In this episode of Mother Mayhem, we’re talking about something every daughter eventually faces on the healing journey: the messy middle.

You’ve moved beyond survival mode: less hypervigilance, fewer shutdowns but freedom and peace still feel out of reach.

Instead, you’re navigating grief, anger, second-guessing, perfectionism, and the uncomfortable work of slowing down.

It’s confusing, frustrating, and messy. And yet…it’s where the deepest growth happens.

Together we’ll explore:

-Why grief and anger are essential parts of healing, not setbacks.

-How second-guessing shows up in the messy middle (and what to do about it).

-What it means to value rest, quiet, and connection without chaos.

-Practical ways to hold both grief and light through “Yes, And.”

-How to stop picking up every single thought trauma brain throws your way.

All of the questions in this episode came directly from daughters inside the Mayhem Daughters community.

If you want to have your own questions answered, hear from other daughters about their experiences, and find a safe, trauma-informed space to heal, visit MayhemDaughters.com

You are not alone in this messy middle. Let’s walk it together.

What happens when your body was never fully yours to begin with?

In this powerful episode we’re having a conversation many daughters have never had out loud about bodily autonomy, maternal boundary violations, and the silent, insidious ways that narcissistic or emotionally immature mothers can lay claim to their daughters' bodies.

We’re not just talking about “bad boundaries” here. We’re talking about unspoken abuse, the kind that hides behind phrases like “for your own good,” and leaves daughters confused, ashamed, and disconnected from their own bodies.

What it means when a mother claims ownership over her daughter’s body

Why so many daughters hesitate to use the word abuse, even when their bodies tell the truth.

Examples of physical invasiveness, coercion, and boundary-crossing framed as “care”

The nervous system responses (like freezing or bracing) that reveal stored trauma

Why healing often begins not with rage, but with quiet remembering and somatic truth

How to notice your body's signals and what it looks like to reclaim agency

This is not a checklist of symptoms. It’s a truth telling

This episode is tender. It may be activating. Go slowly. Bring water, take breaks, and, if at all possible, don’t listen alone.

Felt shame around sexuality, desire, or touch

Froze during intimacy, pelvic exams, or physical care

Been told you were “too sensitive” when something felt off

Had a mother who shared your private information, commented on your body, or touched you in ways that felt confusing or wrong

Struggled to name what happened because it wasn’t “overt” enough to count as abuse

You might relate if you’ve ever:

Felt shame around sexuality, desire, or touch

Froze during intimacy, pelvic exams, or physical care

Been told you were “too sensitive” when something felt off

Had a mother who shared your private information, commented on your body, or touched you in ways that felt confusing or wrong

Struggled to name what happened because it wasn’t “overt” enough to count as abuse

to learn about joining group, the community, or to share your story with the show.

Listener Note: This episode includes references to sexual trauma, emotional abuse, and boundary violations. Please take care of your nervous system and step away if you need to. You’re allowed to choose what you hold, and when.

Some daughters have lived through what many would call unthinkable: sexual abuse at the hands of their mothers. It’s a reality too painful to name, let alone process but that doesn’t make it any less real.

And if we want true healing for all daughters, we have to talk about the truths most people can’t hold.

In this powerful two-part episode, This week we talk to a daughter who has survived covert sexual trauma from her mother. Through her story, we begin to unpack the complex ways that maternal sexual abuse can occur.

I'll talk about:

What covert sexual trauma is and how it differs from more overt forms of abuse

How maternal sexual abuse distorts a daughter’s sense of self, safety, and bodily autonomy

Why daughters struggle with shame, confusion, and isolation around these experiences

How survivors can begin to reclaim their truth, their body, and their story

Why this episode, and this conversation, is a long-overdue step in healing the most silenced wounds
Whether this is your experience or not, listening with care will help deepen your understanding of the many forms the mother wound can take—and what it looks like to hold space for daughters living through the darkest parts of it

Visit MayhemDaughters.com for more information about joining group, our online community, or to share your story with the show.