220: Rage in Motherhood

Today we are digging into the topic of rage in motherhood, specifically, postpartum rage. We will discuss what it is, why it happens, what it feels like, and what you can do about it. Join us to learn more! Erica Djossa is a registered psychotherapist, sought-after maternal mental health specialist, and Happy As A Mother founder. She has been practicing for over ten years and is a regular media contributor. Erica helps women adjust and manage the load of motherhood with her popular Happy As A Mother podcast, Instagram platform, and online therapy services. She is passionate about supporting moms and helping them embrace their motherhood journey. She is a Toronto-based mother to three rambunctious boys, and she can often be found sharing insights through her Instagram stories. Show Highlights: How rage shows up in the context of motherhood How the “perfect mother” myths stifle a mom’s ability to express any anger Examples of what rage might feel like for a mom How we form our inward and outward boundaries for expressing anger based on the “rule book” in the way we were raised How “vulnerability factors” are underlying our anger expression How the narrative we tell ourselves around irritation and anger can either increase or decrease our stress levels Red flag indicators to look out for: intensity and frequency of the anger How to use the acronym NESTS: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Time for self, and Support How continued rage after putting NESTS into place indicates the need to dig deeper Why anger is one of the most commonly overlooked symptoms of depression Erica’s personal experience as a mom of three young kids under three years of age How getting the appropriate help can change everything for a mom How mothers experience the depths of shame in feeling anger and rage Steps to take in finding help and support–and taking the first one is the most important! What to expect from Erica’s course of five modules How our stress hormones function in our bodies when we feel irritation, anger, and rage Why support, help, and therapy need to feel accessible to everyone Resources: Connect with Erica: www.happyasamother.co/rage (Many free resources are available!) Instagram and Facebook Erica is hiring remote perinatal therapists to join the Happy As A Mother team! Certified PMH-Cs from all Canadian provinces are welcome to apply! Click the link for details!