The Mental load

Over the last few months this is a phrase that has been gaining traction in both social and print media; The Mental Load.

The mental load refers to the unseen planning tasks carried out by (mainly) women in the household.  Things such as making sure that all the children’s activities have been booked, household bills paid, repairs scheduled, birthday parties booked, homeopath’s appointment scheduled, the meal planning……The list is endless. ​

Whilst this has been the status quo for what seems like infinity, it was a comic by a French cartoonist, Emma, that really kicked it in to the limelight.  It was first published in September 2017 and quickly went viral on social media[1]. 

It got me thinking about my practice.  Countless times I have sat and listened while someone (usually a woman) describes their symptoms.  Words and phrases such as; Overwhelmed, too much responsibility, out of my depth, over my head.  Words that almost describe drowning, and in a sense, that’s what is happening. 

The myth of having it all has been spun to women the world over; the belief that you should have a flourishing career, wonderful, well behaved children who never act up or throw tantrums, a vibrant marriage, and absolutely no stress.  Unfortunately, this is mostly not the case.  Careers have their ups and downs, children will express themselves and a strong marriage takes work and compromise. 

So why are more and more women experiencing symptoms like this?  Why are women still, in 2018, bearing the brunt of the mental load in the home?  Social conditioning starts at a young age, with boys being given STEM toys and girls get toy hoovers and shopping trolleys.  It may not seem like much, but consistent messages such as this have led us to where we are today.  Living in a world where for things to get done you need to do it yourself or constantly ask for it to be done.   

Living in this type of environment for a prolonged period of time can raise the body’s stress hormone, cortisol.  Cortisol is the culprit behind all manner of health problems: Low immunity, low bone density (I have previously blogged on the issue of poor bone health in women[2]), weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, menstrual problems, hair loss, the list is endless. 
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How can Homeopathy help?  Remedies cannot remove responsibility, or make anyone lend a hand, but it what is can do is support you, help you deal with the mental, emotional and physical symptoms that you are experiencing.   It may not change things overnight, but it will facilitate change in your life, for the better, as you journey to a place of calm. 
[1] https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/
 [2] https://www.solashomeopathy.com/solas-blog/caring-for-your-bones-with-homeopathy

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