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Being able to recognize that your life is out of balance is important. There are certain signs and symptoms of an unbalanced life that should be easily recognizable:

* Anyone in your family, you included, feeling overwhelmed or totally out of control
* Feelings of guilt or inadequacy because you can’t do everything, be everywhere, or solve everyone’s problems
* Changes in sleeping habits such as developing insomnia or sleeping more than you normally would
* Any adult, or teen for that matter, that is turning to drugs or alcohol to cope with the changes that have happened recently
* Extreme irritability or mood swings that come from anyone in the family
* Anxiety or signs of depression

Your family may not exhibit all of these signs or symptoms, but being aware of what they are will help you learn to recognize a problem before it becomes severe or causes the breakup of your marriage or family. Pay attention to the warning signs and then do what you can to bring your life back into balance before it’s too late.

What causes life to become unbalanced in the first place?

Unrealistic expectations are a major cause of an unbalanced life. Perhaps as a woman you’ve accepted the fallacy that women can do everything. There was a television ad during the 1970s that said the woman could “bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, and never let you forget you’re a man.” Helen Reddy’s song “I am Woman” also fed this concept of a woman being able to do everything.

The truth is no one person can be all, do all, experience all, and still remain balanced. If you think you can, you may be sadly headed for a big downfall. These unrealistic expectations aren’t the only things that cause people’s lives to become unbalanced.

Excessive demands on a person’s time, talent, and emotions are another problem that causes an unbalanced life. Perhaps your problem isn’t coming from work; in fact it may seem like a refuge of sorts for you. The problems may be coming from excessive demands from your family. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to call a family meeting to discuss how Mom can’t do everything. Even though you would like to see yourself as Super Woman, you’re not and you shouldn’t even try. Tell them you need their support and their help to get the family back on an even keel.

Lack of communication can also cause your life to become unbalanced. If you don’t talk with your husband, let him know that you have needs that aren’t being met. This same thing goes for the rest of the family, as well. Let them know how you feel overburdened by everything that you do and ask them to help you come up with a solution that everyone can live with.