MMHRC Blog
Posts Tagged ‘mental health’
“The Monster” of Postpartum Psychosis: Rachel’s Story
Trigger warning: Suicidality, psychosis, and mania “I don’t feel like myself,” I told my doctor at four months postpartum. “I don’t want to do anything. Nothing feels right. And…” The tears threatened to squeeze out from between my eyelids. “And I have thoughts of hurting my baby.” The doctor stared at me coldly for a…
Read MoreA Black Body in the Healthcare System – Brianna’s Story
I have many identities as I navigate through the world. Through observation alone you may gather that I am wife, a mother, a black woman. You may make educated guesses about my status if you take note of what I am wearing that particular day or my mode of transportation. As I navigate my work…
Read MoreMy Baby Is A Year Old & I Still Have Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is the most common complication of child birth, affecting upwards of 1 in 4 women every year. It doesn’t discriminate and can affect anyone with symptoms that range from feeling isolated, sad and alone all the way to full blown rage and crippling insomnia. While each mom’s experience with postpartum depression is different…
Read MorePostpartum Depression & Anxiety Are Not Your Fault
I wanted to know what I could have done differently that may have prevented me from ever having to walk down this road. Why was I now dealing with a debilitating mental health crisis, while also trying to mother a tiny, helpless human?
Read MoreAlicia’s Story: Nothing About Motherhood Came Naturally to Me
After five years, I’ve lost most of the guilt that I’ve carried around for far too long; the shame that accompanies missing out on the first nine months of your baby’s life. Physically I was there and in the eyes of most observers, I was a wonderful, loving mother. Love him – I did –…
Read MoreNicole’s Story: The Emotional Roller Coaster Started Earlier Than I Expected
I was never one to get ‘baby fever’ or even know when it was a good time to have a baby. My husband and I knew we wanted to have a family but we were not sure when it would be a good time to start trying. Who is ever financially ready to start a…
Read MoreKasia’s Story: Life Got Very Real, Very Fast
I had my first babies at a much later age than most women – I was 36. For me getting pregnant was not the easiest thing to do. Thankfully after almost 10 years of trying, we got pregnant with twins – a boy and a girl. Life couldn’t be any better, right? Struggles with Infertility…
Read MoreLauren’s Story: Panic Attacks are Never Normal
“Oh my God, I know how women hurt their babies!” I cried as this thought replayed in my head over and over, while I held my screaming baby at arm’s length. My husband took my daughter, and I collapsed into my bed. “I need help. There is something seriously wrong with me,” I said through…
Read MoreAllison’s Story: The Need to Escape My Life Didn’t Stop
Sometimes I wonder if it was all just a dream; a really, really frightening dream. The way I feel now towards my daughter can’t compare. Only when I dwell on certain pictures or my husband brings it up do I remember that we in fact lived it, and we somehow survived. My deepest hope is…
Read MoreBeth’s Story: My New Normal Now Includes Mental Illness
My pregnancy was blissful with very little morning sickness or fatigue. I had perfect blood work and perfect ultrasounds. Everything was perfect, perfect, perfect. My body was doing exactly what it should do and my baby was growing beautifully. There Were Still Risk Factors I had absolutely no depression, and just general (normal) worry about…
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