How to Unwind as an Overstimulated Mom
|
|
Time to read 10 min
I know, as a mom, the words "self care" make me cringe too. I mean, yeah sure, if I can find the time between endless laundry, breaking up arguments, and cooking three meals a day that they don't want to eat—i'll light a candle and run a hot bubble bath.
Not.
Finding time to do self care as a mom, let alone doing it mindfully, is nearly impossible. And then, for some of us who suffer from sensory overload, overstimulation, mom burnout, or even all of the above—it truly might very well be impossible.
So, as a fellow easily, yet recovering overstimulated mom, lets talk about how to unwind and take unattainable "self care" out of it.
Why you can trust me:
-
I am a certified anger management specialist.
-
I am an herbalist with 10 years of study and practice, and have my own apothecary specifically for struggling mothers.
-
I am a recovering overstimulated mom, of two children, who now thoroughly enjoys motherhood, and is actively breaking the cycle every single day.
Want to check out my infusion blends for overstimulation and burnout? Visit The Mother's Apothecary.
Table of Contents
How to Unwind In a Nutshell Quick Relief Guide for Overstimulation In Motherhood How to Unwind What Does It Mean to Be Overstimulated as a Parent? What Is Depleted Mother Syndrome? How Herbs Help Me Unwind, & How They Can Help You Too My Favorite Way to Teach Mom's How To Unwind My Top 6 Herbs for Stress Herbal Blends for Overstimulation and Mommy Burnout Transforming Your Infusion into a Calming Herbal Mocktail Quick Tips for Moms to Ease Overstimulation My Final Thoughts on How to Unwind when Struggling with Burnout Frequently Asked Questions Read More on Mom Burnout
How to Unwind In a Nutshell
Too Long, Didn't Read (TL;DR)
Feeling overstimulated as a mom may be common but shouldn't be your default setting. Learn to recognize the signs—like irritability, exhaustion, or emotional outbursts (mom rage)—and take quick action with small simple resets:
-
30 seconds: Deep breathing, a second away, noise-canceling headphones.
-
5 minutes: Calming Herbal infusion or mocktail, grounding exercises (if thats your thing).
-
10 minutes: Gentle stretching, time outside (let the kids run).
Herbal support can help manage overwhelm, and chronic stress in motherhood.
Try incorporating calming infusions into your daily routine, like at 4:30 PM when the stress of dinnertime peaks.
Visit The Mothers' Apothecary for curated herbal blends, and Infusion recipe guides designed to support us easily overstimulated moms.
Find herbal blends for overstimulation and mom burnout in our shop, The Mothers' Apothecary❤︎
Quick Relief Guide for Overstimulation In Motherhood
Her is a quick guide I made for us easily overstimulated mom's who want detailed direction on how to unwind quickly. Or how to stop the overwhelm before it turns to mom rage. Feel free to download this graph, and pin it to your mirror or somewhere in your home that you visit often.
How to Unwind Graph for Overstimulated Moms or ADHD Moms
How to Unwind
There was a time when I would count down every minute until my next "break"—"how long until nap time?", counting down the minutes until their dad would be home from work to relieve me just a little, and then watching the clock until bedtime. Only to do it again and again every day.
I remember those days, months, years even... being so hard. I wasn't truly present, I wasn't enjoying motherhood, and I felt intense guilt, shame, and confusion most days.
My brain fog was thick, and my patience was thin. I knew something needed to change.
I was that overstimulated mom, barely hanging on by day and questioning if I even deserved to be a mother by night.
But over time, I learned that unwinding isn’t about escaping motherhood (because you'll just come back feeling burnout again), but it’s about giving yourself permission to reset even if just for a moment.
The trick is finding your "reset actions". In other words, what are the things you can do, no matter whats going on in that moment that will being you even an ounce of relief. Because an ounce can mean the difference between regulation and a fit of dreaded mom rage, and yes, mom rage is real.
Before just throwing my opinion around on how to unwind, let's start by going over what it actually means to be overstimulated as a parent, what depleted mother syndrome is, and a bit about those early month postpartum—just to be sure this is what you're actually struggling with. Let's see if you relate.
