Burnt Out Mother – Stress On Motherhood

Although motherhood is very rewarding, it is sometimes an incredible amount of work. The syndrome of “burnt out mother” is a good example of how difficult it actually is to be a mother to children.

Many women get burned out while raising their little ones from all the stress and fatigue that comes with the responsibilities associated with the role of mother.

A burnt out mother is characterized by a chronic depressive condition. In the most serious cases, it can have very unpleasant consequences. It is therefore a much more serious problem than fatigue or temporary depression.

The most common symptoms are sleep problems, weakness, chronic fatigue, digestive problems and head and back pain.

1. Emotional exhaustion

Each person has a certain endurance that consists of physical and psychological energy. A mother’s daily responsibilities usually burn all this energy, until she becomes completely exhausted.

The mother may then feel anxiety due to her many tasks.

2. Emotional disconnection

To protect and care for their little ones, a mother must establish defense mechanisms. She can continue to perform her daily chores mechanically, but does not have the emotional investment that would have been optimal.

It can lead to her feeling a distance from her child, her partner or her daily life.

3. Imagination vs reality

The last phase of exhaustion is probably the most worrying. At this point, the mother realizes the growing gap between what she imagined as the perfect motherhood and the actual reality.

Reality runs counter to the idealized concept of being a mother, and it can make her feel like she’s failed. It causes loss of self-esteem and can even result in aggression towards the child.

Taking care of both children and the home is a real job, and sometimes mothers are not valued for all their work. Women who return to work may not have the time or energy to deal with all the difficult situations at home.

Perfectionism

Sometimes exhaustion is due to perfectionism. It is important to remember that perfection does not exist. Do not try to be a perfect mother. You need help and understanding when tackling everything you are responsible for.

The big disappointment

The reality of motherhood differs greatly from the idealized fantasies that are often displayed. The difficulties and responsibilities are enormous.

It is important that you forget the concept of the “perfect mother”, because she does not exist. Motherhood in reality consists of both good and bad moments.

There is nothing that typically characterizes women who are at risk of being burned out. It can actually affect everyone. It also does not take into account whether it is your first child or not.

It can happen at any time – immediately after birth or months or years later.

There are a few risk factors, such as having twins or several children around the same age. This entails an increased workload for the parents and can lead to a burnt out mother.

Single mothers are also at higher risk because they may lack the support they need to raise children.

The most important and effective way to start feeling better is to realize that the perfect mother does not exist. Do not hesitate to share how you feel with people around you. You can even talk to other moms.

If you feel you need help from a specialist, talk to a psychologist.

Delegating certain tasks to family members or your partner is also a matter of course. Single mothers can find support from family and friends. Kindergarten can also be a good mainstay.