Are you a tired mother? Learn how to deal with maternal burnout

The tired mother is a frequent image in motherhood, however it should not be romanticized. When exhaustion intensifies, emotional fatigue, burnout, and burnout maternal. Psychologist Adriane Maragno (CRP 08/15253) explains the seriousness of the matter, the symptoms, the causes and how to help those who are going through it. Follow the article!

Tired mother: what is exhaustion in motherhood

Behind a tired mother, there is a historical overload, a social and cultural demand, an accumulation of tasks and, most of the time, little help. The stereotype of the ideal mother is one who sacrifices herself for the child, works outside the home, takes care of the house, does not complain, in short, a wonder woman. The absent father is not socially charged. However, there comes a time when exhaustion speaks louder and then comes the burnout maternal.

burnout maternal

According to psychologist Adriane Maragno, it is natural for a mother to feel tired, after all, taking care of a child demands a lot of energy, attention and commitment. However, there is the myth of happy motherhood that hides the reality. Many women need to balance family, work and social life, others live the family nucleus intensely. Machismo ‘frees’ man from active participation. Then the stress increases, there is no rest and the feeling of exhaustion is constant. All this is an indication of burnout maternal, that is, a state of physical and mental overload.

Adriane Maragno rescues the so-called Syndrome of burnout characterized by extreme emotional exhaustion associated with the intense pace of work. So, following logic, the burnout maternal is a psychic disorder caused by exhaustion and by the great emotional tension that mothers experience daily with the accumulation of functions.

It is not mere tiredness, but a constant feeling of exhaustion that influences well-being, quality of life, maternal obligations, professional commitments, etc. Next, learn about the main symptoms.

Symptoms of burnout maternal

O burnout maternal disease manifests itself through both physical and psychological symptoms. They can appear together, separately and at different scales. Next, the psychologist listed the main ones. Check out!

physical symptoms

The symptoms of excessive tiredness reflect on the physical condition of the mothers. Below, see some of them:

It is worth mentioning that a symptom alone does not indicate the burnout maternal. However, if tiredness, physical pain and emotional exhaustion persist, it is important to seek professional help.

psychological symptoms

Mental health is linked to physical health, when one does not go well, the other follows. The psychological symptoms caused by burnout maternal include:

You need to be aware of the symptoms. There is no such thing as a perfect motherhood. Feelings of anger, insecurity and pessimism are common in everyone’s life, however, excess is exhausting and needs to be taken care of.

Why are mothers so tired?

Maragno explains that mothers face a triple journey: they have to deal with work, family and household chores. “The accumulation of functions generates tension and the arrival of the child causes changes in the routine. From the birth of the baby to the age of three is the period with the highest occurrence of burnout mother, because the child is totally dependent on the mother”, informs the professional.

Thus, many women face difficulties in dealing with the new routine, and the stress is prolonged due to the attempt to reconcile all the day-to-day functions. “This difficulty in managing activities makes us think about the possibility that the mother is experiencing the burnout maternal”.

Still, it is super valid to point out that motherhood itself is not responsible for the burnout. Excessive tiredness is triggered by the way the woman is experiencing this moment, her overload of responsibilities and how much help she receives.

How to deal with the problem

During motherhood, women increasingly reduce self-care to dedicate themselves to the needs of their children. However, some actions can prevent a frame of burnoutbetween them:

• Having a support network: during this period, the support of friends, family and professionals is important. Whether in household activities, child care or to talk about maternal concerns.
• Do different activities: it is not healthy to live for a single function. Carrying out activities not related to motherhood helps women to occupy their minds, find lightness and new passions.
• It is not possible to take care of everything: It is normal not to be able to handle all the daily tasks. The mother needs to keep this in mind, as overload is unhealthy.
• Make time for self-care: personal care is a great ally. A woman needs time for herself, to do what she likes and to rest.
• Seek psychological assistance: noticing the signs of burnout, seek professional help. Psychotherapy is a great ally for the mother in a process of self-discovery.

The recommendations indicated are alternatives to prevent the burnout maternal. Don’t wait for the peak of burnout and don’t be shy about asking for help, as motherhood doesn’t have to be lonely.

How to help a tired mother

The mother doesn’t have to deal with the burnout alone, as that too is tiring. However, people close to you are often reluctant to assume there is a problem. Partner, family and friends can help, here’s how:

• Not judging and not blaming the mother: the greater the pressure, the more the woman will feel guilty and helpless. So, don’t discount her tiredness and don’t blame her for not being able to handle all the activities.
• Show empathy: empathy is key to understanding what the mother is going through. Pay attention to details, non-verbal communication, and other clues.
• Make yourself available to help: support is comforting. People close to you can help with household chores, spend time with the child, go to the pharmacy, etc. Show that you want to help.
• Be an active listener: make it clear that the mother can vent, ask for help, advice, or just make small talk with you. Being a good listener counts a lot!
• Take care not to show up at inopportune times: the ideal is always to let you know when you go to visit the mother. The days are very uncertain, living with a child is a box of surprises. So, it’s not every time the mother will be ready to welcome someone.

The support of the personal circle is indispensable and fundamental. Thus, the mother will be able to take care of herself, will be motivated and will be able to spend quality time with the child.

Stories from tired mothers

After presenting the causes and effects of the burnout mother, check out some reports of mothers who have gone through or are still going through this situation of exhaustion.

time for them

Presenter Sabrina Sato talks to two mothers who have very different stories about motherhood. Despite this, both feel the same feeling of extreme tiredness. Women still report what they do to get some time off.

Discover a mother’s routine

The day to day of a mother is an unknown, anything can happen, nothing is defined. The youtuber Cristal Barujo is a mother of 3 children and shows her routine. She tries to dedicate her time to taking care of the children, the house and herself.

rants about motherhood

Postpartum, also called puerperium, can trigger several reactions. In this video, youtuber Fernanda Pupo tells how it was to face this phase. She had to deal with baby blues it’s the burnout maternal.

Finally, it is worth emphasizing how much motherhood is something personal, that is, each woman experiences this moment in a particular way. You also need to consider a number of other factors, such as the health of the child and the support the woman receives. These issues and others are portrayed in films about motherhood.