S2E4 Postpartum Anger x Mom Rage x Touched Out with Aubrey Bodt

This week we’re exploring postpartum rage, or the experience of intense, dysregulated anger with no place to go.We talk about:* how rage is a reasonable response to an unreasonable setup* why anger is natural and protective* what to do if you’re feeling rageThe TabooWe have a cultural belief that experiencing rage or anger after childbirth is a sign of a bad mother or a character flaw. Instead, it’s a natural response to unmet needs that has long been stigmatized and repressed by women and moms.Links + Resources* 📝 Mini Guide: 10 Ways to Navigate Rage in Motherhood Workbook* Yoto Player* Follow Aubrey on Instagram* 🗓️ Book a 15 min consult with Aubrey* 🎵 What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel? by Mister RogersKey Takeaways🧰 What to do with your rage* Say it out loud: “I feel rage.” Naming it reduces shame.* Move your body: Stomping, shaking, scribbling, punching a pillow—get it out of your body.* Practice aftercare: Cold compresses, grounding exercises, or the physiological sigh (double inhale through the nose, long exhale through the mouth) to reset your nervous system.* Creative expression: Use art to externalize what feels monstrous, invisible, or overwhelming—“even destruction can be creative.”* Curiosity > Criticism: Ask yourself, “What is this anger trying to tell me?” instead of “What’s wrong with me?”Book RecommendationMom Rage by Minna DubinThe Guest ExpertAubrey Bodt, LCPAT, LCPC, ATR-BC, is a licensed and board-certified art therapist, counselor, and coach specializing in perinatal mental health. As the founder of TendWell Therapy LLC, she empowers mothers to reclaim and rewrite their narratives, reconnect with their intuition, and navigate the raw, unfiltered challenges of motherhood—postpartum anxiety, rage, body image struggles, and identity shifts. With over a decade of experience supporting children and families in psychiatric and pediatric hospitals, along with advanced training from Postpartum Support International, Aubrey brings a feminist, solution-focused, and narrative approach to her work.Through a unique blend of art therapy and counseling, she facilitates self-discovery, clarity, and resilience, helping mothers embrace their multifaceted identities and thrive on their own terms. She’s also a mother herself, which means she gets it—really. Aubrey is passionate about shifting societal conversations around motherhood to honor its complexity, celebrate women’s strength, and challenge the systems that make mothers feel like they’re failing. She is also the author of Channeling the Fire: Understanding and Moving Through Postpartum Rage, a workbook that invites mothers to lean into their rage with compassion, listen to its messages, and use it as a tool for empowerment as they move through their postpartum journey.🗓️ Book a 15 min consult with AubreyThat’s it for this week’s episode of Modern Hysteria. Coming up on Season 2:* The Gibson Girl and the birth of American beauty standards* Disorganized attachment with therapist Grace Bithell* Intimacy after sexual assault with Dr. Holly Wood… and a lot more.Become a paying subscriber for just $8/month USD to support the show and get access to all bonus content. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com