Mom Burnout Is Real—and It’s Biological
I’m Rosa, the mom behind Route T21, and I’m going to be straight with you: being a mom in today’s world isn’t just a full-time job—it’s five full-time jobs, with no off switch and no HR department to file a complaint with. The invisible load of motherhood can be so heavy it leaves us breathless. And yet—we keep going. Because we have to. Because love demands it. But let’s tell the truth: this pace is breaking us.
The Alarming Truth Behind the Smiles
Caregiver burnout isn’t a buzzword—it’s a full-blown crisis. And for moms, especially those of us raising children with disabilities, it's everywhere.
➡️ According to a 2022 study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 66% of working mothers report being burned out.
➡️ Suicide rates among women aged 30–44 have jumped over 60% since 1999 (CDC).
➡️ A 2023 Mental Health America report found 1 in 4 mothers experiences suicidal thoughts, especially those managing both work and caregiving.
➡️ Caregivers—especially moms of kids with disabilities—are twice as likely to experience mental health issues than non-caregivers.
➡️ A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that mothers of children with autism experience levels of chronic stress comparable to combat soldiers. Their hormone levels and psychological profiles showed PTSD-like symptoms, including flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and hypervigilance. [Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, 2009]
And still, this isn’t being talked about. Why? Because we glamorize exhaustion. We act like “mom martyrdom” is a badge of honor. We worship “doing it all.” And yet, nobody is asking: At what cost?
Hormones: The Quiet Culprit Behind Mom Burnout
Let’s pull back the curtain a little more. Burnout isn’t just emotional—it’s biological too. One key player? Cortisol, our body’s stress hormone.
When cortisol is chronically elevated, as it is in most overwhelmed moms, it wreaks havoc on the body: weight gain, brain fog, sleep disturbances, anxiety, mood swings. Sound familiar? That’s not just “mom life,” that’s hormone imbalance.
And here’s what you need to know: Hormonal imbalance is directly linked to burnout and depression.
➡️ Ask your doctor for a comprehensive hormone panel, especially cortisol, thyroid, and estrogen levels. You deserve to know what’s really going on in your body. I am sharing this with you because I had my hormones checked. For my surprise, my Cortisol levels were normal.
Real Talk: How to Help Moms
Let’s skip the surface-level advice. Here’s what real support for moms looks like:
Stop glorifying hustle culture. Not every woman wants to be a “boss babe” on four hours of sleep. Let’s normalize naps, boundaries, and saying “no.”
Check on your strong mom friends. The ones who always say, “I’m fine.” They’re not. They don’t want to burden you. Be her safe space. Don’t ask if she needs help—be observant and step in when you see an opportunity to support her.
Fight for flexible work environments. It’s not just about working from home. Moms need realistic workloads, mental health days, and understanding leadership.
Support therapy and peer circles. Therapy isn’t a luxury; it’s survival. And every mom deserves a space to be seen and heard, judgment-free.
Be part of the village. Offer to babysit, drop off dinner, or text a funny meme. Small kindnesses prevent big breakdowns.
Don’t Just Survive—Feel Alive Again
One of the best ways we moms can reclaim a bit of ourselves? Get out of the rut. Do something unexpected. Something that lights you up again.
Like dancing. Yes, dancing.
Go take a salsa class. Hit up that swing night. Turn on music in your kitchen and just move. Dancing reduces stress hormones, increases endorphins, improves brain function, and gets you back into your body. It doesn’t matter if you have rhythm. What matters is that you’re reconnecting to yourself. I am telling you because I dance every opportunity I have!
➡️ By now, you probably know I spend a lot of time reading about topics that many people might not find interesting. But my love for digging into solid, science-based information has helped me handle the weight life often throws my way.
So, here’s an article to help you better understand why movement, especially dancing, is so beneficial for your brain health:
🧠 Dancing and the Brain
You Are Still in There, Mama
You are not just a caregiver. You are a whole woman.
If you’re reading this feeling like you’re about to fall apart, please hear me:
You’re not failing. You’re not weak. You are overwhelmed by a system that expects too much and gives too little.
But I see you. And I’m not staying quiet anymore.
Let’s demand better for ourselves and every mama fighting battles behind the scenes.
Because here’s the truth: mothers shape the next generation.
We are the foundation on which our children stand. If we crumble, so does the future we’re building.
So we must ask for help—not because we’re failing, but because doing this alone is not how it was meant to be, and if people offer to help, accept it and say, Thank you, I need this!
We weren’t meant to mother in isolation. We were meant to mother in community.
Resources If You’re Struggling:
📞 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Dial 988: Available 24 hours, and you can choose between English and Spanish.
🤱 Postpartum Support International: www.postpartum.net
👵👨🦼National Alliance for Caregiving: www.caregiving.org
📱The Mothership App: A supportive online community for moms by Mothership Rising
➡️ If you need more resources, support, or ideas about caregiver burnout, check out this article 👉 Coping with Burnout as a Caregiver 💻💞.
At Route T21, I believe in telling the truth, showing up for each other, and building a world where caregivers—especially moms—aren’t just surviving, but thriving.
Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep dancing. Let’s keep choosing to live.
#MomBurnout #HormonalHealth #Cortisol #CaregiverSupport #MentalHealthMatters #RouteT21 #YouStillMatter #DanceThroughTheHard
