Motherhood is a mixed bag of joys, challenges and life changes. Some mothers, especially those who stay home with their children, experience feelings of isolation and disconnection from other adults and friends. Isolation can lead to feelings of sadness, affect daily life and cause disruptions in the mother's relationships with her friends and loved ones. Reaching out to others, getting involved in the community and self care can help reduce feelings of isolation.
Isolation & Roles
Gather and Mom Central Consulting conducted a 2009 study that researched feelings of loneliness and connectedness among 1,321 mothers. Four out of five moms reported that they don't have enough friends and 58 percent of the mothers reported feelings of loneliness. According to Pregnancy-Info, motherhood can be a busy and overwhelming period. Personal time can fall by the wayside and feelings of isolation may increase if mothers are not active about engaging in social activities and relationships.
Identity Confusion
During motherhood, a mom might feel disconnected from the dreams, goals and ambitions that were important to her prior to having a child. While new goals and a shift of focus may be a welcome change for some, it may lead to feelings of isolation in a woman who has associated herself with a professional community or career path. Confusion about what she wants to achieve in her career, what she wants to do with her time and how she should invest her energy may lead to feelings of distress and isolation about her sense of purpose outside of her family life.
Support
Connecting to other mothers provides an outlet for conversation and a way to voice feelings of isolation. Knowing that others are going through similar emotions and experiencing the same challenges can alleviate feelings of isolation and provide a supportive environment for discussion. Some community health centers, birthing centers and churches offer mother support groups. Joining one increases adult interaction and provides a forum for support.
Friends and Family
Valuing personal time is important during motherhood. Scheduling social engagements, hiring a babysitter and participating in enjoyable activities prevents (or helps stop) a mother from feeling isolated from her peers. Taking a dance or yoga class, joining a book club or finding an other outlet that empowers a mother to step in to her role as an individual (not just as a mom) will reduce feelings of isolation during motherhood.
Combatting Isolation
Mothers are often short on time and can't always take a vacation or reconnect with other adults when they experience feelings of isolation. Taking a bath, practicing deep breathing, meditation and exercise are all ways to reduce symptoms of isolation (fatigue, feelings of loneliness and sadness). Sleep and rest ensure that emotions are not amplified by fatigue.
