Superwoman complex: A woman’s desire to be excellent at all her roles (leader, professional, mother, wife, etc.), that often leads to psychological stress or an expectation of being a Superwoman that can and should do everything.
A few years ago if you would have looked this term up in the dictionary, my picture would have been next to it. I had been functioning in that capacity for so long that I did not realize I fit into this category until a few years ago. I was a single mother, working out every way, involved in church ministry, commuting over 150 miles a day round trip , working 50+ hours a week, reading every self-help book under the sun, trying to be a friend, daughter, and the perfect mother and I was entering back into the dating world. I was exhausted! Until one day I finally broke down.
Why was I so upset, so exhausted? My children were well fed, the house was clean, I was making good money, I loved my job. It seemed like I was doing what the Proverbs 31 woman is supposed to do, so why was I breaking down? What’s wrong with being Superwoman?
