Parenting is hard enough on its own. But if you have to juggle work with raising kids, it can be a nightmare that leads to burnout.
And there’s no shame in admitting that you’re overwhelmed and asking for help. Having a strong support network made up of your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors can make the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
Psychologist Nekeshia Hammond, who specializes in burnout prevention, explained to NPR that parental burnout symptoms can be different for everyone. “For some people, burnout leads to agitation, irritability, or withdrawal from your significant other or your children," she states. Hammond adds that other individuals might have sleep problems, get frequent headaches, or experience changes in their appetite.
Chronic stress is harmful to your body and mind, as it leads to depression, anxiety, and elevated blood pressure.
According to psychologist Hammond, when you’re feeling overwhelmed being a parent, one of your strategies could be to slow down, set a timer for a minute, breathe deeply, and try to calm your body and mind down. This creates room for a mental shift for you to reset.
Meanwhile, Eve Rodsky, an expert on the gender division of labor, told NPR that if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you should let go of some of the control you’re trying to maintain. Talk to your partner about sharing the parenting and household tasks more fairly, and keep your communication lines open.
In the meantime, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy stresses that if you’re a single parent, you have to get over your fear of asking for help when you need it. You should also be willing to accept help when others offer it to you.
On top of that, Murthy advises parents to prioritize their well-being because this, in turn, massively affects parent-child relationships. “The mental health of parents and kids is deeply intertwined,” he notes.
In severe cases of parental burnout, you should speak to your doctor or a mental health professional.
Based on the findings of one recent study, a jaw-dropping two-thirds (65%) of surveyed working parents have reported burnout. This has “significant implications for families.”
According to the study, some mental health disorders in the parents and their children were associated with parental burnout. Furthermore, parental burnout was found to be linked to a greater risk of child maltreatment.
As per the study, parental burnout correlated with mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.
“Parental burnout ensues from enduring stress and the relentless demands of parenting, resulting in a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It can lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and a lack of motivation by parents to engage with their children and complete necessary parenting tasks,” the study notes.
On top of that, parental burnout can affect any parent, regardless of their socioeconomic background, age, gender, race, or culture, with lasting consequences for the entire family. That being said, some individuals are more vulnerable than others.
“Some of the potential implications of parental burnout include a decline in the parent's physical and mental well-being, strain on the parent-child relationship (e.g., reduced emotional connection, increased conflict), negative impact on the child's well-being, behavioral and emotional problems, participation in unhealthy coping mechanisms for both the parent and child, and a negative impact on other relationships and responsibilities.”
