Parental Burnout: How to Recognize It and Take Back Your Energy
The Reality of Parental Burnout
As a loving parent, it’s natural to pour yourself into caring for your child—but balancing parental responsibilities with work and personal life is often challenging, especially with young children or teens.
Burnout is characterized by “emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a decrease in self-fulfillment,”—the result of chronic stress, which can even come from parenting.
While children tend to be more physically taxing in their younger years, the emotional strain that teenagers create through conflict can also lead to stress.
Common symptoms of parental burnout include:
Intense Exhaustion
Irritability
Feeling detached from your children
Guilt and a lack of fulfillment
Burnout can often come during or after holidays, and important life events (like birthdays, graduations and even vacations) with additional stressors such as financial strain, a lack of free time for self-care, and the pressure to create perfect moments and memories with your kids.
Unlike burnout people experience from work, parental burnout can be harder to get away from—it’s not exactly like parents can just take time off from their children. Family is a 24/7 responsibility that can sometimes feel impossible to escape, adding to the mental burden.
The Importance of Mental Health
Taking care of your mental health is an essential part of parenting. But that’s a lot easier said than done.
Figuring out how and when to take some “me” time and setting healthy boundaries as a parent can require support. In some cases, you may be able to lean on your partner for help, but if they are also constantly working, or out of the picture, then that may not be an option.
You can also join parental support groups or ask friends to help you take care of the children when you need a night off from time to time. Some options for parent support groups include:
Parents Support Services Society of BC - Offers in-person meetings all over BC and virtual group meetings
Victoria Friendship Centre – Offers in-person group meetings in Victoria
Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC (Parents Together) - Offers in person group meetings in Vancouver, Burnaby and Delta
But you will need to build coping mechanisms for the day-to-day duties of parenthood, which is where counselling can be of great value. Speaking to a therapist can help you figure out new tools to manage stress, how to set boundaries, and improve your overall emotional resilience. You’ll also have someone to talk to about the challenges you’re facing as a parent and any holiday-related stress you may be experiencing.
It’s Okay to Ask for Help
It’s completely normal for people to burn out, whether it’s at work, or at home—so don’t feel guilty about reaching out for support. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a parent.
With professional guidance, you can discuss your parental style and identify areas where you may be causing yourself excessive stress. Getting a professional perspective may help you transform your approach to parenting and your family dynamic as a whole.
How Tall Tree Can Help With Parental Burnout
If left unchecked, parental stress and burnout can take a serious toll on your physical and emotional health. If you are reaching a point where you are noticing the signs, reach out for professional support.
Talking to our registered counsellors or psychologists can help you cope with parental burnout and its symptoms. Our team will work with you to identify your unique pain points and figure out how to implement new mechanisms and healthy boundaries to create a stable work/life balance that fits your lifestyle.
For more tips and resources, check out these posts:
