Recognizing and Addressing Parental Burnout: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions

2024-02-06 18:06:24

As mothers, we want to keep too many balls high at the same time: a perfect social life, success at work and then also constant care for our children, who need attention 24/7. All those responsibilities pile up quickly, and before we know it we feel burned out, stressed and lethargic.

Sometimes this feeling is so intense that there is parental burnout: simply a gigantic war of attrition for parents. It’s because of the endless stress of parenting and often happens when you completely forget yourself in the hustle and bustle of parenthood.

Picture perfect

Social media can contribute to this. The ‘perfect picture’ we are confronted with and the digital opinions of others about how it should be done, create the feeling that we have to be accountable for how well you are doing as a mother. It may also be that you definitely want to do things differently than your parents in their upbringing, so you set the bar extra high. Everyone wants to be a good parent, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, things go wrong when you fail to take care of yourself.

Also read – ‘Mom has a burnout: ‘I ended up in a life that was draining me”

Time for yourself

It’s essential to take time for yourself every now and then, even if it’s just an hour a day. By first recharging your own energy, there will be enough left to be a better mother. Ultimately, your children benefit more from a parent who occasionally takes time for self-care than from a parent who invests all their time in them. If you can no longer see the wood for the trees and you really no longer enjoy parenting, you may be experiencing parental burnout.

The signs of parental burnout

The feeling of failure as a parent: Constantly comparing yourself to other parents can lead to a feeling of inadequacy.

No longer the efficient all-rounder: Where you used to run the family like a general, it now looks more like a circus without clear direction.

Always tired: Even after sleeping in or having a day off, the energy boost from the past seems to have disappeared.

Stressed: The daily routine feels like a military operation, and if you don’t let go of that agitated feeling, the stress piles up.

Last: The loving parent seems less and less present, and caring for your child feels more like a burden than a pleasure.

Irritability: From indifference to a short fuse. Getting angry more quickly and having less patience are signs that you need to take a break.

No satisfaction from parenting: What used to bring pleasure now brings fatigue, irritation and frustration.

Do you recognize yourself in this?

Take it easy! It does not immediately mean a burnout. For example, if you have always suffered from depression, you cannot clearly speak of parental burnout. Even if it were a burnout due to work, you can still enjoy taking care of your children. But if these feelings persist and even others notice them, it’s time to sound the alarm. You’re a great parent, but you can’t manage everything on your own. Time to ask for help!

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