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You lose your temper and then immediately feel awful. You tell yourself you’ll stay calm next time. You even promise it. But then the noise, the mess, the demands pile up, and before you know it, you’re snapping again.
You love your kids. You’d do anything for them. So why does it feel like you’re constantly on edge?
What’s actually happening
It’s not that you’re impatient or “bad at parenting.” It’s that your nervous system is overloaded.
You’re likely running on little rest, managing constant stimulation, and carrying the invisible load of keeping everything and everyone together. Your brain doesn’t have space to pause or think, it just reacts.
That’s what snapping is. It’s your body saying, I’m done.
The cycle
Then comes the guilt. You tell yourself to try harder. You Google “gentle parenting tips.” You apologize to your kids, promise to breathe next time, and then do it all again the next day.
This cycle doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re depleted.
Your threshold is lower because you haven’t had time to recharge. And the truth is, most parents are living with chronic stress.
What can help
Start by noticing your triggers. What moments consistently push you over the edge?
Sometimes it’s physical (hunger, fatigue, sensory overload). Sometimes it’s emotional (feeling unseen, unsupported, or out of control).
Try to catch it earlier, before the snap. Step out of the room. Take a breath. Let go of the idea that you have to respond perfectly in the moment.
If this keeps happening, therapy can help you understand what’s underneath it, not to shame you, but to help you find ways to regulate before the overwhelm hits.
At Bloom Psychotherapy, we work with parents who feel like they’re constantly failing their own expectations. You’re not failing. You’re tired. You’re carrying too much. We’ll help you find a bit more space between the trigger and the reaction, so you can respond the way you want to, not the way your exhaustion decides for you. Book an appointment today or connect with our Client Coordinator.
