From Burnout to Balance: One Mother's Mental Health Journey

"It was that dark kitchen moment-sitting alone in her toddler's tiny Pottery Barn chair at the end of another exhausting day-that became her wake-up call. In her new book In the Weeds: A Guide to Saving Your Own Soul on This Crazy Journey Called Motherhood, she chronicles that moment and the journey that followed, offering insights that illuminate what researchers are just beginning to understand about maternal mental health."

""Looking back, I realize that moment in that tiny chair wasn't just exhaustion-I was in the weeds," she writes, drawing from her restaurant industry background, where being "in the weeds" means being completely overwhelmed by orders. Research shows that maternal burnout affects one in 20 parents and can lead to depression, anxiety, and decreased parenting satisfaction. What makes Woulfe's approach unique is her recognition that this overwhelm often stems from a fundamental shift in identity that no one prepares mothers for."

A wellness advocate and meditation teacher experienced a dark kitchen moment of exhaustion while sitting in her toddler's chair that signaled a fundamental change in identity. Maternal burnout affects roughly one in twenty parents and can cause depression, anxiety, and reduced parenting satisfaction. Overwhelm often arises from identity shifts that go unrecognized and unsupported. Honest vulnerability and sharing among mothers reduces isolation and helps prevent postpartum depression. Small, daily adjustments are more effective than dramatic overhauls for overwhelmed parents. Prioritizing self-care enables emotional regulation, which supports more secure child attachment. Practical supports and community are essential for navigating early parenthood.

Read at Psychology Today