The Mental Health Realities of Motherhood
Tue Feb 03 2026
What does burnout really look like for high-functioning women and mothers?
In this powerful episode of Mighty as a Mother, we sit down with clinical psychologist and maternal mental health expert Dr. Lilit to unpack the emotional and physical toll of modern motherhood. Together, we explore why so many women feel exhausted, disconnected, and stretched too thin—and why those feelings often go unnamed and untreated.
If you've ever asked yourself, Why am I so tired even after I sleep? Why do I feel like I'm falling apart even when things look fine?, this conversation is for you.
Dr. Lilit brings both professional expertise and lived experience to our dialogue, offering real-world insight into how stress manifests in the body, why so many mothers struggle with identity loss, and what we can do—practically and compassionately—to feel more like ourselves again.
In this episode, we explore:
Signs of maternal burnout and chronic stress that often go unnoticed
How emotional overload shows up in the body (think: shoulder pain, tight chest, irritability)
The difference between functioning and feeling well
How to create micro-moments of nervous system regulation, even in a packed day
The importance of self-repair and modeling emotional honesty for our kids
Why many moms carry guilt for simply needing a break—and how to release it
Key topics we cover:
maternal mental health support, burnout in motherhood, nervous system tools, mental load of parenting, working mom wellness, somatic signs of stress, how to set emotional boundaries, postpartum mental health, emotional regulation for moms
Links & Resources
👉 The CDC on connected playtime and child development: Link
👉 Follow Dr. Lilit on Instagram: @dr.lilit
👉 Learn more about her practice: www.drlilit.com
👉 Jenn's favorite mindfulness tool: Calm App
👉 Our most-downloaded episodes on burnout:
🎧 E39: Boundary Setting, Beating Burnout, and Reclaiming Yourself – Part 1
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e39-boundary-setting-beating-burnout-and-reclaiming/id1687678053?i=1000679065346 (podcasts.apple.com)
🎧 E40: Boundary Setting, Beating Burnout, and Reclaiming Yourself – Part 2
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/e40-boundary-setting-beating-burnout-and-reclaiming/id1687678053?i=1000680685965 (podcasts.apple.com)
-------------------------
For more conversations on motherhood, identity, and mental health, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast for more honest reflections on modern motherhood.
More
What does burnout really look like for high-functioning women and mothers? In this powerful episode of Mighty as a Mother, we sit down with clinical psychologist and maternal mental health expert Dr. Lilit to unpack the emotional and physical toll of modern motherhood. Together, we explore why so many women feel exhausted, disconnected, and stretched too thin—and why those feelings often go unnamed and untreated. If you've ever asked yourself, Why am I so tired even after I sleep? Why do I feel like I'm falling apart even when things look fine?, this conversation is for you. Dr. Lilit brings both professional expertise and lived experience to our dialogue, offering real-world insight into how stress manifests in the body, why so many mothers struggle with identity loss, and what we can do—practically and compassionately—to feel more like ourselves again. In this episode, we explore: Signs of maternal burnout and chronic stress that often go unnoticed How emotional overload shows up in the body (think: shoulder pain, tight chest, irritability) The difference between functioning and feeling well How to create micro-moments of nervous system regulation, even in a packed day The importance of self-repair and modeling emotional honesty for our kids Why many moms carry guilt for simply needing a break—and how to release it Key topics we cover: maternal mental health support, burnout in motherhood, nervous system tools, mental load of parenting, working mom wellness, somatic signs of stress, how to set emotional boundaries, postpartum mental health, emotional regulation for moms Links & Resources 👉 The CDC on connected playtime and child development: Link 👉 Follow Dr. Lilit on Instagram: @dr.lilit 👉 Learn more about her practice: www.drlilit.com 👉 Jenn's favorite mindfulness tool: Calm App 👉 Our most-downloaded episodes on burnout: 🎧 E39: Boundary Setting, Beating Burnout, and Reclaiming Yourself – Part 1 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e39-boundary-setting-beating-burnout-and-reclaiming/id1687678053?i=1000679065346 (podcasts.apple.com) 🎧 E40: Boundary Setting, Beating Burnout, and Reclaiming Yourself – Part 2 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/e40-boundary-setting-beating-burnout-and-reclaiming/id1687678053?i=1000680685965 (podcasts.apple.com) ------------------------- For more conversations on motherhood, identity, and mental health, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast for more honest reflections on modern motherhood.