How to Protect Your Mental Health When You Are the Only Parent 

Parenting Perspective 

It is hard when the people who once felt closest now feel distant; this happens not because they care less, but because your daily reality has changed in ways they have not had to experience. Parenthood transforms your pace, your priorities, and your energy. If your friends are not in that same chapter, it is understandable that you might feel alone or even unseen. 

Name Your Limits Gently 

Disconnection does not have to mean withdrawal. Begin by naming your limits gently. You might say, ‘I love seeing you all, but I may need to leave early for bedtime.’ This gives you room to stay connected without compromising your capacity. You do not owe explanations for every choice, but honest signals help bridge the gap between your world and their world. 

Diversify Your Support System 

It may also help to diversify your support system. This does not mean replacing friends but adding to the emotional circle that holds you. Whether it is a parenting group, a trusted mentor, or even an online community with shared values, seek spaces where your needs are recognised without translation. 

Protect Your Internal Voice 

Most importantly, protect your internal voice. It is easy to internalise the sense that you are ‘too much’ or ‘no longer fun’. This is not reality; it is simply the echo of mismatched seasons. You are not failing at friendship or parenting; you are navigating both with a heart that is stretched thin. That is a strength worth honouring, not a flaw to conceal. 

Spiritual Insight 

There is immense beauty in choosing relationships wisely, and also in setting boundaries that uphold your wellbeing. Islam encourages believers to be emotionally aware of their surroundings and careful in their companionship. 

A Reminder That Companionship Should Ground You 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Kahf (18), verse 28: 

‘(O my Servant) show restraint upon yourself, (and join with) the company of those people who pray to their Sustainer, morning and evening, desiring that one day they shall meet Him (Allah Almighty); and do not even glance your eyes over those who (live in ignorance, and superficially) desire the luxuries of the worldly life…’ 

This verse reminds us that companionship should draw us nearer to Allah, not further from our own spiritual and emotional grounding. If certain spaces leave you feeling devalued or depleted, stepping back with grace is not abandonment but it is Ihsaan towards yourself. 

The Prophetic Model: The Effect of Company 

It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The example of a good companion and a bad one is that of the seller of musk and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows… ‘

[Sahih al-Bukhari, 34:54] 

This Hadith highlights the subtle but powerful effect that company has on the soul. A supportive friend uplifts without needing to understand every detail. Seek those who may not be in your exact shoes, but who walk gently beside you. In preserving your mental health and protecting your peace, you are not closing doors; you are filtering light and letting yourself grow.