110: Overfunctioning Part 1: Do You Overfunction in Your Relationship? with Licensed Therapist Dr. Kathleen Smith

Do you find yourself being the overfunctioner in your relationship? Overfunctioning happens when you take on more than your fair share of the parenting tasks in an attempt to control or fix a situation that triggers your anxiety. It often leads to unhealthy relationship and parenting patterns, and ends up increasing the invisible load moms are carrying.  I sat down with Dr. Kathleen Smith, therapist and author of Everything Isn't Terrible, to talk about the relationship between anxiety and overfunctioning, and how to overcome it. In part 1, we focus on how to recognize over and underfunctioning and why breaking the pattern is important.  (For the second part of our conversation, how to manage your overfunctioning, catch Episode 111!)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3hrMfbH  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

We often enter motherhood envisioning joy, nurturing, peace, and love. But the reality can blindside us. Nobody tells us about Mom Rage, overstimulation, intrusive thoughts, or other mental health struggles. Unfortunately, when we seek help, we might face a lack of support, a system that doesn’t put moms first, and a world that turns a blind eye to the challenges of motherhood. We’re here to change that. We believe that moms deserve access to community, support, and mental health literacy. If you’re struggling with motherhood, you’re not alone–and you’re not failing. On The Momwell Podcast, host and psychotherapist Erica Djossa teaches strategies to help you cope with the psychological and emotional load of motherhood and prioritize your mental health and wellbeing. Erica shares the best kept secrets of the therapy world and interviews other professionals (psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, fertility specialists, lactation consultants, and more!) who provide their expertise to empower you on your motherhood journey.