With more women in the workforce than ever before, there can be added pressure for mothers to balance work and personal commitments. This often involves sacrificing their own health and well-being to provide for their families, or pushing themselves too hard to keep up with their peers.
A large-scale survey conducted by Everyday Health Group in October 2022 found that 68% of mothers struggle with feelings of anxiety. Furthermore, 35% of those respondents described those feelings as ranging from moderate to severe. This highlights an unprecedented trend of so-called “maternal burnout,” particularly among Gen Z mothers.
At the same time, there are more resources available for mothers than ever before, with many companies offering flexible working hours and other family-friendly benefits. Online therapy providers like Talkspace or MDLIVE (formerly BreakThrough Therapy) can make it even easier for mothers to manage both work and personal commitments without sacrificing too much of their time or energy.
Common Issues Between Mothers and Young Daughters
Most issues that can come up between mothers and daughters tend to arise from the former’s side of the relationship. This is obviously not the fault of the mother herself, but the inevitable result of balancing parental duties, a career, and a myriad of other possible obligations in this modern age.
Here are five common issues that can occur between mothers and daughters:
Time Management and Dismissiveness
Mothers often become overwhelmed by their own work, social, or personal commitments. This can lead to them inadvertently deprioritizing important events in their daughter’s life, like recitals and school award ceremonies. Many daughters can perceive this limited availability as dismissiveness or a lack of parental support.
Poor time management can cause a breakdown in communication, with no time set aside for dialogue without external distractions. This can ultimately strain the bond between many mothers and daughters, growing into larger issues if left unaddressed.
Establishing and Enforcing Boundaries
Setting and enforcing boundaries with young children can be a difficult task. It’s important to establish clear limits, rules, and expectations for children early on so they understand what behavior is and isn’t acceptable. This can be especially difficult for young daughters, particularly if they’re used to getting their way.
Fathers are known to dote on their daughters, which can cause mothers difficulty in enforcing consequences. Additionally, a hectic schedule can make it equally hard to positively reinforce good behavior. Without sound strategies and unified support in the household, mothers can struggle to establish boundaries effectively.
Drifting or Growing Apart
Following a divorce, relationships between mothers and daughters can be hard to navigate. Even in the best of circumstances, it can take time for both parties to adjust to their new family dynamics. In some cases, mother and daughter may struggle with communication issues or experience tension due to changing expectations, roles, and long distances. In worse cases, there may be unresolved feelings of hurt, resentment, or even anger that can lead to conflict.
Self-Involvement and Meddling
Mothers commonly see their daughters as extensions of themselves, which is healthy and understandable—to an extent. However, this can begin to cause negative interactions when it escalates to habitual micromanagement.
Early signs of meddling can range from actively selecting friends to controlling wardrobe preferences. Though it may come from a place of love, this is often interpreted as overbearing behavior—particularly when mothers begin to choose and cultivate their daughter’s hobbies or interests. Overinvolvement to this degree can easily strain any relationship and negatively affect a young daughter’s self-esteem.
Welcoming and Acceptance into Adolescence
Many parents—particularly mothers—find it hard to deal with children getting older and gaining independence. Mothers often fear the inevitability of their child having their own social obligations and circle of friends because it means spending time together may be deprioritized. Some daughters even become embarrassed of their mothers and shy away from signs of affection both at home and in public.
The anxiety this causes can lead some mothers to engage in what’s known as “babying,” a form of overcompensation for feeling unneeded. This behavior can cause a child to feel patronized or condescended to, which can negatively affect their own self-perception.
How Online Therapy Can Help
Busy mothers often struggle to find time for themselves and take a moment for self-care. Even when they do, it comes at the cost of availability to their children and loved ones. Online therapy can provide an opportunity for mothers to improve their well-being without having to leave the house or give up precious family time.
Online therapy is convenient, cost-effective, and flexible, allowing mothers to access help from the comfort of their own home. It provides access to professional, qualified therapists with expertise in working with busy individuals and addressing their needs.
Online therapy has a solid track record in treating anxiety and depression, two of the most prevalent mental health issues among mothers.
Busy mothers can benefit from online therapy as it enables them to prioritize self-care without having to take time away from the family. The flexibility and convenience of online therapy makes it easy for mothers to schedule sessions during times that fit into their already hectic schedules.
Online therapy can also provide a safe, secure, and confidential space for mothers to work through challenges they face in their day-to-day lives. Professional therapists are trained in providing support, understanding, and resources that help women manage stress and emotions associated with motherhood.
Good Online Therapy Apps to Use
There are many important factors for online therapy users to consider besides affordability. Insurance coverage, available courses, specializations, and platforms are all items to take into account. However, HIPAA compliance and the protection of private health information is perhaps the single most crucial feature users should look for.
To close out the article, let’s look at two popular online therapy providers featuring comprehensive HIPAA compliance:
● BetterHelp offers access to over 25,000 licensed mental health professionals and a 24/7 support hotline. The service offers a matching system and versatile payment plans via credit card or PayPal. With its impressive number of therapists on staff, BetterHelp covers a broad range of specializations from depression to LGBTQI+ support.
● Talkspace has considerably fewer available therapists on staff at just over 3,000, but does have some of its own advantages. The service can be paid for via credit card, debit card, and multiple online payment processors. It’s also covered by many employee assistance programs (EAP) across the United States. Talkspace offers interactive community support, with messaging and boards for users to connect and share their experiences.
As you navigate the changes and challenges that pop up throughout parenthood, online therapy apps are available to support you. Troomi is here to help, too! Turn to our blog for the latest information on kid-safe tech, tech trends, gadgets and gear, and how it all impacts parents and families.
