Beyond Burnout: The Hidden Strain of Autism Moms Balancing Work and Life

Let’s talk about a level of stress most people will never truly understand: being a mom to a neurodivergent child while managing a career, running a household, and trying to keep yourself from falling apart. This is relentless, all-consuming, and often invisible to the outside world—but you feel it in every fiber of your being.

If you’re an autism mom who’s also working, you know exactly what I mean.

You’re juggling therapies, IEP meetings, sensory meltdowns, and a world that doesn’t always understand your child—on top of deadlines, meetings, and all the invisible labor that comes with being "the one who holds it all together."

It’s no wonder you’re tired. Not just "need a nap" tired - but bone-deep, emotionally-spent, I-don’t-know-how-much-longer-I-can-do-this tired.

This Isn’t Just Stress. It’s Survival Mode.

When you’re constantly switched "on" for everyone else, your brain and body don’t get a break. You’re running on cortisol and coffee, trying to keep up, and beating yourself up when you fall short.

And let’s not forget the guilt:

• Guilt for not doing enough at work.

• Guilt for wanting a break from parenting.

• Guilt for not being "present" enough anywhere.

You Are Not Failing. You Are Carrying Too Much.

This isn’t about being strong enough or organized enough. It’s about being human in a life that demands superhuman energy.

At Cognitive Shift Therapy, we work with autism moms who are carrying it all and wondering when it’s going to break them. Therapy is a place to set it down for a minute, breathe, and figure out how to stop surviving and start living with everything you’re managing. We offer teletherapy so you can fit it in around conference calls, making two dinners (buttered noodles again!), and all the other things you juggle in a day.

We focus on:

• Managing the mental overload and emotional exhaustion

• Letting go of perfectionism and impossible standards

• Setting boundaries without guilt

• Rebuilding your energy and sense of self

It’s Okay to Need Support

You’re not weak for needing help. You’re not selfish for wanting time to care for yourself. You’re allowed to want more than just getting through the day.

If this feels like your life, let’s talk. You deserve a space where it’s not about fixing everything - it’s about not having to do it alone.

Teletherapy available anywhere in Ohio.

Let’s talk about what your shift could look like.👉 Schedule a free consult