5 Common Emotional Struggles of Working Moms (And How to Address Them)
Motherhood is one of the most rewarding callings—but let’s be honest, it’s also one of the hardest. Add in a career, daily responsibilities, and the constant pressure to “do it all,” and many working moms find themselves running on empty.
I’ve sat with so many women in therapy who whisper some version of the same question: “Why can’t I just hold it all together?” And my answer is always the same—because you’re human. God didn’t design us to be perfect or to carry every burden alone.
If you’ve been carrying guilt, overwhelm, or exhaustion, I want you to know you’re not alone. These feelings don’t mean you’re failing; they’re signs that something inside you is longing for balance, boundaries, and compassion—both from others and from yourself.
Let’s look at five of the most common emotional struggles working moms face and how you can begin to address them.
1. Guilt: “Am I doing enough for my kids?”
Guilt is one of the heaviest emotions moms carry. Whether it’s missing a school event because of work, serving a quick dinner instead of cooking from scratch, or simply wanting a break, guilt whispers, “You’re not enough.”
But here’s the truth: your kids don’t need perfection. They need presence. Studies and real-life stories alike remind us that quality time outweighs quantity. A ten-minute conversation before bedtime, a shared laugh at dinner, or an intentional Saturday outing can make a world of difference.
One thing I remind my clients is that guilt is not always a sign that you’re doing something wrong—it’s often a sign that you care deeply. Instead of letting guilt consume you, let it guide you back to your values and remind you of what truly matters.
2. Overwhelm: “There’s too much on my plate!”
If you’ve ever felt like there are simply not enough hours in the day, you’re not alone. Between work deadlines, grocery runs, laundry, school projects, and keeping up with relationships, overwhelm becomes a constant companion for many moms.
This is where boundaries come in—a topic I dove into in my blog “Balance & Boundaries: What They Really Mean for Working Moms.” Boundaries are not about shutting people out; they’re about creating healthy limitations and accessibility that allow you to show up fully without burning out.
To prevent overwhelm, try asking yourself:
What tasks can I delegate?
What can wait until tomorrow?
Where do I need to say “no” so I can say “yes” to what matters?
The truth is, you don’t have to do everything. You just need to do the things that are a priority, and align with your family’s values and your well-being.
3. Burnout: “I’m exhausted all the time.”
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it builds slowly when we ignore our needs for too long. It’s the elevated overwhelm. Moms often run on autopilot, giving to everyone else while leaving themselves last on the list. But just like a car can’t run without gas, you can’t pour into your family or career without refueling.
Self-care doesn’t have to look like spa days or long vacations (though those are wonderful if you can). It can be as small as a five-minute walk outside, deep breaths before a meeting, journaling your prayers, or listening to worship music while driving.
Remember what I shared in my blog “There’s Power in the Pause.” Pausing to care for yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. The pause allows you to reset your mind and body so you can respond to life from a place of calm instead of constant depletion.
4. Anxiety: “What if I’m failing at everything?”
Anxiety often shows up as racing thoughts, constant worry, or the nagging sense that you’re “not enough.” For working moms, anxiety can sound like: What if I’m not giving my kids enough? What if I’m not giving my job enough? What if I fail at everything? Did you catch the “What ifs?” Anxiety causes stress about the unknown, yet it creates a horrifying picture of the unknown in our minds as if it were real.
Here’s what I want you to know: you don’t have to fight anxiety alone. Tools like mindfulness, grounding exercises, and prayer can help quiet the mental noise. Sometimes, simply naming your feelings out loud—“I’m anxious right now, and that’s okay”—can take away some of their power.
Therapy also provides a safe, judgment-free space to process these thoughts. As a Christian counselor, I remind my clients that God doesn’t condemn us for struggling—He meets us in the struggle and gives us tools to walk through it with grace.
5. Disconnection: “I’ve lost who I am outside of work and motherhood.”
This is one of the struggles I hear most often in sessions with working moms—the feeling that somewhere along the way, their identity got swallowed up by responsibilities.
Rediscovering yourself is not about abandoning your role as a mom or professional; it’s about remembering the woman God created you to be. Journaling, therapy, prayer, or simply trying a new hobby can help you reconnect with your passions and values.
Think about it this way: the more you nurture your own growth, the more you have to pour into your family. You don’t lose yourself by caring for your children—you deepen yourself by continuing to grow alongside them.
You’re Not Alone
Working moms, the weight you’re carrying is real—but it’s not meant to be carried alone. Guilt, overwhelm, burnout, anxiety, and disconnection are common struggles, but they don’t define you. With the right tools, support, and boundaries, you can learn to navigate these emotions in healthier ways.
Therapy can be the space where you breathe again, where you lay down the impossible expectations, and where you reconnect with your God-given identity and purpose.
You are not failing—you are growing. And growth doesn’t mean the absence of struggle; it means learning to respond differently, to pause, and to choose peace in the middle of chaos.
