MMHRC Blog
Posts Tagged ‘maternal mental health’
Intrusive Thoughts Are Scary But They Don’t Make You a Bad Mom
Intrusive thoughts are unwelcome and often very upsetting thoughts that can literally come out of nowhere and leave you horrified. In a flash you may have a vision of dropping your baby or somehow hurting them with your kitchen knives. This thought leaves any mom terrified of what she may be capable of. Intrusive thoughts…
Read MoreManage Anxiety During the Holidays with These 5 Simple Strategies
It’s no secret that the holiday season can be incredibly stressful and trigger anxiety for many of us. Managing the symptoms of anxiety can be challenging when we’re also trying to get through our to-do lists and take care of our kids. Instead of reacting to symptoms of anxiety when they happen, you can plan…
Read MorePatricia Tomasi: Maternal Mental Health is a Women’s Rights Issue
I got pregnant pretty fast. We thought it would take at least six months because that was the norm among our couple friends. But all it took was one quick romp on the couch before dinner on a Tuesday to make it happen. We didn’t even take our clothes off except, for, you know… We…
Read More6 Good Reasons Why Moms’ Mental Health Matters
Women’s issues get pushed to the side, especially those that are about our health and well being. Whether it’s drug trials that only use men as study participants or a lack of coordinated resources to address mental health – women and moms are an afterthought. But this week – Maternal Mental Health Week – we’re…
Read MoreGrieving the Postpartum Experience You Didn’t Have
Grieving your postpartum experience isn’t something you thought you’d do. In a culture that so openly celebrates motherhood and the wonderful experience we’re all supposed to have, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. Apparently, we’re all missing something unless we have a baby. We can’t fulfill our roles as women without having had a…
Read MoreLeah Anderson: Here I Am with a Passion for Change
I’ve struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I finally have a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder at the age of 29 and almost 20 months postpartum. It has been a long 2 years of saying something is wrong. I still don’t feel normal for me. And to make things worse I…
Read MoreKat Schuknecht: We Are Working to Change Things for the Mothers Who Come After Us
My name is Kat and I’m extremely excited to be a part of MMHRC! I’m the mama of two girls – ages 9 and 5. I developed postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) shortly after my oldest was born. It wasn’t until my younger daughter came along four years later that I was really…
Read MoreSelf-Compassion Will Change Your Life for the Better
Self-compassion is a practice that maybe you’ve never heard of. We hear constant talk about self-care and the vital importance of “filling our own cup” first, before we try to take care of others. It’s become so popular now that there are self-care coaches, self-care subscription boxes (which are awesome – don’t get me wrong!)…
Read More21 Ridiculous Reasons Moms’ Mental Health Wasn’t Taken Seriously
Despite assurances from health care providers that maternal mental health issues are taken seriously, we know from our lived experience this isn’t always the case. There are many instances where a mom has reached out for help only to be met with blank stares. Or worse yet, ridiculous reasons why what they’re experiencing is either…
Read MoreNo More Excuses: Providers Are Accountable for Their Lack of Knowledge About Moms’ Mental Health
When it comes to maternal mental health, there’s always an excuse as to why moms get bad treatment. It may be that screening takes too long. There is a duty to report if a mom is thought to be a danger to her child. Psychiatrists are the best professionals to handle mental illness. OBs don’t…
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