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Dear Mum, it's Anna Mathur: Mum overwhelm, burnout and why snapping at your kids is NOT your fault

April 16, 2026 · 59 min

Show notes

We’re at the end of Series 1 of Dear Mum - and I feel like I should be the one writing a post-it note for myself, because this series has genuinely changed how I think about motherhood, and this final conversation is the perfect way to close it out.


Anna Mathur is a psychotherapist, author, and a refreshingly honest mum of three. You might know her from her books, her incredibly honest Instagram, or from the way she has this gift of making you feel like someone finally gets it.

We'd been talking about doing this episode for months and I'm so glad we waited, because it felt like the perfect conversation to end on.

We talk about overwhelm; what it actually is, why it's so physical, and why the Hot Wheels car on the radiator can genuinely feel like a threat to your nervous system.

We get into burnout, the real kind, and Anna shares her own experience of grinding to a complete halt after the pandemic and what it took to rebuild.

We talk about the Mary Poppins to Hulk Continuum (yes, really), why snapping at your kids is a symptom not a character flaw, and how to repair things when it goes wrong - without the but.


We also talk about capacity. How we pour everything into everyone else and run on empty, and why doing something for yourself isn't selfish - it's active love for your children.


This episode felt like a big exhale. I hope it does for you too.


—


If you've been listening to series one, thank you. Truly! I'd love to know what you've loved, what you want more of, and who you'd like to hear from in series two. Comment on whatever platform you’re watching, or drop me a message on Instagram.


And also consider leaving a review; it means the world and helps more mums find the show. ❤️


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Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

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