When the World Feels Heavy: Therapy for Processing Powerlessness in Times of National Unrest as a Mother

There’s a particular kind of ache that hits when the world feels like it’s falling apart and you’re still expected to pack lunches, attend the school fundraiser, and keep a brave face for your kids.

That feeling of trying to parent while your heart is breaking? It’s not just you.

As a mother, you don’t just carry the weight of your own emotions, you carry the emotional atmosphere of your entire home. And when the news is constantly devastating, when headlines pull your stomach into knots, when you’re watching basic human rights be debated or stripped away in real time, it’s a lot.

And yet the dishes still pile up. The toddler still melts down. The bills still need to be paid.

It’s no wonder so many moms report feeling powerless, hopeless, or chronically dysregulated during times of national crisis. We’re trying to function in our day-to-day lives while our nervous systems are on high alert.

Let’s talk about that.

Why Powerlessness Feels So Heavy

Powerlessness is one of the most uncomfortable emotions we experience. It’s rooted in threat, something bad is happening, and we can’t fix it. That loss of control? It spikes anxiety, shuts down motivation, and activates our survival instincts.

For moms, that powerlessness often comes with guilt. Guilt that we’re not doing enough. Guilt that we still have moments of joy in a hurting world. Guilt that our kids will grow up in a place that feels less safe than it should be.

And if you have a history of trauma, that sense of helplessness might hit even harder. Powerlessness can be a trauma trigger, reminding your nervous system of times when you were voiceless or unsafe.

The Emotional Load During Times of Unrest

Mothers already carry an invisible load of emotional labor. But when we add in national unrest, racism, gun violence, political upheaval, attacks on reproductive rights, the weight can feel unbearable.

You might notice:

• Constant doom-scrolling but feeling more disconnected

• Panic or anxiety about the future

• Difficulty focusing or sleeping

• Snapping at your kids or partner more than usual

• Apathy or emotional numbness

These are not character flaws. These are nervous system responses to chronic stress, grief, and overwhelm.

You’re Not Meant to Hold It All Alone

You might tell yourself, “There are people who have it worse.” Or “I just need to be strong for my family.” But strength doesn’t mean silence. And it definitely doesn’t mean self-abandonment.

Feeling the weight of the world doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you care.

But you can’t pour from an empty cup. You’re allowed to grieve, rage, process, and exhale even if nothing around you changes. Your feelings are valid, even when they’re inconvenient. Especially then.

How Therapy Can Help

Therapy doesn’t fix the world. But it does help you stay rooted when everything feels unsteady.

In therapy, you can:

• Say the quiet part out loud without judgment

• Work through trauma responses and survival strategies

• Regulate your nervous system when the news feels like too much

• Grieve without apologizing

• Get clear on your values and how you want to show up

• Find action steps (small or big) that align with your capacity

Therapy offers a space to set down what you’ve been carrying so you can move forward with more clarity, presence, and resilience.

Permission to Protect Your Peace

You’re not a bad mom for muting the news. For logging off. For choosing to preserve your peace when you feel yourself spiraling.

That’s not avoidance. That’s nervous system care.

Your kids don’t need a mom who knows every headline. They need a mom who can stay present. A mom who still laughs, hugs, and creates safe spaces in an uncertain world.

So yes, feel the feelings. But also let yourself feel joy. Let yourself rest. Let yourself turn it off when it’s too much.

You’re allowed to choose presence over pressure.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve Support, Too

If the world feels heavy and you’re struggling to hold it all, you’re not alone. There is no perfect way to parent during chaos, but there are tools that can help you feel more grounded, supported, and clear.

Therapy is one of them.

If you’re ready to unpack the emotional load, process what’s keeping you stuck, and learn how to feel safe in your body again, I’m here.

Schedule a free 15-minute consult to see if therapy is the right next step for you.

You don’t have to carry this alone. Let’s lighten the load, together.