Many women discover very strong emotions such as irritability, anger, and even rage when they become mothers. Some even say they didn’t know they had these emotions in them — that they were capable of feeling this way. Understandably, it can feel scary, unfamiliar, and bring up thoughts like: what is wrong with me?
Emotions and feelings are not good or bad — they are simply that: emotions and feelings. The full range of them — joy, happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, sadness, love and hate. We, as people, have given them names and labelled them as “good” or “bad.” Society has decided which emotions are acceptable and which are not.
I don’t believe we were created broken or faulty for having all these emotions. There must be a reason and a purpose for them — and there is. Just think about it: how would we know what happiness is if we didn’t know sadness? How would we recognise pleasure if we didn’t know pain?
It’s like an internal navigation system. When we’re unwell, our body gives us physical symptoms to signal that something needs attention — something needs to change. For example, we may need rest because we’ve been going at 100 miles an hour without even realising it, running ourselves down until we’re forced to stop. Or we get a headache because we’ve forgotten to drink water, and our body is signalling dehydration.
The same applies to our emotions and feelings.
When you feel irritable or angry, it is often a signal that some of your needs have not been met. Not because you are a bad mum or a bad person — but quite the opposite. You’ve been giving and giving, and your own cup has become empty. There’s nothing left to give.
You might be sleep-deprived, exhausted, hungry, touched out, or unsupported.
This is a very real part of matrescence — the transition into motherhood that affects us physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can stretch us beyond our limits in ways we never expected.
Imagine trying to catch a wild animal or a stray dog. When it’s cornered and has nowhere to escape, it becomes aggressive. You’re more likely to see it growl or snap — not because it’s a bad animal, but because it feels threatened and scared, and the only way it knows how to respond is to fight.
The same can happen to us.
Mums don’t get angry because they are bad or broken, but because they feel cornered. Because their needs — the most basic ones, like sleep, rest and nourishment — are not being met. And those are fundamental for survival.
And then, after feeling angry or shouting at our children, comes the guilt.
But think about it — would a bad person feel remorse? Probably not.
What it really shows is that you are a good mum and a good person, who has been running on empty for too long. Someone whose needs have been overlooked.
And in those moments, you don’t need more guilt or self-judgement. You need compassion. You need understanding. You need support.
We need to show ourselves love and compassion — especially in the moments when we feel we deserve it the least.
Sometimes, though, these feelings can become overwhelming — when the exhaustion, hormonal changes, or constant demands of motherhood leave you feeling stuck in a cycle of irritability, anger, or emotional ups and downs.
This is where gentle support can make a real difference.
Homeopathy looks at you as a whole person — not just the symptoms, but your emotional and physical experience as well. It can offer a gentle way to support emotional balance, especially when you feel like you’re no longer coping as you usually would, or when these feelings start affecting your daily life.
You don’t have to push through it on your own.
