Why Can’t I Just Get Over My Birth Trauma? A Columbus, Ohio Therapist Explains
This blog post explores how birth trauma often lingers far beyond delivery—and why well-meaning comments from others can unintentionally make things worse. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why does my birth still bother me?”…this post is for you.
Birth trauma isn’t just about what happened medically. It’s about how your body and brain processed it. Trauma is anything that was too much, too fast, or too soon - and not enough support to recover.
You might’ve been told, “But your baby is healthy!” Or maybe you’ve heard, “You just have to move on.” But those phrases - however well-intended - can shut down conversations and deepen the isolation moms already feel.
Let’s talk about what birth trauma really looks like. What not to say to someone navigating it. And how therapy for mothers - especially therapy intensives in Ohio - can help you heal for real.
The Myth of the Strong Mom: Why Supermom Culture Is Burning Us Out
Being a "strong mom" can feel like a badge of honor. You’re capable. You get it done. You survive the hard days without falling apart.
But over time, that strength can turn into something heavier:
You don’t ask for help because you’re used to being the helper.
You feel like you should be able to manage everything.
You put your needs last, then feel guilty for even having them.
You dismiss your own feelings because someone else "has it worse."
Sound familiar?
When You're Raising Kids Without a Village: The Silent Struggle of Parenting Without Grandparents or Family Help
Without family support, the everyday logistics of parenting multiply.
There’s no one to help in a pinch. No one to call when your kid is sick and you have to work. No built-in backup when daycare is closed or you just need a moment to breathe.
And let’s be honest—hiring help is expensive. Even if you can afford it, it’s not the same as someone who loves your child and wants to be there.
You might feel like you never get a break. Like the weight of it all sits squarely on your shoulders. And that constant pressure can lead to deep, unrelenting burnout.
Keeping Your Cool While Parenting Over the Summer
Summer: the season of popsicles, pool days, and the mythical "slower pace." Except for many moms, it doesn’t feel slower at all. In fact, summer can crank up the chaos—and the pressure.
Whether you’re a working parent trying to juggle schedules that were clearly designed by someone who’s never had a job, or you’re staying home and already losing your mind before lunch... this post is for you.
Because while summer might be a break from school, it’s not always a break for you.
And here’s the thing no one says out loud: it’s okay if you’re struggling. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re doing something really hard without nearly enough support.
Things No One Warned Me Would Be So Hard as a New Parent
You can read all the books, take all the classes, and scroll every parenting expert on Instagram—but nothing truly prepares you for what it feels like to actually become a parent. Not just the obvious stuff, like the sleepless nights and blowouts—but the weird, relentless ways motherhood sneaks into every corner of your life. Your body. Your brain. Your relationships. Your sense of self.
And here’s the thing no one says out loud: it’s okay if you’re struggling. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re doing something really hard without nearly enough support.
Why Gentle Parenting Feels So Hard
Gentle parenting is about connection. It’s about honoring your child’s feelings, regulating your own emotions, and moving away from fear-based discipline. For many moms—especially those who grew up with yelling, punishments, and the "because I said so" approach—it’s a radical, healing shift.
But it’s also incredibly hard. Especially if you never saw it modeled. Especially if you were NOT raised that way.
Why Am I So Irritated All the Time? The Quiet Rise of Resentment in Motherhood
If you’ve ever found yourself sighing a little too hard while folding laundry, fantasizing about a hotel room alone, or silently stewing over the fact that no one else knows where the sunscreen is—you’re not alone.
You might be carrying something that many moms feel, but few talk about out loud: resentment.
And here’s the truth—resentment doesn’t make you a bad mom. It makes you human.
Let’s talk about what it is, where it comes from, and how therapy for mothers, especially through therapy intensives in Ohio, can help you move from simmering to supported.
“I’m Not Fine, But I’m Functioning”: When Burnout Becomes Your Baseline (And What You Can Do About It)
For many mothers—especially those navigating postpartum overwhelm, emotional labor, and the unspoken pressure to keep it all together—this low-grade burnout has become the norm.
But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. And you don’t have to wait until you fall apart to get support.
Let’s talk about the signs of chronic burnout, what makes it so sneaky for moms, and how therapy intensives can offer real, healing relief when you're too busy (and too tired) to stretch it out over months.
What Is a Type-C Mom? (And Why She’s Tired, Self-Aware, and Still Snuggling at 9:45 PM)
You’ve probably heard of Type A personalities—high-achievers, organized, sharp-cornered calendar queens.
And Type B—more laid-back, go-with-the-flow, "we’ll figure it out" types.
But what if you’re somewhere in between?
You like structure—but also believe in spontaneous snuggles.
You plan birthday crafts—but half the time they stay in your head.
You were probably once a full-blown Type A, but now… you’re just trying to give your kids what you didn’t have growing up.
Enter: the Type-C Mom.
She’s the one who sets routines but allows wiggle room.
She tries hard not to yell—and when she does, she circles back to repair.
She rarely says no without guilt.
She’s the mom who’s doing the inner work, breaking cycles, and balancing on the wobbly edge of “I’ve got this” and “please send help.”
Let’s talk about what this type of mom looks like—and why so many are quietly overwhelmed, even while showing up with love.
Therapy Intensives for Stress Relief: How to Reset Before Summer Begins
One of the hardest parts of spring stress is how invisible it can feel.
On the outside, everything looks fine. The kids are fed, the meetings are attended, the lunches are packed. But inside, you’re unraveling.
You don’t have to wait until you’re in crisis to get help.
Imagine entering summer feeling grounded instead of gutted. Imagine having support that meets you where you are, helps you heal, and gives you actual tools to carry forward.
