Mom guilt, good guilt, and letting go: How to tell when guilt is helping you (and when it's holding you back) with Dr. Saumya Dave

Dr. Saumya Dave, psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and author of the new novel The Guilt Pill, joins me this week for a conversation about the emotional load so many mothers carry that can shape our choices, our identity, and even how we see ourselves as parents.

Together we explore:

- The surprising truth that guilt isn't always bad and how to recognize when it's actually trying to tell you something important.

- How cultural expectations and "good girl" conditioning quietly shape the way mothers judge themselves, often without realizing it.

- What happens when we try to shut off difficult emotions, and why numbing guilt can create more challenges than it solves.

- Why Dr. Saumya chose fiction to explore the emotional undercurrents of motherhood and how storytelling reveals truths we rarely say out loud.

- What kids learn from the way we relate to guilt and how parents can model a healthier, more grounded approach.

- Small shifts that can loosen guilt's grip and help you reconnect with the messy, joyful moments right in front of you.

If you've ever felt weighed down by the pressure to be a "perfect" parent, struggled with the inner critic that tells you you're not doing enough, or simply want a deeper understanding of where mom guilt comes from and how to soften its impact, this episode will give you clarity, validation, and tools to support your emotional wellbeing.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗 Saumya Dave

📚 The Guilt Pill: A Psychological Thriller of Motherhood and Ambition

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

📱@saumyajdave

📱@drsarahbren

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

🔗 Feeling weighed down by mom-guilt, identity shifts, or the mental load of parenting? Upshur Bren Psychology Group specializes in maternal mental health and offers therapy and coaching to help you feel more grounded and supported. Visit upshurbren.com to learn more about support options or schedule a free consultation call so we can share recommendations for a personalized plan to meet your unique needs.

📚 To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode fighting against the pressure to be perfect with Gayane Aramyan

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about whether one mom's guilt over being a working mom is hurting her parenting

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how mentally strong people handle life's up's and downs with Amy Morin