S4: E6 Tapping into Marriage with Cat Sims

In this week’s episode, I chat with Cat Sims who blogs under Not So Smug Now. This episode is incredibly honest and raw about a number of issues that I believe many of us will relate to. Our focus in this episode is on marriage and how relationships can change especially when children are born. How often are people really honest about the reality of having children and the impact it can have on your mental health? Cat talks to us about her and her husband's experience of becoming parents and the impact it had on both of them and their marriage. She talks to us about their journey to therapy and how it taught them about the importance of communicating what they actually wanted. W e discuss how we blame TV shows like Love Island for toxic behaviours and forget that it is merely spotlighting behaviours that are present in relationships in the real world and yet we don’t take the opportunity to learn from what we see on these shows. In a moment of true vulnerability, Cat shares with us her journey to sobriety and how alcohol had been affecting her own life and her relationships. Key takeaways: We have been sold a myth about relationships There is a lack of honesty about the reality of having children Being vulnerable with each other in therapy (and outside) can be really difficult but so worth it The reality of becoming sober (if appropriate for you) can be life-changing and open up your relationships and opportunities There is a culture of Mum guilt that needs to be addressed so that guilt can be put to one side I know that many of you will resonate with different parts of Cat’s experiences and hope that this will support you with your own journey.   About Cat: Cat Sims is a content creator, podcaster and author who is still trying to figure the whole ‘adulting’ thing out. With 195k followers on Instagram, Cat has made a living out of documenting her failures and successes as a 40-year-old woman, a mother and a wife across various social media platforms. Cat is willing to talk openly about anything - her addiction and subsequent sobriety journey, her mental health, her fears and failures - and she makes us all laugh as she does it. Her mission in life is to make as many women as possible feel ‘seen’ and to make them realise that they are never, ever, ‘the only one.’ She’s honest AF, wonderfully self-deprecating and willing to say all the things the rest of us hide away and, in doing so, managed to make us all feel a little bit better about our perfectly messy lives. Cat’s new book The First Time Your Smiled (out now) is a baby record journal for parents with a sense of humour. Order a copy here> Want to discover more about Cat? Find Cat at her website www.notsosmugnow.com  Find her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/notsosmugnow  About Sarah: Sarah is an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or Tapping Practitioner and Trainer based in the UK but originally from Dublin, Ireland. After the loss of her daughter Alice, in November 2014, suffering from severe PTSD and anxiety, she became pregnant again. This led her to seek help from a local EFT Practitioner. This technique completely transformed her life and she is now dedicated to supporting as many people as possible to let go of their trauma, grief, limiting beliefs and negative emotions, so they can live a heart-based, joy-filled life. Sarah has a thriving Tapping into You Membership + Community with members all over the world - the doors are open right now. Find out more here> Take her 'Motherhood Self-Care Toolkit Quiz' to find out which part of your life needs some self-care attention. Take the Quiz> She runs retreats, works with clients 1:1 and is also a Trainer, teaching people to become EFT Practitioners. Find out more at her at www.tappingformums.com  or follow her at www.instagram.com/sarah_tobin