Why Motherhood Feels Overwhelming (and how to cope)
There are days in Motherhood when it can all feel like too much. The noise, the questions, the mess, the needs. The invisible mental load you carry before your feet even hit the floor.
You love your children deeply - and still feel overwhelmed. Both can be true.
Feeling overwhelmed in motherhood isn’t a sign you are failing. It’s often a sign that your nervous system is overloaded. Moms these days are carrying so much: parenting with intention, healing generational patterns, managing households, working, maintaining relationships, and trying to practice any kind of self care somewhere in between.
It makes sense that it all feels like too much sometimes.
What’s Really Happening
When you feel snappy, teary, numb, or like all you can do is escape into your phone - that’s not you being a “bad mom”. That’s a nervous system that has shifted into survival mode. And when your nervous system is dysregulated, your capacity shrinks.
Gentle Ways to Cope
You don’t need a weekend away in silence, or even a full hour alone (though that would be nice!). Micro-moments of regulation can help and are more realistic for most moms.
Lower the expectation
Ask yourself: What actually has to happen today (or even in the next hour). It doesn’t have to look perfect - it can be the minimum. Sometimes coping looks messy and low effort and that’s ok.
Regulate before you respond
Before reacting - pause. Put one hand on your chest. Take one slow breath in through your nose and a longer breath out. This signals safety to the body and allows you to move forward from a more grounded place.
Name what is true
“I am feeling overwhelmed”, “I need 5 minutes”, “I am not a bad mom - I’m overwhelmed”. When we name our experience it helps us gain more clarity and identify what we really need.
Build tiny rituals of care
Stepping outside for 2 minutes of fresh air, sipping your coffee while its actually still hot, remembering to do your skincare routine before bed. These small moments matter, and so do you.
Let yourself receive support
This might be practical help, therapy, or texting another mom saying “today was hard”. Many moms have a hard time reaching out for help but connection is medicine for an overwhelmed nervous system.
Motherhood was never meant to be done in isolation or at this pace.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, it doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this. It means you are human, and your body is asking for care. You deserve support - not just survival.
Support for Moms in BC
If this feels familiar, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I’m Kristen, a virtual therapist supporting women - especially moms - with anxiety, overwhelm, and nervous system regulation. If you’re ready to feel more grounded during this season, reach out to book a free consultation. You deserve to feel supported.