Anxiety in Moms: Signs, Causes, and How Therapy Can Help (Virginia & Online Support)
- willowtreehealingc
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for mothers — yet it often goes unnoticed or minimized. Many moms chalk their symptoms up to exhaustion, overwhelm, or just “life with kids.” But anxiety in motherhood is real, treatable, and deserves support.
This article explores how anxiety shows up in moms, why it’s so common, and how therapy — including online and Virginia‑based options — can help you feel calmer, more confident, and more present.
What Anxiety Really Looks Like for Moms
Anxiety isn’t always dramatic. Many moms experience:
Constant worry about safety, health, or milestones
Feeling “on edge” even during peaceful moments
Difficulty sleeping or relaxing
Racing thoughts or overwhelm
Somatic symptoms like tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort
(Wondering if as an anxious mom if you can pass it on to your kids? Click here.)
The emotional labor of planning, scheduling, anticipating needs, and managing a household keeps the nervous system keyed up — especially over time.
Why Moms Often Develop Anxiety
1. Mental Load & Emotional Labor
Moms carry invisible responsibility for managing everything from schedules to emotional well-being — and that adds up.
2. Hormonal & Life Transitions
Pregnancy, postpartum hormonal changes, exhaustion, and life shifts can intensify anxiety symptoms.
3. Unrealistic Pressures
Comparison culture and the “perfect parent” narrative keep many moms striving — and anxious.
4. Biological Factors
Anxiety and maternal mental health conditions are common — affecting a significant portion of moms, including during pregnancy and postpartum. The CDC reports maternal mental health concerns (like anxiety and depression) contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality and are among the most common complications of childbirth and pregnancy.
Why Location & Accessibility Matter: Virginia & Online Therapy Options
Finding support that fits your life — whether in Virginia or online — makes therapy more accessible. Willow Tree Healing Center has a great online licensed provider to connect to, Mary Willoughby Prentiss.
Online therapy also breaks down barriers like geography and scheduling, allowing busy moms —
whether in Richmond, Norfolk, or rural Virginia — to get support from home.
How Anxiety Can Impact Parenting
When left untreated, anxiety can:
Increase emotional exhaustion
Lead to overthinking or over‑protection
Distort pleasure and presence with kids
Create guilt or second‑guessing
Reduce emotional regulation
Therapy helps you notice patterns and learn new ways to respond rather than just cope.
How Therapy Helps Moms with Anxiety
Therapy offers a space where you don’t have to hold it together alone.
In therapy, you can:
Learn how anxiety shows up in your nervous system
Practice grounding and regulation tools
Explore beliefs driving overwhelm
Build boundaries with compassion
Reconnect with your identity outside of motherhood
Evidence‑based approaches like CBT, nervous system regulation work, and parts‑based therapy can be transformative. Mary Willoughby Prentiss has trained in Level 1 Internal Family Systems.
When to Reach Out for Help
You don’t need to be “falling apart” to seek therapy. If anxiety interferes with your sleep, relationships, or ability to enjoy life, it’s worth talking with a professional. Many moms find relief and growth before reaching a crisis point.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Anxiety in motherhood is common — and treatable. Whether you’re in Virginia or working with a therapist online, support is available.
👉 Ready to take the next step?
Check out my Psychology Today profile — where you can view availability, specialties, and book directly.
If you’re a mom struggling with anxiety, reaching out for help isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s an act of care for yourself and your family.
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Mary Willoughby Prentiss is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia who provides online therapy for Willow Tree Healing Center. She enjoys transforming the lives of women, college students, kids, tweens/teens, and families through providing communication strategies, coping skills that work, allowing a safe space to be heard, and actively working towards helping you with your challenges. She is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (ages 2-7) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, counsels substance abuse in teens and adults, and practices Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
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