Stay-at-home moms can also experience anxiety or depression, says Wright. While studies focusing on mental health issues among stay-at-home moms are sparse, one Gallup poll of more than 60,000 U.S. women found that stay-at-home moms experienced depression, sadness, stress and anger at a higher rate than working moms.
Many parents who choose to stay at home with their children may experience feelings of isolation, loneliness, loss of identity, and feelings of sadness that may feel like depression.
Children who have a parent who stays at home may achieve better academic performance. One study found that 10th-grade children who had a parent stay at home when they were young achieved better grades in school than those who had working parents working away from home during early childhood.
It can be amazing, but it can be incredibly challenging too—and it's definitely not the right role for everyone. Suffice it to say, if you're thinking about becoming a SAHM, there's a lot to consider, from finances to personal fulfillment to daily responsibilities.
Stress: You're changing diapers, potty training, feeding, cleaning, doing laundry, helping with homework, and doing a million other things all day, every day. These are some of the environmental stressors that make being a parent stressful.
Yes, it's very normal to feel lonely as a stay-at-home mom. Being a stay-at-home mom is incredibly demanding. We don't get a break. We can't say 'no' to our co-workers.
According to a recent Harvard Research Study that provides data from two cross-national social surveys of more than 100,000 men and women from 29 countries, working moms can breathe a sigh of relief – evidence suggests that children of working moms grow up to be just as happy as children of stay-at-home moms.
If you are feeling overwhelmed as a mom, you are not alone. The “depleted mother syndrome” is a term used to describe the feeling of exhaustion and depletion that many mothers experience. It is a very real phenomenon, and it can have a significant impact on a mother's ability to function.
Some moms return to work just a few weeks after having a baby, while others take up to a year (or longer) of maternity leave. Every experience is different, but generally, it takes around six weeks to feel relief from most postpartum symptoms after having a baby.
Take Breaks Regularly
Being a mom is a 24/7 job. This can become exhausting. How often should stay-at-home moms get a break? The answer is three times a day, at least.
The stay-at-home mom doesn't have to be the one who does everything. Don't try to. If I tried to accomplish every single household task while raising children, I'm pretty sure I would end up self-medicating like the housewives of the 1950's and 60's did.
Being a Stay-At-Home Mom Can Be Isolating
Many stay-at-home moms have limited contact with other adults throughout the day, and this loneliness can contribute to depression. One way to deal with isolation and loneliness is to take some time to let someone know you're feeling isolated—they may be feeling the same way.
Yes, it is a privilege to be able to be with my kids each day. And it's also true that being a stay-at-home mom involves a lot of sacrifices. For me, the key to enjoying this role and finding purpose as a stay-at-home mom is making peace with this paradox.
Symptoms of Mommy Burnout
Extreme mental fatigue or physical exhaustion. Being “short tempered” Feeling emotionally depleted.
An emotionally absent mother is not fully present and especially not to the emotional life of the child. She may be depressed, stretched too thin and exhausted, or perhaps a bit numb. Many of these mothers were severely undermothered themselves and have no idea what a close parent-child relationship looks like.
Research backs her observations. A Gallup poll found stay-at-home moms have higher rates of worry, sadness, stress and depression than working moms.
Mothers who stay at home to care for their children and their homes are more likely to be exposed to stress hormones. According to studies, moms who spend the entire day with their children produce more Cortisol.
Research has found that stay-at-home mothers are happier than those who go out to work. The survey said that if staying at home with the children were counted as a job, it would rank as having happier workers than any other trade or profession.
You, friends or family may move away, become busy with a new job or start a new season of life. Parents of young children know this well. Many new moms feel lonely – the loneliness that can come from spending all day with young children without speaking to another adult, using an adult voice or doing adult things.
Symptoms of Stay-at-Home Mom Burnout
Additional signs may include emotionally distancing from one's children–even leading to neglectful or violent behavior towards them–and a loss of enjoyment in one's parenting role. Parental burnout can also lead to suicide or escape ideations.
Mom rage is often recognized as a symptom of postpartum depression and anxiety, but it can extend beyond the postpartum period. It can also be a symptom of stay-at-home mom depression, due to the role mothers may find themselves in for years with multiple kids.