Everyone has their fair share of stress, but has anyone ever wondered why women get the brunt of it? Often bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders, the average woman encounters an overwhelming amount of stress on the regular basis. You’ve got so many hats to wear from wife and mother to homemaker and career woman, that juggling it all at the same time isn’t always a piece of cake. When things start to fall apart for the “backbone” of the family, things can get out of hand.
When Stress Becomes Too Much
You may be thinking that stress is a normal part of life. That is a fact. However, too much of it can wreak havoc on everything you’re working so hard to build. When a person becomes chronically stressed out or emotionally drained, it can look sort of like this:
- Low energy
- Lack of focus or concentration
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Moodiness
- Body aches and pain
- Weakened immune system
- Dependence or abuse of substances like prescription meds, street drugs, or alcohol
Your body has a unique way of letting you know when you’re taking on too much in life. If you’ve recognized any of these signs lately, you should seek treatment. This may mean getting medication from a doctor, talking to a therapist, or going to rehab for alcohol treatment. These are all red flags that you’re on the verge of burning out which can lead to a downward spiral from your personal relationships to your finances and home life.
What’s Got You Uptight?
So what’s the deal? You’re stressed to the max and your body is starting to feel it. Since you’re always doing the most, it may be hard to figure out just what’s got you to your boiling point. A little self-reflection and life analysis can help you to determine which event or circumstance is putting too much on your physical and emotional well-being. Some of the most common sources of stress include:
Family – Your family is more than just your source of happiness, they could be the very reason you’re so stressed lately. Women get worked up over a lot when it comes to their families. Making sure that your family is taken care of requires a lot from you. Taking care of the kids, tending to the needs of your spouse, making sure the home is clean and meals are prepared, working a job to keep food on the table, and a host of other family-related responsibilities can lead to overload.
Finances – The cost of living isn’t getting any cheaper. That, on top of having enough money to do extras for your family, is a lot to worry about. Monthly household expenses, paying off debt, saving for college, and other financial realities can wear on you – whether your spouse is there to help or not.
Loss of Self – You know what a lot of women have in common when they get in committed relationships and become mothers? They end up giving so much to their family that they have nothing left to give themselves. They sacrifice friendships, personal interests, career passions, and even little simplicities like taking a bubble bath or reading a book for simple enjoyment and before long, they forget completely who they are outside of their responsibilities to their spouses and children.
How Do You Fix It?
You can’t completely get rid of stress. In fact, it’s probably a good idea that you don’t. Be that as it may, when your emotional and physical well-being is at stake, it will start to bleed into your family, personal, and professional life making it harder to get past. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is thinking of ways to reduce the stress in your life.
- Make “me time” a priority. Take a few hours out of each day or pencil in a day each week to just do something that you love.
- Ask for help. Whether it’s talking to your spouse about taking on household chores or helping out more with the kids after school or you need to talk with a therapist about your substance abuse, there is nothing weak or wrong with getting help.
- Manage your finances. Get a handle on your finances so you don’t have to freak out all the time. Create a budget, cut out overspending, start saving for emergencies, set up college savings accounts for the kids, and work with creditors to eliminate debt.
Being a woman is no easy task. As the staple in a family household, your responsibilities are numbered. You love your family and you may even love the things you do to keep them happy, safe, and healthy. Be that as it may, if what you’re doing is causing you to break down, engage in reckless behaviors, or damage personal and professional relationships, you have to re-prioritize things. The best way to tackle the common stresses in your life is to clearly identify the triggers, talk to others for solutions, and most importantly, always take care of self first.