THE GOOD ENOUGH MOTHER PODCAST
Scary Thoughts as Part of Motherhood
October 12, 2020
EMPOWERED MOTHERING; MOTHERHOOD AT CHRISTMAS; MOTHERS AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON; MENTAL LABOUR, MATERNAL THINKING, EMOTIONAL LABOUR; GUILT, LIBERATED MOTHERING PRACTICES
with a chartered clinical psychologist, Dr Caroline Boyd
*Trigger warning – talk of intrusive harm thoughts.
Perhaps surprisingly, having unwanted and intrusive thoughts as a mother is incredibly common, and in fact – almost universal. Yet, how often is this spoken about in motherhood?
In this episode I interview Dr Caroline Boyd, a chartered clinical psychologist who is an expert on intrusive, unwanted harm thoughts that mothers have about their babies. We talk about the connection between harm thoughts and actually causing harm to our children, where harm thoughts come from, some reasons as to why we have them, and what we can do in response to these thoughts.
Caroline warns against interpreting us having such harm thoughts as meaning we’re a ‘bad mother’. We reflect on the projection of perfectionism and mothering myths, and the ways intensive mothering contributes to the stigma, shame, guilt, and challenges that mothers face.
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Mindful New Mum
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meet
Caroline
Caroline is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, HCPC registered, with over 10 years’ experience working in the NHS and mental health settings. She specialise in supporting parents perinatally - from pregnancy to childbirth and all aspects of the transition to parenthood. Birthing a new identity as a mum can be as demanding as birthing a baby – whether it’s your first or fifth. We know that dads can really struggle too. Caroline offer a safe, non-judgmental space for you to make sense of changes to your multiple, intersecting identities.