
The Burnout Doctor: Why So Many Mothers Think They're Failing (When It's Actually Burnout)
From Motherkind by Zoe Blaskey
July 6, 2026 · 11 min
About this episode
Dr Claire Ashley discusses the signs of burnout and how mothers often mistake it for personal failure.
Have you ever felt like you're failing at everything? Like you're constantly trying harder, doing more and still feeling like you're falling behind? In this powerful Motherkind Moment, GP and burnout expert Dr Claire Ashley shares the moment she realised she wasn't failing as a mother, doctor or partner - she was experiencing burnout. Together, Zoe and Claire unpack why so many mothers blame themselves instead of recognising the signs of burnout, how stress affects both the brain and body, and why working harder often makes things worse. Claire shares the emotional and physical symptoms she wishes she'd recognised sooner, explains why burnout can take years to recover from, and offers practical advice for spotting the warning signs before you reach crisis point. If you've been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or wondering why you just can't seem to cope anymore, this conversation will remind you that you're not failing - you may simply be carrying too much. 💡 In this Moment, you’ll learn: The early emotional and physical signs of burnout Why so many mothers mistake burnout for personal failure How burnout affects your brain and body Why pushing harder can make burnout worse The…
People in this episode
Host: Zoe Blaskey
Guest: Dr Claire Ashley
Topics covered
- burnout
- motherhood
- mental health
- stress
- parenting
- self-care
Keywords
- burnout
- mothers
- stress
- mental health
- parenting
- emotional symptoms
- physical symptoms
- recovery
- warning signs
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