Moms absolutely need to know that their health matters, too.

It’s not just your physical health that’s important, but you shouldn’t neglect your mental health either. Sometimes, it’s easier said than done when it comes to working on your health, whether it be physical or mental, and parents may experience a lot of pressure.

There’s pressure every day to play multiple roles, from being the caregiver, setting a good example, cooking, cleaning, maintaining relationships and keeping the household running. 

Plus, there can be career pressures to balance along with that. These things together may weigh you down both physically and mentally. The daily pressures alone are one common obstacle that moms may face when they’re trying to improve their mental health, but it doesn’t end there. While there might be obstacles that come along, it’s vital to keep on going to keep working towards improving your mental health, so here’s what you can expect:

Stigma

Even in 2023, moms are still having to deal with the social stigma that comes with mental health. There’s nothing wrong with you in the slightest for wanting to get your mental health under control and wanting therapy; in fact, it shows how strong you are. But sadly, there’s still this negative stigma around mental health, and it’s slowly (but surely) fizzling away. 

Limited Access

Unfortunately, in this day and age, mental health is still often out of reach for so many people. It’s something that’s seen as needed, but it’s still terribly expensive too. Access to mental health resources, like counseling and psychiatric services, can be a significant obstacle- financially speaking. But sometimes, things like geographical location (for families who live in a rural area) and a shortage of mental health professionals are common barriers. Honestly, it’s far from ideal, and quite frankly, it’s not fair either.

Fear of Vulnerability

It can be challenging to put yourself in a vulnerable spot; you’re a mom, a mama bear, and you’re supposed to be strong and resilient for your family. As you know, opening up about your mental health, not just to a professional but even to yourself, just really puts you in this uncomfortable, vulnerable spot.  There’s also the fear of being judged or misunderstood, and even those can be a significant obstacle too. 

Self-Shame

As mentioned earlier, there’s still a negative stigma to things this day when it comes to improving mental health, when it comes to mental health in general. In some cultures, it’s still not really seen as a thing, or it’s not considered valid. Since there are so many different ideas out there on mental health, there can be self-shame, like “What’s wrong with me?” and that alone can deter someone from wanting to get help because they feel so ashamed of having to do it.

But you need to keep in mind that overcoming this obstacle involves cultivating self-compassion, understanding that mental health challenges are common, and that there’s nothing wrong with you.