Mental health struggles are common for people from diverse backgrounds, age groups and life journeys. Thus, homemakers are also no exception to facing diverse mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and substance use. Homemakers are those individuals who wear multiple hats to support the family’s well-being. In this process, at times, their wellness may be compromised. Thus, homemaker mental health deserves to be taken care of with utmost empathy and kindness!
Who Is a Homemaker?
A homemaker can be described as an individual who manages the house and takes care of the household responsibilities. While homemakers can be of different genders, a lot of times females get associated with this role due to several reasons, including the patriarchal society system. At times, homemakers can feel underappreciated despite all the hard work they put in to support the family’s welfare. Some of the many responsibilities of a homemaker can include:
1. Taking care of the children’s well-being (nutrition, medical, academic, etc.)
2. Taking care of the spouse's well-being (nutrition, emotional support, etc)
3. Managing the household (cleaning, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.)
In all of these around-the-clock responsibilities, a homemaker's mental health can get compromised due to a lack of self-care and a feeling of burnout.
Understanding Homemaker Mental Health: Common Mental Health Struggles They Face
Homemakers’ mental health can be impacted due to several different reasons, such as:
1. Being alone in the house may make one feel lonely and anxious
2. Juggling between multiple roles can be tiresome and lead to exhaustion
3. One may also feel low due to a lack of acknowledgement
The mental health struggles of a homemaker should not be avoided. Instead, it is important to ensure they feel respected and their needs are also taken care of!
Stress in Homemakers
Stress in homemakers can be due to several reasons, such as:
1. Financial concerns and crisis
2. Health of family members
3. Empty nest-related concerns
4. Multiple responsibilities
Depression in Homemakers
The signs of depression in homemakers can be observed in many ways, such as:
1. Persistent sadness and feeling low
2. Lack of interest in daily activities
3. Feeling lethargic and tired
4. Difficulty concentrating
5. Sleep is getting disturbed
6. Risk of self-harm or harm towards others
Depression in homemakers may show up in different ways through diverse symptoms, and the intensity of concerns can also vary.
Read Also: Symptoms of Depression in Women
Anxiety and Overthinking
Anxiety and overthinking in homemakers can be observed in the following ways:
1. Constantly worrying about family members
2. A strong need for persistent reassurance
3. Overanalysing every possible situation
4. Psychosomatic symptoms because of worry
5. Repetitive negative thoughts
Loneliness and Social Isolation
A homemaker may feel alone at home, especially during the daytime when children are busy with academics and the spouse is busy due to professional commitments. If the individual is unable to manage loneliness at home, then mental health struggles can be observed. It can be for any individual; men's and women’s mental health can be influenced due to a lack of healthy social interaction.
Causes Behind Mental Health Struggles in Homemakers
While there can be many different causes of mental health struggles in homemakers, some possible causes include:
1. Lack of acknowledgement despite immense hard work
2. Lack of financial independence
3. Spending long hours alone and feeling lonely
4. Unable to take out self-care time and set boundaries
How Family Members Can Support Homemakers
Family members can become mindful of any possible warning signs of homemaker mental health struggles. They can offer support to the homemakers in the following ways:
1. Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the homemaker
2. Offer emotional support through positive strokes and empathy
3. Encourage a healthy pause between multiple responsibilities
4. Engaging in healthy social connections and building networks
5. Family activities that offer space for quality family time
Self-Care Strategies for Homemakers
There can be numerous self-care strategies for homemakers that can help them improve their mental wellness. Mental health struggles in homemakers can be managed with the help of self-care strategies and proper professional support. A few of the many self-care strategies have been briefly discussed below.
Daily Emotional Reset Habits
- Breathing techniques
- Staying hydrated
- Positive affirmations
Building a Support Circle
- Joining support groups
- Staying connected with friends
- Attended hobby classes
- Joining workshops and book clubs
- Engaging in volunteering
Financial Awareness and Independence
- Gaining financial awareness
- Participating in financial decisions
- Keeping track of financial expenses
- Exploring work opportunities
- Learning digital payment system
Professional Help and Counseling
- Therapy can offer a safe space for expression
- One can identify the root cause of concern
- A proper assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan can be developed
- Family therapy and couple therapy can also be helpful
When to Seek Professional Help
The homemaker, as well as the close ones, can identify signs of mental distress and encourage seeking professional help for mental health struggles. Some of the signs that can indicate a need for mental health intervention include:
1. Persistent sadness
2. Psychosomatic symptoms
3. Feeling burnout
4. Frequent mood shifts
5. Interpersonal conflicts
Conclusion
Seeking mental health support promptly can save a life as well. At Athena OKAS, we believe in saving and supporting the lives of women facing mental health challenges. If you see your loved one, such as your mother, daughter, sister, etc., struggling with mental health concerns, then feel free to reach out to us by calling us at +91 9289730444
We are here to help you with the best possible treatment methodologies offered by top-most experts in the field.
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