Episode 61: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel

7 snips

Nov 5, 2021

Kelly McDaniel, a licensed professional counselor and author, dives deep into the concept of 'Mother Hunger'—the emotional wounds from maternal deprivation. She discusses how this affects women's self-worth, behaviors, and relationships. Kelly also emphasizes the significance of nurturing, protecting, and guiding in maternal roles, and how naming these issues helps in healing. She suggests therapeutic approaches for addressing complex traumas linked to mother hunger and shares practical steps for recovery, even when mothers are absent.

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INSIGHT

Context Shapes Mothering

Social and cultural forces make maternal care harder, not just individual mothers' failures.
McDaniel connects patriarchy and intergenerational fear to reduced maternal support.

ADVICE

Prioritize Responsive Caregiving

Respond to infants' nonverbal cues; avoid 'cry-it-out' approaches that threaten bonding.
Prioritize touch, night-time responsiveness, and consistent primary caregiving.

INSIGHT

Early Stress Alters The Brain

Early separation and nonresponsive caregiving raise infant cortisol and harm brain development.
High early cortisol can impair memory centers and attachment formation.

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Kelly McDaniel, LPC, NCC, CSAT, is a licensed professional counselor and author, specializing in treating women who struggle with relationships. As the first clinician to name an attachment injury as Mother Hunger, she explores the legacy of maternal deprivation. Her book 'Mother Hunger', speaks to the millions of women who suffer with a life-long emotional burden that adversely affects self-worth.

This podcast episode is Dawn Nickel and Kelly's live session of #MentalHealthMonday.

An endless ache to love and be loved. Periods of overeating or starving. A pattern of unstable moods and painful relationships.

Do any of these sound familiar?
Trauma psychotherapist and author Kelly McDaniel has seen these traits over and over in clients who feel trapped in cycles of harmful behaviors — and are unable to stop.

Many of us find ourselves stuck in unhealthy habits simply because we don't see a better way. With Mother Hunger, Kelly McDaniel helps women break the cycle of destructive behavior by taking a fresh look at childhood attachment injuries and their lasting impact.

In doing so, she de-stigmatizes the shame that can come with being under-mothered and misdiagnosed, and offers a healing path with powerful tools that include therapeutic interventions and lifestyle changes.

In this session of #MentalHealthMonday, Kelly McDaniel weaves her 30 years of research, clinical expertise, and a deep understanding of mothering myths, to explore 'Mother Hunger' and provide an opportunity to understand and heal the misunderstood root of poor eating patterns, chronic relationship disappointment, and distorted self-image.

Connect with Kelly at kellymcdanieltherapy.com and on Instagram: @kellymcdanieltherapy .

The SHE RECOVERS FOUNDATION is a grassroots movement and non-profit public charity with a community of women in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders, behavioral health issues and/or life challenges. This lifeline organization connects women through its virtual platforms and in-person community networks, provides resources and supports women to develop their own holistic recovery patchworks, and empowers them to thrive and share their successes. All efforts are designed to end the stigma and shame often associated with recovery so that more women may heal and grow.

SHE RECOVERS has launched a partnership with BetterHelp to provide accessible and individualized therapy to those seeking healing.

We are honored to offer our listeners a 35% discount on the first month of therapy @ BetterHelp until December 31. Register at betterhelp.com/srf.

SHE RECOVERS is grateful to BetterHelp for making a $100,000 donation in support of our mission in 2021.