MMHRC Blog
Posts Tagged ‘motherhood’
Lauren’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 MoreAfter Postpartum Depression, There’s No Shame in Only Having One Child
After a nightmare experience with postpartum depression, anxiety and PTSD, I have one child and I’ve put the reproductive stage of my life behind me. I was blessed with a magical little boy who turned five only a month ago. His status as an only child will stay, and it’s taken me the last five…
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 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 MoreLisa Tremayne: Children Were Everything I Ever Wanted
6 years. 72 months. 72 times I got my period and was so disappointed that my body had failed me again. That’s how the inability to conceive feels and the words that we in the medical field – I am a maternal child health nurse use – the inability to conceive. Just to make sure…
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 MorePostpartum Depression & Anxiety Don’t Get Any Better – But You Do
It’s been over four years since I had my son and my journey into the world of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, like postpartum depression and anxiety, began. Since then I’ve spent plenty of time managing my own recovery, but I’ve also spent countless hours providing peer support to other women. The question that’s asked…
Read MoreHow to Find the Right Therapist When You’re Looking for Help
When you’re looking to start therapy, finding the right therapist is the NUMBER ONE most important thing you can possibly do. In fact, getting yourself set up with the wrong therapist can be completely counterproductive and cause harm. Just because a certain practitioner is close to your home, or your best friend’s neighbor highly recommended…
Read MoreWhen You’re Struggling With Your Mental Health Christmas Can Be Awful
It’s already December and we’re all hurdling full speed ahead into more family gatherings, pressure to find the perfect presents and listening to loops of Bing Crosby sing ‘White Christmas’. If I’m really honest, I’m a Pinterest mom and I love to get my house Instagram worthy, but it’s also exhausting. Beyond exhausting.The holiday season…
Read More