Life as a medical mom has this funny way of knocking you off your feet right when you think you’ve found your footing. Just when the schedule’s flowing and the snacks are packed, BOOM—new diagnosis. Surprise hospital stay. Insurance nonsense. Sound familiar?
This post is for every overwhelmed medical mom who’s ever left an appointment thinking, “How am I supposed to handle this?”
Here’s what helps me feel grounded again—plus the tools I use to stay organized when everything feels like too much.
That One Time I Thought I Had It All Together
I’ll never forget the day I walked into an appointment feeling prepared. I had my neatly organized binder, a list of questions, and even snacks for the kids. I was practically smug about it.
And then—bam. Another unexpected mom life curveball! The doctor hit me with news I wasn’t expecting. New concerns, new referrals, new treatments to consider. I sat there nodding like I was absorbing it all, but inside? I was spiraling. How did I not see this coming? I left that appointment feeling like I’d been run over by a truck, and my neatly organized binder suddenly felt completely useless.
Sound familiar?
It was one of those moments where I was reminded—again—that life with a medically complex child isn’t normal, no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise.
I actually wrote about that realization here—how it hit me one day that what feels “normal” to us is anything but to the rest of the world.
I know I’m not the only medical mom who’s walked into an appointment feeling semi-in-control, only to leave feeling like I just got blindsided. And if you’ve been there too, you know just how overwhelming those curveballs can feel.
1. When Life Says “Hold My Coffee”
There are days when I think, “Okay, I’ve got this. I know what to expect.”
And then life’s like, “Hold my coffee.”
Medical mom life has a way of sneaking up on you—new diagnoses, sudden ER trips, insurance denials that make no sense whatsoever. Whiplash is real. And if you’ve been doing this for any amount of time, you know that “normal” is just a setting on the dryer. It’s like living in a constant state of “what now?”
And if you’ve been at this for any amount of time, you know that feeling of whiplash all too well.
2. How I Ground Myself (Before the Panic Sets In)
I’ve learned to pause before I spiral. Deep breaths, coffee breaks, even a Target run.
Because when I take a second when I’m overwhelmed to remember that we’ve been through curveballs before, it gets easier to face the next one.
Is it always graceful? Nope. But I’ve stopped expecting it to be, and that in itself has taken so much pressure off.
3. Breaking It Down (When Everything Feels Huge)
Big medical decisions? They’re overwhelming. So I take it one step at a time.
Notes.
Lists.
Voice memos.
I focus on what needs to happen today—not 12 steps ahead. That’s how I end up Googling worst-case scenarios and spiraling for no reason.
4. The Tool That Helps Me Stay Sane
ClickUp.
Seriously, it’s a lifesaver. I track appointments, questions, and keep digital copies of everything—because medical parenting = paperwork overload.
No more digging through emails while my kid’s screaming. No more forgotten questions at the worst possible moment.
5. I Don’t Do This Alone
Texting a friend. Venting to my husband. DMing another medical mom on Instagram.
I’ve stopped trying to process everything in my own head.
Having people who get it makes all the difference—and if you don’t have one of those people yet?
Come say hi to me on Instagram. My DMs are always open.
6. Celebrating Tiny Victories
Maybe you finally got a claim approved. Or survived an appointment with no meltdowns.
I’ve learned to treat those wins like the big deal they are—because they matter.
7. Letting Go of Needing All the Answers
You don’t need to solve it all right now. You can come back with more questions, take time to process, and change your mind later.
I actually wrote about this in this post about how to keep from burning out— and how I learned to stop overthinking everything, ask questions to the right people, and trust their answers. If you’re in that phase, I highly recommend checking it out.
Permission granted to not have it all figured out. (Seriously. I had to learn this the hard way.)
8. The Real MVP: The Chaos to Calm Medical Mom Reset Workbook.
If everything in your brain feels like a jumbled mess of appointments, medications, and emotions—you are not alone.
That’s why I created the The Chaos to Calm Medical Mom Reset Workbook.
It’s a digital product packed with simple systems to help you get organized, ask better questions, and stop spinning.
It’s not magic—but it’s the closest thing I’ve got to keeping my brain out of burnout mode.
📌 FAQ: For Overwhelmed Medical Moms
Do other medical moms feel this way too?
Yes. A thousand times yes. If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling like you got hit by a truck full of paperwork and unanswered questions—you are not alone. We all have those “what just happened?” moments. No shame, just solidarity.
How do you stay organized when everything is chaos?
ClickUp. It’s the only system that hasn’t made me rage-quit. I keep our appointments, questions, and medical info all in one place—digitally. No more flipping through three notebooks and a diaper bag mid-appointment. You can use it for free with this link!
What if I don’t even know the right questions to ask?
Been there. That’s why I made The Chaos to Calm Medical Mom Reset Workbook. It walks you through what to ask, how to plan, and how to feel a little more in control when everything feels like a fire drill. It’s not a miracle, but it seriously helps. Check it out here.
Is it normal to feel totally unprepared when things change suddenly?
Unfortunately, yes. This life doesn’t come with warning labels. One second you’re feeling okay, and the next it’s like, new test, new specialist, new plan.
The goal isn’t to always be ready—it’s to give yourself permission to not have it all figured out.
What’s one thing that helps when I’m spiraling?
Step away.
Seriously.
Even 5 minutes.
A drive, a walk down the hall, a grocery store aisle with good lighting. Then come back and tackle one thing. Not all of it—just one thing.
Final Thoughts
You’re doing better than you think. Really.
Medical mom life is tough—but you don’t have to navigate it alone, and you don’t have to catch every curveball perfectly.
Take it one deep breath, one decision, and one day at a time.
**Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. I only recommend things I actually love and use in my own medical mom life!
No responses yet