Do You Have Parental Burnout?
by Amanda Morin
It's not an uncommon equation; overwork plus under-appreciation equals job burnout. Usually, when you're experiencing job burnout it's time to reevaluate whether the job you're doing is right for you. However, when the job you're burning out on is parenting, that's not an option. Parental Burnout is actually pretty common. Many parents are chronically tired, stressed-out and irritable. After all, working all day, keeping a house organized and keeping your kids happy and healthy is a lot of work.
In fact, according to Robin F. Goodman, PhD., a clinical psychologist and Director of the A Caring Hand, Billy Esposito Foundation Bereavement Center, parental burnout is often related to trying to be a good parent. "It often can start from a good place, such as wanting the best for children, but can head into feeling pressured to meet an impossible standard and/or pressuring children to meet impossible standards," Goodman explains.
Most of the signs of parental burnout are the same as they are with any other job burnout. After all, says Goodman, "burnout is related to one’s relationship to their job," and parenting is indeed a job. Daniel Buccino, a director of the Baltimore Psychotherapy Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, is of the opinion that it's probably the hardest job you'll ever have. "It's a little-talked about secret," he says, " so being prepared for that from going into it makes a difference."
How can you know whether you're experiencing parental burnout? Here's a list of signs to look for:
