Why So Many Moms Feel Overwhelmed and Anxious (and What Helps)
Both things can be true at the same time.
We can love our child(ren) with everything we have — and still feel completely exhausted.
We can pour ourselves into being a mom — and still wonder who we are outside of it.
We can adore the little moments — and still find ourselves just trying to survive each day.
Maybe you’re pregnant and worrying how you’re going to handle it all.
Maybe you have twins, and some days surviving really does feel like the only option.
Or maybe you’re a mom who wants to enjoy this stage, but instead you feel stretched thin, anxious, or lost.
So many of us go through this, but we often don’t talk about it.
Sometimes it feels like there isn’t anyone we can really open up to.
Sometimes the feelings feel so big, we don’t have the words to explain what’s happening.
And sometimes we’re so deep in it, we start to wonder if this is just how life is now.
Stress Is Normal… But Sometimes It Doesn’t Leave
Let’s be honest — being a mom is stressful.
Every day we deal with things like:
Heading into a prenatal appointment and worrying what the doctor might say
A toddler melting down in the checkout line while strangers actively stare
Both twins crying at once and trying to figure out who to pick up first
Trying to make dinner while breaking up sibling fights at your feet
Sitting down for one quiet minute, only to be called back up before you even exhale
Those moments are stressful — your heart pounds, your body tenses — but everyday stress usually passes.
The appointment ends.
The checkout line moves forward.
The kids finally settle into play.
And for a moment, you get to breathe again — maybe even relax.
But sometimes, when the stress ends — we don’t feel the relief. Our bodies stay on edge, as if the chaos is still happening.
It can look like:
Lying in bed exhausted but unable to fall asleep because your mind won’t stop
Snapping at your partner or kids, then feeling guilty
Being unable to relax, even when you want to
Going through the motions of the day while secretly counting the hours until bedtime
Having a sense of dread before the day even starts
Wondering where you went, and if this is just how life will feel from now on
With twins, feeling like all you can do is survive the chaos and get through the day
It’s more than just tough days here and there — it’s the weight of surviving day after day, when the stress response doesn’t turn off and begins to shape how you see yourself, your child(ren), and your life.
Why We Push Through (and Stay Silent)
We push through because, for so long, it’s been our only option.
Most days, it feels like there isn’t even space to stop and ask how we’re really doing — there’s always something or someone that needs us. And when we do pause long enough to notice how heavy it all feels, the messages around us make it easy to dismiss.
We’re told that being exhausted, anxious, or overwhelmed is “just part of being a mom.”
We hear that it will get easier if we just wait long enough.
We see other moms looking like they have it together and assume we should too.
And when we finally do speak up, we’re often met with: “That’s normal.” “You’ll get used to it.” or “This is just how it is.”
So we keep going. We push past the exhaustion. We silence the questions in our own minds.
We push through because we’ve been told we have to.
And we silently struggle.
This is why so many moms feel constantly anxious and overwhelmed — because we’ve been taught to push through impossible loads, told to normalize exhaustion, and left without enough support. It’s no wonder our stress doesn’t fade, even when the moment has passed.
It Doesn’t Have to Stay This Way
Moms are realizing we don’t have time to keep waiting for things to get better — we want to feel steadier now, not someday.
Therapy offers something most of us don’t get anywhere else: space to breathe, to lay it all out, and to find steadier ways forward. It’s about giving you the space and tools to feel calmer, even when life is chaotic.
With therapy, moms often notice things like:
“I don’t feel on edge all the time — even when the house is loud and chaotic.”
“I can finally fall asleep without my brain running through a hundred worries.”
“I’m not snapping at everyone constantly — I actually have more patience.”
“I wake up without that pit of dread about the day ahead.”
“I’m starting to feel like me again… or maybe I’m figuring out who I am now.
“I’m not just making it through the day anymore — I actually notice the good moments.”
You don’t need to be at a breaking point for therapy to help — it can start shifting things even in the everyday overwhelm.
Taking the First Step
You don’t have to wait for the chaos to pass to start feeling better. With the right support, things can feel lighter — even in the middle of it all.
I specialize in maternal and early childhood mental health, walking alongside moms through pregnancy, postpartum, and the chaos of raising twins and little ones.
If you live in California → you can work with me directly through virtual therapy sessions, so you get support without packing the car seat, arranging childcare, or adding another stressful trip to your week.
If you’re outside California → you’re not alone. I recommend starting with Postpartum Support International to find therapists and groups near you. You can also access my podcast and guides for ongoing support as you take your next steps.
Start here to learn more and book your free consultation.
