As mums we often give ourselves a hard time, there are so many feelings attached to motherhood that until you experience it first-hand, it’s hard to comprehend. The worry that we’re not spending enough time with our kids, the feelings of inadequacy if we’re not working, grieving the person you once were pre-children, not having enough time, comparing ourselves to other mums, concerns that we’re doing the best for our kids – the list is endless. Oh, and don’t forget to throw in some ‘mum guilt’ for good measure. 

Whilst these emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming, theyare in fact a normal reaction to daily life. Emotions are an intrinsic part of having a brain and being human, so to shame ourselves for experiencing them is counterproductive to say the least, and in doing so we create a negative spiral. We think having more difficult emotions means we’re not coping orthat we’re useless, when often it means we are feeling distressed because of a distressing situation. We get stuck in this cycle and the thought patterns continue whilst our inner critic becomes even louder.

Jenny Malem is a clinical psychotherapist and hypnotherapist and will help teach you proactive and reactive strategies for dealing with difficult emotions such as anxiety, anger, sadness, and self-criticism. As a mum herself, Jenny offers down-to-earth support, working with you in a friendly, homely, and confidential environment. And the really crucialthing here is that the strategies she uses can be passed on to your kids to help build resilience too. 

If any of this resonates with you or perhaps you want to address some issues and start living in the present, take the first step towards improved mental health and get in touch for a free consultation. For more information please visit www.openmindstherapy.com or you can contact Jenny directly on 055 300 3811.