Motherhood

How Therapy Can Help Working Moms Overcome Burnout

August 29, 2024

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Burnout is a kind of stress many working moms may experience today due to the overwhelming work they have, from tasks at their jobs to taking care of their families. It can be rewarding yet very exhausting. The pressures of being a working mother are immense, and without the right support, burnout can severely impact a mom’s mental and physical health. 

Working moms are tired

Fortunately, therapy is a very effective opportunity for working moms to address these problems and bring balance and proper well-being back to their lives.

It not only helps mothers find out what is causing their stress but also set healthy limits, and focus on taking care of themselves. 

Understanding Burnout in Working Moms

Working mother burnout is a type of ongoing stress that comes from trying to balance work and family life.

It’s more than tiredness; it is an overwhelming feeling of being totally depleted, with respect to both mind and body, making them feel hopeless and disconnected. Burnout in working moms often arises from the continuous pressures expected of them to be perfect in all jobs they do, whether as a workers, mothers, or partners.

This pressure can worsen with what society expects from a woman, the lack of support, and all the guilt that is felt by many mothers when the expectations become hard to live up to.

Signs and Symptoms of Burnout for Working Moms

The process of getting help for burnout in working moms starts with seeing the signs. Common symptoms are:

  • Chronic Fatigue: A continuous sense of tiredness after having adequate nighttime sleep or an inability to shake off persistent feelings of exhaustion.
  • Irritability: Feeling more frustrated or angry about little things, which can complicate things at home and work.
  • Difficulty Concentrating: Difficulty concentrating on tasks at hand or making decisions, which leads to decreased productivity.
  • Emotional Detachment: Feeling emotionally numb or not connected to loved ones, including children.
  • Physical Symptoms: Headaches, tight muscles, stomach problems, and other health issues caused by stress.
  • Negative Thinking: A constant sense of failure or inadequacy, often accompanied by a harsh inner critic.

These symptoms are varied in intensity, but they all tend to point toward the need for help. Unless burnout is curbed, it may affect working moms on serious levels pertaining to mental and physical health, relationships, and jobs.

The Role of Therapy in Helping Working Moms with Burnout

It is a very beneficial option for working mothers who feel burnt out. A therapist for mothers creates a safe place where women can share their feelings, identify what triggers their stressors, and develop more adaptive ways of coping with them. 

Therapy will help a working mother take back control of her life and find her meaning once again, making it easier to juggle all of her roles effectively.

1. Understanding the Root Causes

One of the major benefits of the therapy is understanding what leads to burnout. A therapist for moms will help working mothers identify the particular stressors in their lives, whether it’s work pressure, family issues, or personal expectations. 

This is helpful because knowing their causes of stress will provide a starting point for dealing with these problems. Therapy encourages self-reflection and helps working moms see patterns of thinking and behavior that lead to their burnout.

2. Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms

It helps working moms with tools and techniques to respond to stressors in a much healthier way. This may include mindfulness practices, techniques for relaxation, and time management. 

For example, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is particularly very effective in helping individuals reframe their negative thinking patterns and ways of viewing things more positively and empowering. 

Because of more effective ways of dealing with stress, working moms don’t allow them to face burnout, hence keeping the work-life balance healthy. 

3. Setting Boundaries

One of the biggest challenges for working moms is setting limits-both at work and at home. Many moms feel guilty saying “no,” which leads them to take on too much. A therapist can help moms understand why setting limits is important and how they can clearly communicate their needs.

This might involve delegating tasks, negotiating more flexible work arrangements, or simply carving out time for self-care. By establishing clear boundaries, working moms can protect their time and energy, reducing the risk of burnout.

4. Prioritizing Self-Care

Therapy emphasizes the importance of self-care as a vital component of preventing and recovering from burnout.

Women who work often place the needs of others before their own, but therapy helps them realize that taking care of themselves is of utmost importance. A mom should do things that make her feel good, including exercising, holding onto some hobbies, and taking proper rest, following a therapist’s advice. 

When such working moms focus on self-care, they tend to feel rejuvenated and tackle all their tasks with a newfound enthusiasm.

5. Making Communication Skills Better

The one useful tool for managing the challenges associated with being a working mom is good communication. A working Mom will learn in therapy how she can effectively communicate better at work and home, state her needs and feelings without guilt, manage conflicts with assurance, and foster open and honest talks with her partner, children, and coworkers. 

Better communication can lead to the strengthening of relationships and the building of an enabling environment, both factors considered necessary to deter burnout.

6. Rediscover Purpose and Passion

Burnout often dulls people’s interests and drives in their work and at home. Thus, therapy can assist working moms in finding what is really important to them, whether it’s their job, family, or personal goals. 

Discovering the sense of purpose behind these can help moms get back the motivation they need to succeed in every part of their lives.

Such therapy creates a space for mothers to explore their values and aspirations so they may better align their actions with their innermost wishes.

Choosing the Right Therapist for Moms

It’s not like all therapists are great and can effectively provide solutions for you. One has to find the one who is able to see things probably a bit differently, the one who can understand the challenges you face.  A therapist for moms ideally can be anyone who has experience in working on issues with burnout in working moms and is also a very empathetic, reliable person for the mom to feel comfortable and supported sharing their bits with. 

A multitude of therapists offer special services for moms, including group therapy. When searching for a therapist, working moms should consider things like the therapist’s training, their way of helping people, and their availability. 

Some moms may prefer meeting in person, but others could find online therapy much easier to manage. The critical point is for the mother to select a therapist who fits her particular needs and situation.

Taking the First Step Toward Healing

The first realization in dealing with the burnout of working moms is that there exists a need for help. It is key to understand that asking for therapy is not a sign of your weakness; it is an active choice to take your health and happiness back. 

Therapy gives working mothers the support, tools, and plans to create limits and focus on their health. In a world that frequently demands so much from working moms, therapy gives them a space to slow down, reflect, and restore their energy.

It helps moms take charge, make decisions based on their values, and face their responsibilities with new strength and determination. 

To Conclude

Working mom burnout is a serious issue that affects countless women every day. Pressure to maintain a working track record and a track record at home might be just too much sometimes, which can cause a lot of chronic stress and tiredness. 

However, therapy offers a path to recovery and resilience. Talking to a therapist for moms in order for them to understand the reason behind feeling burnt out and also ways to cope with it, set limits, and find their purpose once again. 

If you are a working mom who feels very tired and stressed, never feel that you are alone because there is help available for you. Therapy can be very helpful, giving you the support required to cope with the working mother’s difficulty and be stronger, healthier, and happier. 

Lynsey Retzlaff is a mindset and mental wellness speaker, working mom coach, and licensed therapist. She is a mother of two and has over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. Through this experience, she has helped countless moms to rediscover their strength, peace, and purpose, making her an invaluable ally in their journey to well-being.

If you’re someone who would like to rediscover yourself, consider reaching out to Lynsey Retzlaff for an online session.

You don’t wait until the stress affects your life; get better today and start on the road to a happier, balanced life.

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