Ultra-mums set to snap

Bid for perfection pushes many over edge

SUPERMUMS are in crisis as years of playing the perfect parent takes a toll on the brain.

Queensland neuroscience researcher and clinical psychologist Delia McCabe says women who have “bought into the myth that you can have it all” are now at the highest risk of both chronic stress and depression.

“Daily chronic stress cripples the part of the brain that stabilises moods.

“The brain changes shape as the frenzied, multi-tasking mother struggles to keep up the image of perfection,” Ms McCabe said. “Many run themselves into the ground trying to impress outsiders and it is not sustainable.”

Women are 50 per cent more likely to suffer from a mood disorder than men.

Research also shows that the children of mothers who habitually operate in a highly stressed mode are more likely to be stressed themselves, the expert said.

“Many of these mums feel they must turn out perfectly behaved and groomed children who are smart and in- volved in a multitude of extracurricular activities, at the same time they prepare the healthiest of meals, have a well-toned body and hold down a job,” she said.

The supermum shows off her perfect world with squeaky clean children with posts on social media.

“Before social media, families were going about their business raising kids in their own way without judgment but today’s supermum puts even more pressure on herself by setting herself up as flawless,” Ms McCabe said. “When she does drop a ball the world comes tumbling down.”

Coast mum of three Jade Read runs a home business.

“Being a mum is already tough so I have never tried to play into the supermum role,” she said. “I do my best and very rarely post anything about the kids on social media that way I don’t have anxiety about negative feedback.”

BEING A MUM IS ALREADY TOUGH SO I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO PLAY INTO THE SUPERMUM ROLE. I DO MY BEST AND VERY RARELY POST ANYTHING GOLD COAST MUM JADE READ