Managing the rollercoaster of emotions in early motherhood can feel like a daunting task. There is so much adjustment, learning and surrender that is required and often very little support available to navigate the massive changes that this phase brings.
Yet emotions act like a gauge, keeping us aware of what works, what doesn’t, where our needs are met and where they aren’t. Tuning in to the emotions that arise and learning to work with them, can allow new mothers to regain a sense of control and keep overwhelm at bay.
Beware of the positivity trap
Did you know that our emotional system works in the same way as our immune system? It allows in what is nourishing and keeps out what is not. Our emotions directly impact our nervous system and making sure that they move through as needed is key to staying mentally and physically healthy.
In the realm of holistic mind/body connection, cultivating positive emotions such as compassion, mindfulness, gratitude, is often the place we’re told to start. However, I’ve noticed with my clients, time and again, that they often can’t easily access these until they start addressing the backlog of repressed emotions which haven’t yet made their way out of their system.
“Suppressing emotions takes a great amount of energy and limits access to joy as
well.” Tami Lynn Kent
In our culture, we tend to overemphasise keeping stress under check and staying
calm at all costs, even though it means repressing healthy emotional response as a
result.
Tears help us process grief and sadness. Healthy anger used as a boundary defence
helps us protect what is precious in our life, the things that matter.
Practicing healthy emotional release as a new mother
So, what can you do to support your nervous system, your mind and your heart to thrive as a new mum?
Practice healthy emotional release. Here are some ways you can do it, and by the same token, support your overall health and wellbeing.
- Put words on what you’re feeling: speak it out loud or write it down. Try not to get stuck in replaying the event in your mind. Instead, focus on identifying the emotions behind the event that triggered you. If you can, follow the sensations in your body as you describe what you’re feeling.
- Get your needs met: an unmet need will often trigger anger and resentment. We live in a world where motherhood is unfortunately not valued and supported adequately. As unfair and disheartening as it is, if we can tune into ourselves enough to identify our needs (for rest, for support, for recognition, etc.) and voice them, we can feel empowered again as we get them met. Every time you feel overwhelmed by frustration, anger, sadness, ask yourself: “what is it that I need right now?”.
- Try therapy or coaching: it can be beneficial if you’re not comfortable accessing your emotions or body sensations on your own or it there’s a history of trauma. It is especially helpful if you’re struggling to identify your needs or ask for help.
- Consider body work: suppressed emotions get trapped in the body. Holistic therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic, yoga, acupuncture, can help release emotional blockages and support a healthy immune system.
- Use this journaling prompt: where in your life are you not saying no? A great way to gain insights into the areas where you may need to set stronger boundaries in order to address stuck emotions.
And remember the 90-second cycle! According to neuroscience, it takes 90 seconds for the chemicals released by an emotion to flush out of the body. Train your attention so that you don’t get hooked by the thoughts that keep you stuck in the emotion, but instead notice it, breathe through it and watch it move out. This short video by Dr Joan Rosenberg explains this process and I also highly recommend her
book here as a resource to support you.
If you’re keen to stay in shape mentally and emotionally, if you’re going through challenging times and need support to regain clarity, build your confidence and sense of empowerment as a new mother, please reach out. I offer introductory sessions to get to know each other before diving deeper. More about my work here.
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Jaclyn Carlson
Jaclyn Carlson – Empowering Modern Mothers.
Jaclyn Carlson delivers expert services tailored for modern mothers. Combining breathwork facilitation, parent coaching, matrescence support and mother mentorship, Jaclyn offers dynamic in-person events, supportive community engagement, and specialised online courses. Embrace your journey of motherhood, confidently and armed with the parenting tools to help you thrive in every stage of motherhood. Services include breathwork sessions, Mum & Bubs events, motherhood mentoring, parent group programs, 1:1 Parent Coaching and Circle of Security Programs.
Life Ready Studio
Life Ready Studio is an intimate, personal and supportive reformer pilates studio based in Caulfield North, Melbourne.
With only 7 reformers, the client experience feels like a personal session with constant instructor awareness, allowing for necessary adjustments throughout the class. Life Ready Studio was established by Teri, who wanted to create a space where clients could move in a group class but still be seen and adjusted where needed.
Teri thrives on helping and encouraging people to move confidently. She believes that creating a space that challenges clients whilst they move through all stages of life ( Pilates beginner, post injury, antenatal and postnatal as well as advanced Pilates enthusiasts) while feeling fully supported mentally and physically is the key to ultimate wellbeing.
Teri’s main passion is helping mothers and mothers-to-be feel strong and confident in their bodies before and after pregnancy. Having two boys (and a third baby on the way), Teri understands the importance of movement pre- and post-natally to aid the body during pregnancy, for birth, and, most importantly, for recovery. The studio provides support for mums-to-be throughout every trimester, adjusting movement to accommodate the changes in the body. The studio also provides mums and bubs classes so clients can move while having their baby next to them in the pram, on the mat or in the carrier. Each class helps clients regain their strength and confidence, while still allowing them to spend time with their baby and other like-minded mums.
The CALMM
The CALMM is a space for our clients to ‘be’, a space for them to notice themselves, be present, listen to their body and nourish it where needed. We have been operating in Sydney since 2018, offering treatments in Rose Bay and in Newport on the Northern Beaches. We provide remedial, lymphatic and pregnancy massage, and c-section scar release.
Across both locations we have a number of modalities to support mothers, including naturopathy, energy healing, holistic counselling and nutrition to support our mums from the inside out.
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