Let’s talk about it… You’re Not Broken!
By Loanna Diaz | Pre/Postnatal Coach + Mom of 3
The hard truth about Motherhood: Having a baby changes everything. Your body, your energy, your mood, your routine… all of it. And while there are indeed beautiful moments, there are also moments that feel quite heavy. Overwhelming. Exhausting. But we don’t talk about that part enough. I work with moms every day, and I’ve felt it too. I’m seven years postpartum with my third baby, and I’ve only recently started to understand how much stress and anxiety I’ve been carrying for years. I don’t know if it was ever postpartum depression, maybe not, but what I do know is that the nonstop responsibilities of motherhood, work, school drop-offs, house chores, and trying to take care of everyone started to catch up with me. That “burned out but still pushing through” feeling? It’s real. For me, the anxiety started showing up physically: tight chest, mood swings, brain fog, fatigue, and feeling like I’m never fully relaxed. It wasn’t one big breakdown. Just small signs my body was giving me… every day. So I decided to get help. I started working with someone to understand what’s going on and finally take care of myself, not just as a coach or a mom, but as a person.
You Don’t Have to Be Diagnosed to Deserve Support
A lot of moms think, “Well, I’m not depressed,” or “It’s not that bad.” But struggling doesn’t have to look extreme to be real. You don’t need a diagnosis to feel overwhelmed. You don’t need to hit rock bottom to ask for help. Sometimes, it’s just… life. And it’s a lot.
The mental load of motherhood: remembering every snack, permission slip, birthday, dentist appointment, grocery item, and text reply. The mental load is invisible, but it’s exhausting. You’re not imagining it. Research shows that this emotional labor often falls disproportionately on mothers, even when there’s help available. And when you add lack of sleep, hormonal changes, poor nutrition, or no downtime? Your nervous system stays stuck in “go-go-go” mode, also known as sympathetic dominance. Over time, this can cause anxiety, mood swings, tension, and even affect digestion and immune function.
So no, you’re not being dramatic. You’re carrying more than most people realize.
What Might Be Going On (Even If You’re Functioning)
Here are some common signs of chronic stress and anxiety in motherhood:
- Feeling irritable or snappy over little things
- Constant overthinking or racing thoughts
- Trouble sleeping even when you’re exhausted
- Tension in your shoulders, jaw, or chest
- Trouble focusing or remembering things
- Feeling like you’re “always behind”
- Guilt for wanting space or feeling overwhelmed
- Resentment from doing so much and still feeling like it’s not
enough
This isn’t about weakness. This is what happens when your nervous system and mental capacity are constantly overloaded without time to recover.
Now, let’s Talk About “Mom Guilt”
So many of us carry guilt for just needing a break, or for wanting more than just being “mom.” But here’s what I remind myself (and my clients): taking care of yourself is taking care of your family. You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to prove your worth by doing everything. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay just because everyone else thinks you are.
What Help Can Look Like
You don’t need to do everything alone. Support can look like:
- Therapy or coaching
- More rest: even small breaks during the day
- Moving your body in a way that helps you feel grounded
- Eating regular meals and staying hydrated
- Getting outside for 10 minutes
- Asking for help without over-explaining
- Saying “no” to things that drain you
- Journaling or breathing for 3 minutes without distractions
Support in motherhood doesn’t have to be big or fancy. Even micro-recovery (tiny moments of recharge) can help shift your nervous system out of fight-or-flight and into calm. And small changes really do add up.
Whether you’re six weeks or seven years postpartum like me, you don’t have to ignore what you’re feeling. You don’t need a diagnosis to know that something’s off. You don’t need permission to rest, ask for help, or focus on your well-being. You’re not broken. You’re not weak. You’re not alone. And you deserve to feel like you again, not just the version of you that gets things done.
Learn more about Loanna HERE. To work with Loanna, email: loanna@getmomentumfit.com