Healing the Mother Wound: Nurture Your Inner Child

Mother Hunger is a term coined by Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Claire Bidwell Smith to describe the deep, insatiable longing for love that arises from a lack of nurturing maternal care. This unmet need can manifest as emotional distress, relational struggles, and a cycle of disappointment and grief.

Understanding Mother Hunger and Its Impact

Mother Hunger stems from an absence of secure attachment and emotional validation in early childhood. According to Smith:

“Mother Hunger captures a compelling, insatiable yearning for love… It fosters toxic stress, anger, and an ongoing cycle of disappointment and grief throughout life.”

This longing is often mistaken for romantic love, as it mirrors the oxytocin-driven bond formed between an infant and a nurturing caregiver. Women, in particular, may struggle with feelings of unworthiness and seek external validation to fill this void.

The Consequences of Mother Hunger

Mother Hunger can take two primary forms:

• Over-Mothering: Enmeshment and overprotectiveness that create confusion, frustration, and emotional dependence. Often children receive messages about how “nice” their mothers are, despite underlying neglect.

   

• Under-Mothering: Neglect, fear, anxiety, and emotional deprivation that can lead to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), survival-based identity formation, and chronic relational difficulties.

Smith notes that cases of Mother Hunger can result in:

• Fear of abandonment
  
• Sleep disturbances
  
• Eating disorders
  
• Mood disorders
  
• Addictive behaviors
• Suicidal ideation and self-harm

Without intervention, the nervous system remains in survival mode, inhibiting emotional resilience and healthy relationships.

Healing Mother Hunger: Steps to Nurture Your Inner Child

While Mother Hunger can feel overwhelming, healing is possible through intentional self-care and therapeutic practices. Smith suggests:

• Creating a comforting nightly ritual with inspiring images, a weighted blanket, or soft lighting.
• Soaking in a saltwater bath to simulate the warmth and security of human touch.
• Practicing restorative yoga to relax the nervous system.
• Listening to mindfulness podcasts for emotional support and guidance.
• Spending time alone in nature to foster inner peace and self-connection.

Additional Healing Practices for Mother Hunger

• Rest as Resistance: Prioritizing rest is essential for breaking cycles of survival-based stress. Jnania Ree V. Moore states, “Rest is not simply a retreat from stress but a crucial form of relationship to the world, to others, and to myself.” 
• Breathwork for Nervous System Regulation: Breathwork expert Scott Schwenk advises, “The way we breathe is the way we live. If you want to change how you’re feeling, change your breath.” A simple technique: inhale deeply for 4–5 counts, hold briefly, and exhale for 7–8 counts. Repeat six or more times to activate the vagus nerve and cultivate a sense of safety.
• Therapy and Inner Child Healing: Working with an attachment-informed therapist can be life-changing. Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy offers a powerful method for re-parenting wounded inner parts and fostering self-compassion. Small steps in IFS can lead to profound healing.
  

Embracing Hope and Emotional Renewal

Healing Mother Hunger is a journey, but it is one you don’t have to take alone. By engaging in nurturing practices, you can begin to cultivate the love, safety, and inner security you’ve always longed for. If you resonate with these experiences, know that there is hope—and healing is possible.

Therapeutic approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) can be especially powerful in this work. IFS helps you gently connect with the younger parts of yourself that still carry unmet needs, grief, or longing. In the safety of a supportive therapeutic relationship, you can begin to reparent these parts with compassion and clarity—offering them the love they may never have received.

You don’t have to keep surviving without the care you deserved. With the right support, you can learn to offer it to yourself—and let others in, too.

Interested in Learning More? 

Learn more about Individual Therapy and IFS at The Catalyst Center.

If you are interested in connecting with support, our specialized team is here to help. You are not alone. Call 720-675-7123 or contact us below.