Fighting Loneliness in Motherhood

In previous generations, mothers were dependent on family and friends for support and community. In our culture, though, we have a misconception that we have to be independent in everything we do. Relying on others is often seen as a sign of weakness.

Licensed mental health counselor, Jessica Hatton, argues that relying on others is a sign of strength.

Here’s her tip to fight loneliness in motherhood:

“I would say start by making a list of the people in your life that are safe, that you can trust, and that the people around you that will hold you accountable and encourage you. Figure out what role they might play in helping you along the way. Different friends might fulfill different roles or meet different needs. You might have one friend who’s able to hold you accountable. You might have another who’s the life of the party and just like to encourage you to go out to the movies with them and have fun. And then you might have one that’s just going to always be, you know, on your side, the encourager, saying, “Hey, I got your back no matter what.” So different friends can meet different needs, and figuring out how people can help in various ways without relying solely on one person to carry everything can be helpful.”