Being a mom at midlife isn’t for the faint of heart, especially when you’re navigating all the things that lead to toxic burnout. I’m Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver, licensed clinical psychologist and certified coach.with 25 years of experience helping women move from survivor to thriver. I know firsthand that healing isn’t a quick fix and I’m on a mission to help moms stop shrinking themselves for others and start living their best life. Each episode of The Mama Shrink podcast is filled with useful and practical information that you can implement into your own journey of motherhood. It’s a place to come where you can feel less alone and validated for the complex challenges mom’s face in this increasingly complex world. We’ll dive deep into setting boundaries, overcoming burnout, dealing with guilt, divorce, death, grief, toxic relationships, true healing, becoming a single mom, empowerment, self-care, psychological diagnoses, parenting challenges and advice, aging, friendship, finding your true self, mindset, self-worth, and much more. This is a place where you can embrace everything that it means to be a woman and a mom. No topic is off limits and each episode is filled with compassion, authenticity, and integrity. You don’t have to do this alone. Subscribe today. Being a mom is the hardest job in the world and you don’t have to do this alone. The Mama Shrink Podcast is real, raw, and unapologetically honest and dives deep into topics such as: Burnout & Emotional Exhaustion—Why midlife moms are drowning & how to rise again ✅ Healing from Toxic Relationships—Recognizing the patterns keeping you stuck ✅ Generational Trauma & Breaking the Cycle—Why your past keeps showing up in your present ✅ Divorce & Single Motherhood—Navigating family shifts & rebuilding on your terms ✅ Reclaiming Your Identity—Who are you beyond being a mom, wife, or caregiver? ✅ Mindset, Boundaries & Self-Worth—The real work of healing & transformation If you’re tired of just surviving and are ready to start thriving, you’re in the right place. You don’t have to do this alone. It’s time to break free from burnout, own your truth, and step into the life you deserve. Subscribe now & let’s start this journey together.
Episodes
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Have you ever experienced a time when life's challenges piled up like a mountain, leaving you wondering how you'd ever find your way back to happiness?
In this episode, I'm sharing my personal journey through a tumultuous period that reshaped my entire life. As I reflect on my return to podcasting after a hiatus marked by unexpected events, I delve into the raw and unfiltered emotions I experienced during this time. From the onset of the COVID pandemic, which forced my psychology practice online, to the loss of my beloved rescue dog and, heartbreakingly, the passing of my mother and stepfather within months of each other, life threw its weight at me. I take you through my reactions, my responsibilities, and the toll it all took on my mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Amid the chaos, my initial optimism about navigating the pandemic transformed into a mental and emotional rollercoaster. The challenges of homeschooling, adapting my practice, and facing the reality of my own mortality after losing my mother to Covid lead to a total life makeover and taking big action. I share my experience with 3rd degree burnout and how I am getting out. This episode also touches on the lasting impact Covid has taken on our children.
The loss of my mother hit me like a tidal wave. Despite the complicated relationship we shared, the shock of losing my mom was profound. And on top of this loss was the inability to grieve as I was thrust into the daily demands of caring for my step father, caring for my young children, and running my psychology practice.
Through these trials, I've learned valuable lessons that I hope to share. Firstly, seeking therapy is essential, especially during times of grief and difficulty. Secondly, self-care is crucial, but there are moments when it may not be enough to combat burnout. Lastly, recognizing the need to address burnout and seek support is a powerful step towards recovery. The hard part is that burnout is hard to see while you are in it and that is where I come in. It took a life crisis of losing my mom to wake me up and start healing from the decade of burnout I had been living in.
Key Takeaways:
- Life's challenges can accumulate, leading to burnout and emotional strain.
- Grief and loss impact everyone differently, even in complex relationships.
- Balancing care for oneself, family, and work requires acknowledging personal limits and seeking help.
- Burnout is not easy to recognize and comes in three stages. Older moms starting a family are at higher risk due to being in a “sandwich situation.”
Resources:
- For skilled therapy during times of difficulty, consider seeking help from licensed professionals.
- If you want to see which stage of burnout you are in, take my free burnout quiz at www.mamaburnout.com
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