Maternal Overwhelm
Understanding Maternal Overwhelm
Motherhood can be one of the most meaningful parts of life, but it can also feel relentless. The constant demands, the lack of rest, and the weight of responsibility can leave you feeling stretched thin. Many mothers describe it as “never switching off”, carrying the mental load of remembering everything, caring for everyone, and holding it all together.
When the overwhelm builds, it can show up in different ways: irritability, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, or feeling on edge. You may notice yourself snapping more easily, or feeling guilty for not being more patient. At times it can feel as though you are losing yourself under the endless to-do lists and expectations.
Feeling this way does not mean you are failing. It means you are human, and you are carrying too much without enough space or support.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy can give you a pause, a place where you do not have to hold it all together. In our work, we can look at what fuels the overwhelm, from the pressures you put on yourself to the expectations you feel from others. Together we can begin to untangle these patterns and find ways of easing the load.
I draw on Schema Therapy, EMDR, and Compassion Focused Therapy to help you understand where the pressure comes from, soften the critical voice that tells you you’re not doing enough, and build more compassionate ways of caring for yourself as you care for others.
Over time, therapy can help you feel steadier, less reactive, and more able to enjoy moments of connection with your child and yourself, without the constant sense of being on edge.
Taking the Next Step
It is not easy to ask for help, especially when you are used to managing everything on your own. Many mothers worry that reaching out would feel like admitting failure, or that they should somehow be able to cope without support. If you recognise that thought, please know it is a very common one. Wanting support does not mean you are not coping, it means you are human, and you do not have to carry all of this by yourself.
A first step can be as simple as a conversation. I offer a free 15-minute video call where we can meet, talk about what feels hardest right now, and see if working together feels like the right fit. There is no commitment required, just a chance for you to ask questions and get a sense of how I work.
If you feel ready, you can click the button below to arrange your free call.