Parenthood is often portrayed as a joyful chapter in life. As parents prepare to welcome a little one into the world, there are often wishes of enjoying the sweet moments, cherished milestones, and deep love that lies ahead. While there is opportunity for tremendous fulfillment in parenting, the reality is that parenting is a complex journey filled with many emotions and experiences that can feel immensely challenging and heavy. It’s not uncommon for the transition into caregiving for a child to be accompanied by unexpected stress, emotional upheaval, and mental health challenges.
Whether you’re adjusting to life with a newborn, parenting children, or navigating caregiving alongside other life stressors, it’s essential to acknowledge that caring for yourself can feel like a significant barrier, and yet it holds significant importance in maintaining wellbeing and caring for your family.
Parenting doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Many caregivers carry a complex mix of life stressors, including personal mental health challenges, financial stress, relationship strain, work demands. Each parent’s experience is unique, and it’s important to recognize that many also face systemic barriers such as housing insecurity and limited access to healthcare. These realities can make an already demanding role even more difficult.
Mental health challenges among parents are common but still highly stigmatized. Many feel pressure to appear competent and composed, fearing judgment if they show vulnerability. In reality, the data tells a different story— 2019 maternal mental health statistics indicate 33% of mothers in Canada were concerned about their mental health. Mental Health Research Canada also highlighted that depression and anxiety rates following COVID-19 amongst parents had slightly elevated in different parental groups.
While struggling with mental health as a parent can feel isolating, you are not alone. This blog post aims to normalize mental health struggles and emotional challenges in parenting and highlight how parents can care for their own wellbeing.
Mental health challenges can show up in different ways depending on the individual and their circumstances. Some common experiences include:
These symptoms can emerge at any stage of parenting—from the early postpartum period through to adolescence—and may range from subtle to severe. The added stressors of parenthood can also exacerbate existing mental health conditions. The more we openly discuss mental health challenges and recognize that parents are human—with their own emotional limits—the more we break the silence that often leaves caregivers feeling isolated or afraid to seek help.
Take Devorah Herbert , for example. She became a parent at 48, navigating new motherhood without knowing she was at high risk for maternal depression. Overwhelmed with anxiety, sleep deprivation, and challenges breastfeeding, she later identified eight contributing factors that had gone unacknowledged.
These stories remind us that mental health is not a sign of personal failure. Rather, they are a call to compassion, awareness, and systemic support.
Caring for oneself in the midst of parenting is not always easy. For many parents, finding time and space to focus on their own well-being can be a significant challenge, especially when facing structural, financial, or personal barriers. Still, it remains important to recognize and highlight supportive practices that can positively impact mental health. These strategies are not prescriptive, but rather adaptable—meant to be tailored to each individual's unique circumstances and capacity.
Check in with yourself to recognize early signs of stress, sadness, or frustration can help you respond more intentionally. Tools such as the continuum self-check or using guiding questions can be a good way to start self check-ins if you have never practiced them before. We typically might not notice an emotion until it is on the extreme end and self-check-ins can be a helpful tool to become present for a brief moment to notice what we might be experiencing emotionally before it intensifies.
Parents are human beings with emotions - modelling emotions and emotion regulation can be helpful for you and also for your children. Tools like self-compassion can be helpful for forming a non-judgemental perspective on our experience and thinking about what we might need to help support us in moments of high stress. Parenting is incredibly demanding and perfection is not the goal.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. While time-intensive self-care may not always be possible, even small moments to reset—like a quiet cup of tea, a short walk, or a few deep breaths—can make a meaningful difference. Most importantly, tending to your basic needs through consistent habits that support sleep, nutrition, and hydration forms the foundation of mental well-being.
As with anything that is challenging, we cannot do it alone. Support is essential—whether it’s logistical help like childcare, or emotional support through conversations with a loved one or a mental health professional. Building a support network through peers or formal parent support groups can be a way to stay connected with individuals that have an understanding of parenting experiences.
5. Set Boundaries and Realistic Expectations
Identify what’s manageable within your lifestyle. This might mean saying no to extra obligations, setting time aside for yourself, or communicating openly with family members about your needs. Boundaries can be challenging, but a necessary aspect of helping you preserve your emotional energy.
Parenting is a deeply meaningful role, but it also comes with profound challenges that can affect your emotional and mental well-being. Acknowledging this doesn’t diminish your love for your children—it strengthens your ability to show up for them with presence and compassion. Your needs matter, too. Whether you're navigating early parenthood, juggling multiple responsibilities, or simply doing your best to get through the day, know that you're not alone—and support is available. Reaching out, caring for yourself in small (but intentional ways) and taking care of your own needs are important pieces of maintaining wellbeing as a parent.
- Facing mental health challenges? Layla is here to help - Individuals, couples, and families use Layla for personalized, convenient therapy. Layla matches you to a suitable therapist and manage the therapy process in a warm, dependable manner, supporting you on your journey to better health. Learn more here
- New to therapy? Here's your beginner guide - Starting therapy can evoke feelings of vulnerability, but knowing what to expect can help. The journey is individualized, with no exact right or wrong way. During the first session, typically administrative matters are discussed, goals are set, and you and your therapist will get to know each other. Fit between you and you therapist is very important for your outcomes, and it's okay to switch if the fit isn't right. Therapy is adjusted to your timeline and constraints, and can range from weekly to monthly sessions. Reflecting on what you wish to accomplish can guide the process.
