Feel-good commercials with “perfect” families in the foreground can set an unrealistic expectation that being a parent should always be a blissful experience. While parenthood brings happiness in many ways, it cannot be denied that parenting also entails a lot of challenges and stressors.

Many parents both work inside and outside the home to support the family needs. Balancing time and energy between work and parenting duties can be a taxing and complicated process.

Apart from the essential duties that parents must carry out, there are other requirements of life to be managed as well. While parenthood certainly involves joy, it is not uncommon for parents to be overwhelmed, experiencing anxiety, depression, confusion, and frustration.

Feeling the Weight of Parenthood

Many parents feel the downside of their role at some time or another. Early parental distress may dissipate over time, but some negative feelings may persist for much longer. Change can be difficult for anyone, but it is twice as difficult when it involves responsibility for another person.

As most parents know, attending to the constant demands of a young child is physically exhausting, leaving you feeling fatigued and overworked. Studies show that this not only affects the parents’ overall well-being, but greatly reduces their ability to respond to the children’s needs with sensitivity and confidence.

Physical exhaustion is difficult to separate from emotional exhaustion. Fatigued parents are at risk for depression, higher levels of irritability, and less happiness. There are additional factors associated with child care that may contribute to parental depression. The emotional demands of parenthood can make it harder to enjoy the rewards of having children. Fortunately, support is available. Therapy can help.

Enjoying the Ride

Parenthood is like riding a roller coaster of emotions. It has its ups and downs, and sometimes it can go backwards. While there are times of incomparable fulfillment, evidence reveals that parenthood is grueling mentally as well. Most parents have times when their patience is tried and even reaches its breaking point. You may get angry, depressed, irritated, and agitated.

Being a parent is the toughest job anyone will ever love. It’s the little moments of parenting, like when your baby takes the first steps or how they run to you when they get home from school, that can have the biggest impact. Paying attention to these specific moments can make a difference in how you experience parenthood.

When the Going Gets Tough

Nobody is perfect, especially when it comes to parenting. Every parent will experience failure in their role in one way or another. It is important to remember this fact to keep from being discouraged and help you strive to become a better parent.

The saying that “parents know best” is often misconstrued as saying parenting is an automatic or inherent skill. No matter how instinctive a parent you are, there can be a lot to learn as you go along the path of parenthood. An awareness of your strengths and weaknesses is valuable in gauging where you may want to focus more attention. You can get this kind of help by seeing a licensed counselor or therapist who can encourage you through the overwhelming tasks of parenthood.

The Help You Need to Get Going

Parenting isn’t easy. It doesn’t come with an instruction manual for being the perfect parent. It’s absolutely normal to feel frustrated and confused by the many challenges of parenthood.

Some parents, however, feel embarrassed to admit they need help. The truth is, everyone needs help. It is important to realize that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Parents owe it to themselves and their children to seek all means to solve problems. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Get the help you deserve from Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC. With CCS you’ll be matched with one of our independently contracted counselors offering counseling that is tailored to your unique needs. Call CCS today to get started. Online counseling and in person sessions are available!

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