Ending Single mom Guilt Once and For All

Ending Single Mom Guilt Once and For All

Single mothers are often plagued by the guilt of choosing to end a marriage or wanting “me-time” for the sake of their mental wellbeing. Instead of acknowledging their feelings, many single moms ignore them.

The buildup of unaddressed emotions causes adverse reactions and may trigger angry outbursts. These bubbling emotions can weigh you down and prevent you from reaching your potential.

If you’re a single mom who feels guilty about ending a marriage or wanting some time to herself, use these tips to overcome any negative emotions:

Identify The Source Of Your Guilt

We experience guilt when we feel we’ve made a mistake—either on purpose or unintentionally. Mothers often feel the responsibility to make a marriage work for the sake of their kids, no matter how difficult it may be.

If you’re feeling guilty, identify the source. Accept any mistakes you may have made and think about how you’re going to make things better. Sometimes single moms just need a reminder that they chose to do the right thing by ending a bad marriage.

Change Your Self-Talk

What would you say to a friend that was experiencing the emotions you’re struggling with? You’ll probably be compassionate and supportive. That’s exactly what you need to be doing for yourself.

Being a single mom isn’t easy. If you’re going to get through it, you have to find the inner strength to keep going and that isn’t going to happen when you’re negative inner voice keeps getting in the way.

Focus On the Kids

Kids

Give your kids the emotional and physical attention they need. Remember the more you tend to their needs right now, the more support you’ll get from them in the future. Happy kids that are loved by their parents are more likely to grow into self-assured adults.

Take Some Out to Heal Yourself

Mothers who’re struggling with anxiety and depression have difficulty in supporting their kids. If you are overwhelmed by negative emotions and don’t know how to put your guilt behind you then consider seeing a professional.

An experienced psychotherapist can give you the tools you need to manage your emotions productively so you can move forward in life.

Azizeh Rezaiyan is a psychotherapist at Silicon Valley Marriage Counseling based in Palo Alto in the Bay Area. She specializes in couple’s counseling, family meditation, anxiety treatments, and other psychotherapy treatments.

Call (650) 206-9973 to book an appointment.

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