Mental Health Challenges Unique to Working Moms

You’re Not the Only One Who Feels This Way

I didn’t always know I was struggling.
I just thought I was bad at juggling everything.

A full-time job.
Two young kids.
A never-ending to-do list.
A marriage that felt more like a tag-team effort than a connection.
And this quiet, gnawing guilt that no matter what I did, it wasn’t enough.

If you’re a working mom reading this, I want to tell you something I wish someone had told me sooner:

You don’t have to do it all.
You’re not failing.
And you’re not alone.

What you’re carrying is heavy—and therapy saved me from being crushed by it. This is my story.

The Invisible Load of Working Motherhood

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I went back to work after maternity leave. I thought I’d just “bounce back.”

Instead, I bounced between:

Zoom calls and diaper changes
School pickups and Slack notifications
Late-night work and early-morning meltdowns

I was constantly exhausted—but it was the mental exhaustion that broke me the most. The never-ending list in my head. The emotional bandwidth I had to keep extending for everyone but myself.

It’s called the “invisible load” for a reason. Working moms carry the scheduling, the remembering, the anticipating, the emotional soothing—and we do it all while showing up professionally and pretending we’re fine.

The Breaking Point

My breaking point wasn’t a dramatic moment. It was subtle—almost quiet.

I was sitting in my car in the driveway one evening. My youngest was crying inside, my husband was overwhelmed, dinner was burning—and I just sat there. Frozen.

I couldn’t make myself go inside.
Not because I didn’t love them—
but because I had nothing left to give.

I had always been the “strong one.” The organized one. The achiever. But at that moment, I realized I was running on fumes. And I didn’t want to live like that anymore.

Common Mental Health Challenges Unique to Working Moms

Looking back, I see now that I was struggling with multiple layers of mental health challenges—some common, others deeply personal.

Here’s what I’ve learned about what many working moms face:

Chronic Anxiety & Mental Overload

My brain never turned off. Even when the kids were asleep and the house was quiet, I was:

Replaying work conversations
Planning school lunches
Worrying about unpaid bills
Anticipating the next meltdown

This constant loop of overthinking isn’t just stress—it’s anxiety.

Mom Guilt

Oh, the guilt.
If I worked late, I felt guilty for missing bedtime.
If I left work early for a school event, I felt guilty for falling behind.
If I took time for myself, I felt guilty for… everything.

Guilt was my constant shadow—and it was slowly eroding my sense of worth.

Loss of Identity

I used to be so driven, creative, and passionate.
Now, I barely recognized myself. I felt like I was either “Mom” or “Employee,” with no space left for me in between.

Therapy helped me realize that identity isn’t lost—it’s just buried under the noise. And it’s okay to dig it back out.

Burnout

Burnout is different from exhaustion. It’s not just being tired—it’s being emotionally done. I stopped laughing. I stopped dreaming. I started snapping more, caring less, and wondering, “Is this just what motherhood is?”

Spoiler: It’s not.

Relationship Disconnection

My husband and I became ships passing in the night. We weren’t fighting, but we weren’t connecting either. There was no time for intimacy or conversation, and resentment started to creep in.

Therapy gave me the tools to communicate better, express my needs, and invite him into the healing process, too.

What Made Me Finally Call a Counselor

I Googled “working mom mental health therapist” one night while folding laundry. I didn’t even mean to. My fingers just… did it.

I found a local counselor who specialized in anxiety, burnout, and Christian counseling. I was scared to make the call—but I did it anyway.

That decision changed my life.

What Therapy Looked Like for Me

I was afraid therapy would be awkward or too clinical. Instead, it felt like exhaling.

My therapist saw me.
The tired me.
The angry me.
The ashamed me.
The “just-get-it-done” me.

And she didn’t flinch.

Here’s what we worked on:

🧠 Reframing My Inner Critic

I didn’t realize how harsh my self-talk had become. Therapy helped me replace thoughts like,

“You’re failing your kids,”
with
“You’re doing your best with what you have today.”

🧘 Grounding My Body in the Present

My anxiety lived in my chest, my shoulders, my jaw. My therapist taught me breathwork, grounding, and mindfulness to help me come back to the moment—especially when it felt like I was drowning.

✍️ Journaling to Release Emotional Buildup

I started journaling again, not as a chore, but as an outlet.
I wrote:

Letters to my mom-guilt
Prayers I couldn’t say out loud
Honest confessions that I was tired of hiding

✝️ Inviting God into My Mental Health

As a Christian, I thought needing therapy meant I didn’t trust God enough. That lie kept me stuck.
Therapy helped me see that mental health care is spiritual care.
Jesus rested. Jesus wept. Jesus asked for help.
I could, too.

👩‍👧‍👦 Rebuilding Boundaries and Routines

We restructured my week. I delegated. I asked for help. I learned to say “no” without apologizing. I carved out tiny windows of rest—and fiercely protected them.

What Changed (Slowly but Surely)

No, therapy didn’t magically clean my house or make my kids stop tantruming.

But it gave me myself back.

Here’s what changed over the months:

I stopped waking up with dread
I could breathe deeper again
I started laughing with my kids
I felt present in my own life
I reconnected with my husband
I remembered I was still allowed to have dreams

Therapy Helped Me Learn…

🌿 I don’t have to be everything to everyone
🌿 I’m not alone in this struggle
🌿 My mental health is not a luxury—it’s essential
🌿 God meets me in my need, not just in my strength
🌿 Rest is not earned—it’s allowed

To the Mom Who’s Reading This…

I know you’re tired.
I know you’re doing more than anyone sees.
I know you’re afraid that asking for help means you’re failing.

But I promise you this:
You are not failing.
You are healing.

And healing begins the moment you say,

“I can’t keep doing this alone.”

Is Therapy Right for You?

If you’re a working mom wondering whether counseling could help, ask yourself:

Am I constantly exhausted, mentally and emotionally?
Do I feel overwhelmed by guilt or pressure to do it all?
Have I lost my joy, my identity, or my connection with loved ones?
Am I coping in ways that aren’t actually helping?
Do I need a space that’s just for me?

If you said “yes” to even one of these… it’s worth talking to someone.

How to Start

You don’t have to overthink this. Just start here:

👉 Find a counselor who specializes in working moms, anxiety, or burnout
👉 Consider faith-based therapy if your spirituality is important to you
👉 Give yourself permission to take this step without guilt

You Deserve to Be Well, Too

You’re showing up for everyone else.
Now it’s time to show up for you.

Counseling didn’t make my life perfect—but it helped me return to it.
And that, more than anything, is what I want for you.

Not a perfect schedule.
Not a spotless house.
Not more productivity.

Just you—whole, grounded, and able to breathe again.

Because your wellness matters.
Because your peace is worth fighting for.
And because God never intended for you to carry it all alone.

Ready to Talk to Someone?

At Refreshing Waters Counseling, we specialize in supporting women like you—strong, loving, overwhelmed working moms who deserve more than survival mode.

We offer:

Christian counseling
Anxiety and burnout support
Boundaries and identity work
Online and in-person sessions

👉 Call Refreshing Waters Counseling at 734-794-3777