— Dayton Brasfield, LPC
In fact, 74% of U.S. mothers say they feel mentally worse since the pandemic began, according to a survey by motherhood lifestyle brand Motherly.
“For many moms, the pandemic has made it hard to focus on the things they need to get done outside of parenting,” Brasfield says.
This is particularly true for mothers with young children who need more one-on-one attention, she adds.
“Many women feel like they are everyone’s rock,” Brasfield says. “There is a certain level of pressure when you take care of all the minute details for the whole family.”
For mothers struggling with the stress of parenting, Brasfield recommends that mothers take time for introspection and find a “groove” for coping with stressors. While there isn’t a standard set of coping skills that work for every person, Brasfield suggests stressed out mothers start with the following:
Get regular exercise
Eat a balanced diet
Implement a time management strategy that works for your unique needs
Limit time watching the news or scrolling through social media
Incorporate mindfulness or meditation into your daily routine
Practice a little bit of self-care — do something for yourself that makes you happy, whatever that may be
“Coping skills look different for everyone, but the key thing is to feel like you have gained control of your life again,” Brasfield said. “It’s important to know what works for you and what doesn’t.”
For some women, this could mean establishing a regular exercise or meditation routine, while for others it’s making dedicated time for hobbies they used to enjoy, like cooking or reading.
When this stress begins to impact your daily functioning or your relationships with your family in a negative way, however, it is time to reach out for professional help.