Therapy Intensives for Stress Relief: How to Reset Before Summer Begins
Let’s talk about May-cember.
Yes, you read that right. Not December—May-cember. That’s what moms are calling May these days, because it’s just as jam-packed as the holidays… minus the twinkle lights and hot cocoa. Instead, it’s field day sign-ups, permission slips, work deadlines, recitals, preschool graduations, end-of-year parties, and every themed dress-up day your kid’s school could dream up.
It's like December got tired of doing all the heavy lifting and asked May to tag in. Except May said, “Hold my La Croix,” and completely lost its mind.
So if you're wondering why you're mentally fried, emotionally on edge, and just barely holding it together with caffeine and dry shampoo—you're not alone. Spring stress is real. And for moms especially, it has a way of building quietly and then hitting like a freight train.
This post is your permission slip to pause, breathe, and understand why this time of year is so intense—and how to find real stress relief before summer officially begins.
It's like December got tired of doing all the heavy lifting and asked May to tag in.
The Spring Creep: Why May Hits So Hard
Spring doesn’t usually announce itself with a bang. It starts off subtle. A little extra sunshine. A baseball practice or two. Then suddenly, your calendar looks like a multicolored game of Tetris and you’re triple-booked for everything.
You blink, and it’s:
A birthday party you forgot to RSVP to
A last-minute school fundraiser
Camp registration forms that require a blood sample and four notarized documents
A partner who keeps asking, “What are we doing for vacation again?” while you’re still trying to remember what day it is
Sound familiar?
That’s because spring is full of transitions: school ending, routines shifting, expectations rising. And whether you're a new mom, a mom in the trenches of toddlerhood, or a mom navigating the tween and teen years—it all builds.
Unlike winter, where you're kind of mentally prepared to hibernate and regroup, spring demands movement—often without giving you the bandwidth to handle it.
This Isn’t Just “Being Busy.” It’s a Setup for Burnout.
Let’s get one thing straight: this isn't about not managing your time well.
This is about a system that piles emotional labor, logistics, and invisible expectations onto moms and then expects them to smile through it.
You may notice you're:
Snapping over tiny things
Forgetting appointments or double-booking
Struggling to fall asleep (or waking up at 3am thinking about sunscreen for the class picnic)
Feeling detached, numb, or like you're watching your life on fast-forward
That’s not just stress. That’s the slow creep of burnout. And if you’re already juggling a career, a household, maybe even postpartum recovery or mental health challenges, this season can tip you over the edge.
Why It’s Especially Hard for Postpartum and Overwhelmed Moms
For moms with little ones—or moms still recovering from pregnancy and childbirth—spring stress can feel particularly intense. When you're already running on fragmented sleep and nonstop caretaking, the added transitions and pressure can make you feel like you’re constantly failing, even though you’re doing more than ever.
It’s like trying to build a Lego castle during an earthquake. You can’t get solid footing, and everything feels unstable.
And the truth is, your nervous system can only hold so much before it starts waving the white flag. If you’re feeling overstimulated, disconnected, or exhausted even after a full night of sleep, this is your body’s way of saying: I need support.
The Myth of the “Summer Reset”
A lot of us tell ourselves: Just get to summer. Then it’ll get easier.
But here’s the thing: summer doesn’t magically fix burnout. It just trades one kind of pressure for another.
You go from the chaos of school year logistics to the stress of managing unstructured days, constant snacks, and the “Is it screen time or meltdown time?” dance that plays on repeat all summer long.
And if you’re already burned out when summer starts, you’ll enter the season with nothing left to give.
That’s why finding mental health support before summer is so critical.
What Helps (That Isn’t a Bubble Bath)
I’m all for a good soak, but let’s be honest: when the stress is deep, we need more than lavender oil.
Here are a few things that actually help—especially for moms navigating May-cember madness:
1. Shrink the To-Do List (No One Gets a Trophy for “Doing It All”)
Look at what’s on your plate right now and ask: What would happen if I didn’t do this?
Some things matter. Others? Not so much.
You don’t have to bake cupcakes from scratch. You don’t have to attend every event. You don’t have to volunteer for one more thing.
Prioritizing your peace isn’t selfish—it’s strategic.
2. Take Micro-Breaks (Even in the Chaos)
You may not have time for a full spa day, but you can build in 2–3 minutes here and there to regulate your nervous system.
A few ideas:
Sit in your car alone with no noise before pick-up
Step outside barefoot and just breathe
Listen to a favorite playlist while folding laundry
Practice a grounding exercise or somatic technique
These micro-moments give your system a chance to reset and prevent chronic stress buildup.
3. Opt for a Therapy Intensive When You’re at Capacity
Weekly therapy is wonderful. But sometimes, when the overwhelm is already peaking, you need something deeper—faster.
That’s where therapy intensives come in.
I offer therapy intensives in Ohio that help overwhelmed moms move through anxiety, burnout, grief, and stuckness in a focused, accelerated way. We spend one to three days working deeply on what’s weighing you down—so you walk away feeling lighter, clearer, and more equipped to handle life.
It’s like giving your brain and nervous system a hard reset. And for many moms, it’s the difference between limping through summer and reclaiming it.
4. Seek Out Real Mental Health Support for Burnout
Burnout isn’t just “feeling tired.” It’s a full-body state that affects your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and even your immune system.
If you’re feeling depleted and disconnected, please know that’s not a personal failure. It’s a signal. One that deserves attention—not guilt.
As a therapist in Ohio, I work with moms who are doing their absolute best and still feel like it’s not enough. Together, we uncover what’s driving that sense of failure—and we rewrite the narrative.
You can still be the mom you want to be, without running yourself into the ground.
You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone
One of the hardest parts of spring stress is how invisible it can feel.
On the outside, everything looks fine. The kids are fed, the meetings are attended, the lunches are packed. But inside, you’re unraveling.
You don’t have to wait until you’re in crisis to get help.
Imagine entering summer feeling grounded instead of gutted. Imagine having support that meets you where you are, helps you heal, and gives you actual tools to carry forward.
That’s what therapy can do.
That’s what therapy intensives can offer.
And that’s what you deserve—especially before summer sweeps in like a heatwave of expectations.
Let This Be the Season You Choose You
So here’s the invitation: instead of bracing for the next wave of May-cember madness, let’s slow down. Let’s name what’s hard. Let’s find what’s possible.
You deserve space to feel your feelings.
You deserve support that honors how much you’ve been carrying.
You deserve a summer that isn’t just about surviving—but about reclaiming your joy.
Need support now? Let’s talk.
I offer therapy for mothers, including therapy intensives in Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas. Whether you’re navigating burnout, postpartum anxiety, grief, or just need space to breathe, I’m here to help.
This season doesn’t have to take you down with it.
Let’s create the reset you need—before summer starts.
👉 Click here to learn more or schedule a free consult