Image provided by Bloggle, How to Unwind
What Does It Mean to Be Overstimulated as a Parent?
Being an overstimulated mom is more than just being tired, or feeling like you need a little time for yourself; it’s a state when your senses are bombarded by way, way too much input but theres literally no where to put it.
Imagine this: The wur of the dryer far off in the background, the shrill of kids’ yells (or cries), the dog needing out, dinner sizzling and needing a stir, and all the added background noise (and sometimes movement) of a full, busy home—all at once.
This is whats happening inside an easily overstimulated moms brain: The amygdala, that teeny tiny part of your brain who has the big job of being responsible for processing stress, gets hit with a truck full of stimuli, leaving you feeling on edge, snappy, and easily overwhelmed. Especially when you're already feeling exhausted.
Overstimulation symptoms: Chronic irritability, struggling to enjoy even the good moments, difficulty concentrating or remembering, and an overwhelming sense of burnout that doesn't seem to let up, even with "self care" or a "break" away from motherhood. In short, it’s a relentless cycle that can leave even the strongest mom feeling unworthy, and shattered.
What Is Depleted Mother Syndrome?
Let's give Deplete Mother Syndrome just a second in the spotlight because it's actually quite serious, and definitely not talked about enough.
Depleted Mother Syndrome, or DMS, is that chronic, unrelenting, and heavy exhaustion that isn’t relieved by sleep, self care, or time away.
It’s when you feel so drained—physically, emotionally, and mentally that you could invent a whole new category for it. No but really, it's when even the smallest tasks feel monumental.
DMS is caused by constant caregiving (not your own of course), lack of proper support for the mother, and the heavy mental load that accompanies motherhood. It’s not just fatigue; it’s the feeling that you’re giving your best, giving your all, total output, with zero input.
Deplete Mother Syndrome is extreme, it's not meant to be taken lightly, and it truly needs intervention.
Symptoms of Deplete Mother Syndrome:
- Chronic Irritability
- Emotional Detachment
- Feeling Inadequate
- Exhausted, yet sleepy or experiencing insomnia
- Physical Exhaustion
- Difficulty Bonding with Child
Okay, now lets get into how to unwind, as an easily overstimulated mama.
infographic showing six symptoms of Depleted Mother Syndrome
"As if there wasn't enough worth fighting for already, it's not just their childhood, it's your motherhood.
How Herbs Help Me Unwind, & How They Can Help You Too
My Favorite Way to Teach Mom's How To Unwind
My turning point came when I literally could not take it anymore, and I was so, so ready to revoke my application to the Overstimulated Mom's Club, because let's be honest that table isn't beneficial for any of us to sit at.
As an herbalist already, and having much success with herbal remedies in out home, I started exploring how and what herbs can be used for mommy burnout, brain health, and emotional support.
Herbs quickly became my secret weapon to ease overstimulation, relieve the relentless tension that seemed to fully define my days, and quite literally get me off the couch so that I could even begin to change my motherhood journey.
I discovered that a well-crafted, carefully dosed herbal infusion can work wonders for overstimulation and stress. An infusion is unlike a quick, weak tea. An infusion is brewed with more herb, and for a longer duration, thus releasing more of the herbs’ powerful compounds that help restore balance to our burnt out bodies.
I learned to prepare my herbal infusion by using 2-3 teaspoons of the blend per 8oz of hot (not boiling) water , steeping it for 15-20 minutes, or even overnight on the counter top.
Frequency: I drink an herbal blend 1-3 times a day as needed. I always start with a cup in the morning, sometimes I can skip the afternoon, but I NEVER skip the cup around 4:30 PM because dinner time is the most overstimulating for me.
How to unwind using herbs
My Top 6 Herbs for Stress
How to Unwind Using Herbs
- Lemon Balm: Quickly soothes nerves, reduces anxiety, quiets the noise, all while supporting digestion.
- Lavender: Both calming/sleep supporting, and uplifting/energizing depending on how it's used.
- Chamomile: A gentle, calming effect that can be increased for sleep support.
- Nettle: Nourishes deeply with essential vitamins and minerals that boost energy, support overall health, and combat burnout in a big way.
