Mum Guilt Explained: Reframing Rest, Guilt and Self-Care for Mums

What if that sinking feeling when you sit down is a signal your brain is asking for safety? This episode unpacks why mum guilt hits so hard, how the amygdala flags rest as risky,and what to do in the first 60 seconds to calm your body. You’ll learn simple tools that help you hold boundaries, breathe and take care of yourself without the spiral.

💛 Behind the scenes: A few of you almost got this episode early after a scheduling hiccup and some superfans downloaded it straight away. That slip-up showed me how many of you have subscribed and set the show to auto-download. You’re waiting for these episodes each Monday and that means the world to me.

📋 What we covered:

• Welcome and why mum guilt shows up when you pause.
• Quick look back to E010 and why resilience matters here.
• Defining mum guilt: a protective response tied to belonging.
• How the sympathetic system lights up and the four stress patterns.
• The amygdala as your bodyguard and why rest can feel unsafe.
• The Instagram spike and why one scroll can trip an alarm.
• The 60-second reset: hand on heart, 4-2-6 breath, safety script.
• HNSF anchors you can use today: hydration, nutrition, self-care and fitnss/movement.
• Journal prompts, one tiny step for the week and a teaser for the JOMO arc.

🌟 Key takeaways:

• Guilt is common, but it does not have to run the show.
• Your brain reads belonging as safety, so rest can trigger alarms at first.
• A short breath pattern and a clear script can calm the body in under a minute.
• Small, repeatable actions teach your system that rest is safe.
• HNSF gives you four steady anchors on busy days.

🧰 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free Journal Prompt & Reflection: ✨Your Weekly Cuppa & Check-In #11☕https://gawellness.myflodesk.com/mumguilt
• Your personal companion to noticing, rewiring and celebrating small wins: Brain Rewire Habit Tracker https://gawellness.myflodesk.com/brain-rewire-tracker
• 1:1 Support Nervous System Reset: Book a curiosity chat https://calendly.com/garharidis/1-1-nervous-system-support-with-georgia
• Join the Facebook Community: The Balanced Bella Community 🌿https://www.facebook.com/groups/1465025104488400/
• Subscribe for Podcast Emails: Join the “Cuppa & Check-In” List https://gawellness.myflodesk.com/lbuqngff28
• Check out the show notes: Podcast.co https://pod.co/the-ga-wellness-podcast-with-georgia-ann
• Follow on Instagram: @gawellness https://www.instagram.com/gawellness/

🔁 Episodes referenced for deeper listening:

• E004: Self-Care and the Nervous System
• E008: The Myth of Balance (Seasons)
• E010: Real Resilience with Michelle Gordon

✍️ Cuppa & Check-In

This week’s gentle prompts:

→ Learn: What story are you attaching to this guilt and is it accurate.

→ Try: Which one action will you use when guilt rises this week? Set a time and place.

→ Become: What small shifts do you notice after you run the 60-second reset. Do you notice resilience growing in your daily choices?

📥 Download the free journal prompt and enjoy with your next cup of tea: https://gawellness.myflodesk.com/mumguilt

📱 Let’s Connect:

• Instagram:  @gawellness https://www.instagram.com/gawellness/
• Facebook Group: The Balanced Bella Community 🌿 Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1465025104488400/
• Website: Coming soon!

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