5 Common Signs of Mom Burnout

Mom burnout is sadly extremely common in today's society. However, we tend to ignore the signs and simply push through. Or when we do notice the signs, we see it as a personal failure or a weakness. But I want you to know—they're not. They're not signs of failure or weakness. They're simply signs that something needs to change and that you need to take care of yourself.

So today, we’re talking about the five most common signs of mom burnout that I see with my clients, with my friends and family, and within myself.

1. Constant Fatigue

The first sign I see most often is a feeling of being completely and utterly fatigued—emotionally, mentally, and physically. It's not just being tired. Of course, when you first have your children, especially when they're babies, sleep is broken and that makes you tired. The newborn stage is wild, let's be real.

But this is different.

This is: no matter how much sleep you get, it doesn’t make a difference. Naps don’t help. You are physically and mentally depleted. It’s hard to function. It’s hard to think clearly or reason. You might even experience physical symptoms—headaches are a big one I see often. And because you’re so fatigued, you may feel like you’re just living on autopilot.

2. Feeling Like a Bad Mom

You feel like you're failing. Like you're not the "perfect mom" you see on social media—the one making homemade bread and charcuterie boards for their kids after school. Or even just feeling like you're simply not giving or doing enough. You’re constantly comparing yourself to other moms.

Even when you're doing enough—what should be seen as enough—you still feel inadequate. You might tell yourself you're not doing a good job, you're not as good as others, or even that your child might be better off with someone else.

Those thoughts aren’t facts. But they can be loud. This idea of the "perfect mom" you have in your head isn’t being met, so you feel like an utter failure—as a mother, as a spouse. I've struggled with that too.

3. Mom Rage

Mom rage is when you become extremely short-tempered or irritable—with your partner, your kids, your colleagues. You have a short fuse. Your mood can swing wildly. You might find yourself yelling, blowing up, or reacting strongly to what seem like minor annoyances.

This happens because you're completely overstimulated. You’re touched out. You're being pulled in every direction. Even small inconveniences can feel crushing.

This short temper is not a personal failure. It’s a sign that you’re at capacity. You need to take care of yourself so you can build back your patience and communicate effectively again.

4. Mom Guilt

This one is huge. Guilt about your behavior, your reactions, your thoughts. You might feel guilty for not spending enough time with your kids—like me, sometimes I feel guilty that my child is in daycare and I’m not with her all the time.

You might feel guilt about losing your temper. Guilt about not doing your best—because you’re not feeling well. You might even feel guilt over your thoughts.

When I was postpartum and dealing with anxiety and depression, I remember thinking:
“Why did I do this? Why did I have a baby? This was the worst decision I ever made.”
And then the guilt that came with thinking that way… it was crippling.

I love my child. And yet I was wishing I didn’t have one, or that I could just disappear. Those thoughts were devastating.

But these thoughts and behaviors don’t define you. That guilt can be so heavy—but know you're not alone in it.

5. Feeling Isolated

You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. You could be a stay-at-home mom, see friends and family, and still feel disconnected. There’s something about the experience of motherhood that’s incredibly isolating.

You might go to work and feel like you’re not connecting. You might avoid socializing, not wanting to see anyone. You might feel emotionally disconnected—even from your own child.

I remember during my postpartum period, my child didn’t feel like my child. It took me a long time to truly connect with her. We felt like strangers. That guilt came in again, but I had to learn—it wasn’t my fault.

Even now, when I’m not doing well, I don’t want to leave the house. I feel like, “What’s the point in talking to others? They won’t understand.” Even though my husband is incredible, he’ll never fully understand my reality—no one can. Even other moms, though they understand parts of it, each story is unique.

And when you feel this isolated, you’re less likely to reach out. That’s why this sign can be so dangerous. You stop talking about how you’re doing, and you don’t seek support.

That’s why when I have friends who are pregnant, I always tell their partners to keep an eye out for signs of postpartum depression, anxiety, and burnout—because often, we don’t recognize it in ourselves.

You might not know you have mom burnout—because honestly, sometimes we don’t. We're so disconnected from ourselves. We’ve been told this is just part of motherhood: being tired, feeling guilty, having mom rage.

But it’s not just “part of it.” These are real signs—and when we ignore them, it becomes much harder to get better.

So please, talk to someone about how you're feeling. When I was struggling, my husband was the one who encouraged me to see a doctor. I thought it was just baby blues, a hormonal thing—but I was in a really dark place.

Hopefully, as you read this, you recognize some of the signs and realize that something might need to change. And maybe you can share this with someone close to you—because sometimes, the people around us see things we can’t.

So, if you’re unsure, let others in. You don’t have to do this alone.