- Milky Oat Tops: Softens mood, while gently helping balance hormones naturally.
- Red Raspberry Leaf: Surprise! Not just for pregnancy. Red raspberry leaf supports uterine tone and full body vitality, while also easing sensory overload.
Herbal Blends for Overstimulation and Mommy Burnout
Transforming Your Infusion into a Calming Herbal Mocktail
For those days when you crave a little something extra, or feel the need for alcohol, instead try this simple herbal mocktail recipe:
- Brew your herbal infusion as usual. Sweeten with 2 tsp honey while its warm.
- Then let it cool, & pour it over ice.
- Add ½ cup coconut water and a couple squeezes of fresh lemon.
- Stir well and enjoy a stress-melting, alcohol free drink.
My favorite blend to turn into an herbal mocktail
How to unwind with a calming herbal mocktail
Quick Tips for Moms to Ease Overstimulation
- Set Boundaries: It’s okay to say “no” or ask for a moment of quiet—my favorite way to do this with my own children is to say "mommy's brain needs a break". After explaining that sometimes moms get overwhelmed with lots of sounds, and need some quiet—they normally comply.
- Manage Sensory Inputs: Use white noise machines (not just for babies), dim lights, let children use headphones for screen activities, or severely declutter your space to reduce stimuli.
- Prioritize Micro-Breaks: Even 2 minutes of deep breathing, or a quick cup of herbal infusion can help reset your mood. Pro tip? Involve the kids, it'll only be difficult the first few times, after you teach them, it'll be seamless.
- Lean into Herbal Rituals: Consistency is key when it comes to herbs, or anything holistic—shoot to make your herbal infusion a daily ritual for best results. I like to overnight infuse it in a 1/2 gallon glass jar so that I have enough for a few days.
- Practice Self-Compassion: Remind yourself, “I’m doing my best, with the capacity i currently hold”, and celebrate even the smallest wins.
How to unwind as a mother
Further Readings
My Final Thoughts on How to Unwind when Struggling with Burnout
Motherhood is challenging, and being an easily overstimulated mom is not a sign of failure, and it isn't something you're stuck with—it’s simply a signal that you need to nurturing too.
With the right tools, and a gentle, consistent routine, you can manage your overstimulation, ease the mommy burnout, and become the mother you've always dreamt of becoming.
As always, I’d absolutly love to hear from you—Have any input on how to unwind? What part of the day overstimulates you the most? What’s your biggest road block when it comes to unwinding? Feel free to reply to this post, or share your thoughts with me on instagram.
Remember, you deserve to have moments of relaxation, gratitude, and fully present with your littles and with yourself.
Disclaimer
This listing, product, and blog are not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional or physician before beginning any new health regimen, including the use of herbal supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking medications.
The guidance provided here is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Your Friend Hanna, its owner, or Hanna at Home and contributors are not liable for any decisions or actions taken based on the content shared on this website.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Mothers' Apothecary!
The Author: Your Friend Hanna
Hanna, a mother of two who formally struggled with severe overstimulation and mom burnout early on in motherhood, successfully used herbal remedies to manage overstimulation, support her body and mind through postpartum—now, she's telling her story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Mother’s Apothecary offer pregnancy and breastfeeding blends?
Yes we do! We support mothers in all stages of motherhood.
Am I experiencing overstimulation or just regular stress?
Good question. Overstimulation is when your brain is overloaded with too much sensory input at once , making it hard incredibly to focus, process, or stay calm (even with little things). If you're feeling constantly irritated, exhausted, or like you “can’t take another sound/touch” , it’s quite likely that you're experiencing overstimulation. Regular stress builds over time, but overstimulation can feel instant and leave you feeling helpless. If you suspect you're struggling with overstimulation, it may be time to speak to your healthcare provider.
Can I incorporate herbal blends into my daily routine?
Absolutly! Herbs are best used consistently, and many build up in your system over-time, therefore they may take longer to have a noticeable effect. Though, you should always speak with your healthcare provider before trying something new, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Is it normal to feel “touched out” as a mom?
Absolutely! Many moms (and people in general) experience that “touched-out” feeling , especially postpartum. Constant contact with a baby or kids can overwhelm your senses.