That’s what therapy can do.
That’s what therapy intensives can offer.
And that’s what you deserve—especially before summer sweeps in like a heatwave of expectations.
Why Am I the Only One Who Notices We’re Out of Toilet Paper? The Mental Load of Motherhood—and How Therapy Can Help
The mental load refers to the cognitive effort involved in managing a household and family life. It’s the constant thinking, planning, anticipating, remembering, and worrying. It’s the reason why your partner can relax on the couch and enjoy the movie, while your brain is mentally sorting tomorrow’s schedule and wondering whether that rash on your toddler’s leg means something.
It’s why you’re so tired all the time—even when you technically “haven’t done that much.” And it’s also why so many moms end up in therapy, not because they’re failing, but because they’ve been functioning too well for too long without support.
When You’re the “Strong One”: What Happens When Moms are Tired of Holding It All Together
When moms tell me they’re “just overwhelmed” or “fine, just tired,” I often hear what they’re not saying:
“I’m not okay, but I don’t know how to not be okay.”
“If I stop holding it all together, everything might fall apart.”
“Everyone’s used to me being capable. What happens if I can’t be?”
These aren’t dramatic thoughts. They’re protective ones. And they’re often learned from a lifetime of having to be more than okay to feel safe, loved, or useful.
Is It Just Me? When You Love Your Kids But Don’t Love Pretend Play
Here’s what no one tells you before you become a parent: playing can be really hard as an adult. Especially when your brain is juggling 300 open tabs like:
What’s for dinner?
Did I respond to that email?
Was that bump on her leg there yesterday?
Add in the mental load of motherhood, and it makes sense that pretend play feels like one more task to “perform.”
And let’s be real—most adult brains are wired for productivity, not pretending to be a baby dragon for 45 minutes.
If you have ADHD, anxiety, trauma, or CPTSD, play can feel especially taxing. Many moms in EMDR therapy report feeling overstimulated by the noise, unpredictability, or repetitiveness of certain play. It’s not laziness—it’s your nervous system trying to cope.
This is something I often explore in EMDR therapy for moms—how our own childhood experiences (or lack of play) impact how we show up now.
What If Something Happens? When Mom Anxiety Keeps You Up at Night (And What Can Help)
If you’re lying awake at night asking, What if something happens?
Let me gently ask: What if you’re safe right now?
What if your baby is okay?
What if your fear is a signal, not a sentence?
What if therapy could help you not just cope with the fear—but heal the root of it?
Because it can.
And you don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode to be a good mom.
You don’t have to carry it all in silence.
You don’t have to live in fear to prove how deeply you love your children.
Navigating Postpartum Emotions: When to Seek Help and How Therapy Can Help
After giving birth, your body, mind, and entire life shift dramatically. Forget about sleep—it's now more precious than gold. Coffee might become your new best friend, and your toddler might treat every household object like their newest favorite toy. It's no wonder new moms experience so many complex feelings:
Anxiety and Overwhelm: Ever feel like you're constantly behind, juggling tasks with one hand while calming a crying baby with the other? Yep, you're not alone.
Mood Swings: Laughing at something silly one moment and sobbing over spilled milk the next? That's motherhood in a nutshell.
Guilt and Self-Doubt: It's completely normal to question if you're doing enough—especially when Instagram moms seem to have it all together. Spoiler alert: they don't.
Isolation: Ironically, motherhood can feel lonely, even when you're surrounded by little humans all day.
Exhaustion and Burnout: Sleepless nights add up quickly. Feeling drained physically and emotionally is more common than you might think.
Balancing Technology in Parenting: Finding Harmony in a Digital World
Technology has woven itself into our daily lives in ways previous generations never had to navigate. It connects us, educates us, and entertains us—but it also adds a layer of stress and uncertainty, especially for parents. And in a world where we already carry so much mental and emotional weight, worrying about technology shouldn’t feel like another burden.
Surviving (and Maybe Even Enjoying) Spring Break Travel with Little Ones: Top Tips from a Mom Therapist
If you’re gearing up to travel with little ones, take a deep breath. You’ve got this. And by “this,” I mean a journey that will be messy, unpredictable, and at times, loud. But it will also be worth it. Here are some practical (and sanity-saving) tips to help you embrace the chaos, lower the stress, and maybe even enjoy the adventure.
If One More Person Tells Me to ‘Just Take a Bubble Bath’…
The truth is, for moms, self-care isn’t just about carving out an hour to soak in lavender-scented bliss. It’s about survival. It’s about figuring out how to get through the day without completely burning out. And sometimes, that means redefining what self-care actually looks like.
The Loneliness of Motherhood: Why It Happens and How to Find Connection
Motherhood is often portrayed as this beautiful, joy-filled experience (and don’t get me wrong, it is), but what people don’t always tell you is how lonely it can be. You can be surrounded by tiny humans all day and still feel completely isolated. You can love your kids more than anything and still miss the version of yourself that had uninterrupted thoughts and deep, meaningful conversations.
Finding Balance: How Moms Can Juggle Work and Family
“Balance” as a working mom can feel like a joke sometimes. One minute, you're in a Zoom meeting trying to sound like a professional adult, and the next, you're bribing your kid with snacks so they don’t interrupt (again). And let’s not even talk about the laundry pile that’s basically another member of the family at this point.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re being stretched so thin that you might snap, you are not the only one. The truth is, balance isn’t something that magically happens—it’s something we have to create. Otherwise, we wake up one day realizing we’re running on empty, snapping at the people we love most, and wondering when we last drank water that wasn’t just the backwash from our kid’s sippy cup.