In this special bonus episode of Balkan Sis, I’m sharing powerful voice notes from Dr Selma Music, a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist and trauma specialist.
This is a deeply honest and reflective conversation around motherhood, culture and emotional wellbeing, especially through the lens of Balkan women and migrant families.
We talk about the realities of motherhood — beyond the highlight reel — and what it actually feels like to carry the emotional, mental and physical load of raising children while still navigating your own life, identity and past.
This episode explores:
• the emotional load of motherhood and what many women carry silently
• the transition into motherhood, including birth, postpartum and identity shifts
• how our childhood, family dynamics and generational history shape how we parent
• Balkan motherhood and the cultural expectations placed on women
• intergenerational patterns, trauma and resilience
• emotional regulation and how our nervous system responds to stress
• relationships and marriages during the child-raising years
• the pressure of “holding it all together” and what that actually costs us
• the invisible labour mothers carry within the family
• how self-sacrifice can lead to exhaustion, resentment and disconnection
• the importance of self-care in realistic, everyday ways
• small, practical ways to look after yourself without overwhelm
• reconnecting with yourself outside of motherhood
• modelling emotional health and boundaries for our children
This episode is a reminder that:
You can love your children deeply
and still feel overwhelmed
You can be strong
and still need support
You can give to your family
and still choose yourself too
Motherhood is not about losing yourself —
it’s about learning how to include yourself in your life again.
https://www.instagram.com/dr.selma_music/
Website
https://www.drselmamusic-psychology.com/
Podcast (The Cultured Cortex)
https://www.instagram.com/theculturedcortex/
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TikTok
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Listen on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZSNzqbKrcyDepOmT7WmDH
