The Surprising Symptom of Mom Burnout You Can't Ignore

Being a mom can be one of life's greatest joys, but it can also be incredibly challenging, leading many to experience burnout. While exhaustion and overwhelm are commonly associated with burnout, there's a surprising symptom that's often overlooked. We will shed light on this symptom, explore the causes behind it, and provide solutions to help you combat mom burnout and improve your quality of life. So, Mama, if you are feeling run down, keep reading, because this information can change everything.

What is Mom Burnout?

Mom burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that results from the demands of motherhood. While burnout can happen to anyone, moms are especially susceptible due to the many roles we juggle, including caretaker, cook, chauffeur, and career woman. Burnout symptoms can range from exhaustion and irritability to anxiety and depression.

As moms, we experience burnout because we do so much for our families, friends, coworkers, in our jobs, and in our lives, without seeking support, setting appropriate boundaries around our time and energy or taking time for ourselves. Even if we do, we may feel guilty for taking a break, asking for help, or setting boundaries which leads to increased stress and further adds to our feelings of overwhelm and ultimate burnout.

If you're experiencing mom burnout, it's important to understand that you're not alone and that there are ways to overcome it. By setting boundaries, seeking support, and taking time for self-care, you can combat burnout and improve your quality of life.

The Surprising Symptom of Mom Burnout

This surprising symptom of mom burnout is something that often goes unnoticed, even by the moms experiencing it. It's apathy. Apathy towards life and motherhood can be a distressing sign that something is wrong, yet it doesn't receive the same attention as exhaustion, irritability or anger. Feeling numb or indifferent towards your life, your spouse, and your children can be a difficult thing to admit, which means many moms suffer in silence. However, recognizing and addressing this symptom is critical in combating burnout.

Why This Symptom Goes Overlooked

Despite the prevalence of mom burnout, the symptom of emotional detachment often goes overlooked. This stems from a societal expectation that mothers should always be nurturing and emotionally available to their families, their spouse and their children. Many women feel ashamed or guilty for experiencing a lack of emotional connection to anyone or anything, leading them to keep quiet about their struggles.

Additionally, emotional detachment is not as easily identifiable as other symptoms like anger, exhaustion or irritability. It may manifest as a general feeling of numbness or a lack of interest in activities and relationships that previously brought joy. Since it’s not as noticeable, it can be easier to brush it off as a passing phase rather than a serious issue.

However, emotional detachment is a significant red flag that should not be ignored. It can be a sign of more severe burnout and can greatly impact a mother’s overall well-being. By acknowledging and addressing this symptom, women can better combat their burnout and improve their mental health.

How to Combat Mom Burnout and Improve Your Well-Being

One of the most effective ways to combat mom burnout and improve your well-being is by prioritizing self-care. It's essential to take care of one's physical, mental, and emotional needs to avoid feeling overwhelmed and disconnected.

Self-care can take many forms, but it needs to be restorative for it to work. Think of what relaxes you, brings you joy, gets you in flow, and really fills up your cup. It could be taking a bubble bath, reading a book, participating in some kind of mindfulness practice, going for a walk, going to a fun event, or a girl's trip with friends. It will look different for every mom. The important thing is to find what works for you and make it a regular part of your routine. Recruit your spouse and partner to support your self-care time and do your best to make this time non-nebotiable even with yourself. Remember, it's not selfish to prioritize your own well-being; it's totally necessary.

Another way to combat mom burnout is by seeking support from loved ones or professionals. It's okay to ask for help when you need it, whether it's from a partner, family member, or therapist. Sometimes, just talking about your feelings with someone who understands can provide relief and help you feel less alone.

Finally, setting realistic expectations and boundaries is crucial for combating mom burnout. It's easy to fall into the trap of trying to do it all, but it's not sustainable or healthy. Being honest with yourself about what you can realistically handle and saying no when necessary can help prevent burnout and improve your overall well-being.

By implementing these strategies, as mothers we can combat burnout, prioritize our own well-being, and improve our emotional connection to ourselves, our spouses, our children, friends and other loved ones.

What are some of your non-negotiable self-care practices? Share them in the comments below.