Our physical exhaustion seems to get our attention before our emotional needs are met. This leaves little time to work on any internal issues that may be bothering us. The reason I feel we tend to ignore our internal exhaustion may be due to the stigma attached to therapy in general. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is still considered to be a sign of mental weakness or insanity. In truth, mental exhaustion is not unlike physical exhaustion - our minds need time and attention as well as our bodies.
Stress is one of the leading causes of both mental and physical illness.
Our culture does not encourage time for nurturing our psyches. When one considers the heightened pressure of everyday life, coupled with the prevalence of dysfunctional family systems, it's a wonder we make it at all. If anyone tells you raising a child alone can be done effectively, they're misinformed. Children need at least a mother and a father. My children and I survived those arduous years.