Mental Health in Motherhood: Our Stories

DISCLAIMER: The content in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician. If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911. You should not rely on information on this website for medical, legal, or financial decisions, including, but not limited to, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. Always consult a professional for advice.

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Many mothers experience struggles in their mental health. It can be difficult to understand why this is happening to you, and deciding what to do about it can feel very confusing. Our society has come a long way in recognizing how important mental health is, but unfortunately there is still some stigma there. I want moms to know that they are not alone. So many women have been there, and are still there.

This is a compilation of stories and experiences from mothers just like you. My goal is that you will find something in this blog post that speaks to you and relates to what you are going through. No matter what you are feeling right now, your life matters and you are worthy. Things can get better.

Click a button to jump to a category that you’d like to explore, or just scroll down to read them all!

Pregnancy & PostPartum Depression & Anxiety Children with Special Needs Treatment Encouragement

Mental Health During Pregnancy, Birth, and Post-Partum

Having a baby can be a really exciting time, but also a really stressful time. A combination of physical factors (hormones) and emotional factors can trigger or worsen a mental illness. Anyone can experience mental illness, but there are some circumstances that increase your risk, such as a family history of mental illness, stress, health problems, a traumatic birth, difficulty breastfeeding, or a lack of support.

This is where the journey through depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions begins for a lot of women. Read on to see how real women experienced symptoms and came to terms with what was happening.

• When Love Takes Time Jessica tells her story of post-partum depression.
• My Anxiety Journey. Kendra tells us about her post-partum anxiety and how she decided to seek help.
• What it Feels Like to be a Mom Who Wants to Die. Kristen shares her experience of severe depression and anxiety during pregnancy.
• A Wounded Warrior: My Journey with Traumatic Birth & PTSD. Danielle discusses how trauma related to giving birth led to Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Post Natal Depression: There’s Light At The End Of The Tunnel Joni shares about overcoming the strain that post-partum depression put on her family.
• My Mental Health Story Jordan discusses postpartum depression and as well as her ongoing struggle with anxiety.
• I Knew I Could Have Postpartum Depression And Still Wasn’t Prepared. Karen shares a raw look at how difficult postpartum depression can be, even if you know what to look for.
• My PPD made me almost lose everything – my husband, my son, and myself. Yvette Mystakas describes how postpartum depression affected her and her marriage.
• Acknowledging the Trauma. Elizabeth details her traumatic birth and the subsequent fallout from the trauma.

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Depression, Anxiety, and Other Struggles

One in five adults in the United States experience mental illness in a given year. Women are 70% more likely than men to experience depression. These numbers deserve our attention. Mothers who feel like something isn’t quite right may put off getting treatment for lots of reasons. Maybe you’re in denial. Maybe you’re busy. Maybe you feel ashamed that you can’t “handle it.” Maybe you just don’t know what to do. Remember that your health matters. Here’s how a few women waded through the process of coming to terms with mental illness.

• My Depression Reality Katie shares about her life with high-functioning depression and explains what suicidal ideation is.
• Moms vs. Depression Tierney shares the complex feelings that come with depression when you are a mother, and how she has learned to cope.
• To those struggling with mental illness: It’s not your fault Danielle offers comfort in reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles.
• My Husband Has 3 Wives, and They’re All Me Brynn shares how living with anxiety means there are different sides to herself.
• Stop Telling People with Depression to Think More Positively. Kristen discusses myths surrounding depression.
• When Anxiety Makes It Difficult to Leave the House. Karen talks about how anxiety makes even simple things seem very difficult.
• One Breeze Away from Toppling Over: How One Working Mom Deals with the Juggling Act of Life Jacqueline shares how she was able to finally admit that it was okay not to be perfect.
• The Twisty, Turny Cycle of Trauma. Jessica explains her struggle with post-traumatic-stress disorder after her son experienced an accident.
• What my time in the psychiatric ward taught me. Yvette describes her experience processing her depression after attempting suicide.
• Mom Anxiety versus Intuition: When Do You Listen? Sarah explains how she deciphers between feelings of intuition and anxiety.

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Parents of Children with Special Needs or Mental Health Issues

Parents of children with special needs face additional levels of stress beyond the everyday parenting struggles. Physical, financial, mental, and emotional demands can take a toll on your long-term health, including your mental health. Some studies state that mothers are at a greater risk than fathers of developing depressive symptoms. Children who experience mental illness have their own challenges as well. These stories shed some light on this particular perspective.

• Invisible. Brynn shares a message of hope to parents who are raising children with special needs who may be hiding their parenting battles.
• My Mental Health as a Parent of a Child With a Disability Jen shares how stress can affect your mental health.
• Dear Son With Invisible Disabilities, You Are Not Broken Brynn shares that you are not broken because your mind works differently.
• My Son Was Hurting and I Felt Helpless: Addressing Mental Health Issues. Adrienne shares about her son’s mental health issues and the struggles they experienced the mental heath system.

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Treatment and Recovery

Nearly sixty percent of adults (and fifty percent of children) with a mental health condition do not receive treatment in a given year. There are multiple possibilities as to why that may be, but for myself and other women that I know, shame often is a huge barrier to reaching out for help. There is no shame in getting help in whatever form that looks like for you. There are many options for treatment that you can try. Here’s how a few women were able to find relief from their symptoms and begin to move forward with their lives.

• Why I Went to Counseling Amy Blair of North Fourth Street shares how she knew it was time to seek counseling.
• I am living with depression and I have no shame Katie from Lovely in the Dark discusses how her antidepressant made her feel like herself again.
• Yvette’s Story. Yvette Mystakas shares how reconnecting with her inner self was an important part of her recovery.
• I Fought This Little White Pill. Tierney shares how she overcame her fear of being labeled and accepted that she needed medication.
• Why Antidepressants Make Me a Better Mom. Kristen discusses how the use of antidepressants has changed her parenting.
• Blue Sky Day. Kendra discusses how seeking help for anxiety has changed her life for the better.
• Let’s Be Honest :: On Anxiety and Depression Leah opens up about the stigma of anxiety and depression and why we should not be ashamed to get help.
• Soul Care-After an Unexpected Descent Into Depression Stephanie shares her spiritual insights from an unexpected shift in her depression/anxiety after a long period of stability.

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Encouragement and Support

You can get through this. Things can get better. Below are some uplifting articles that remind us that we are in this together. By sharing what has personally helped them in their own struggles, these women are contributing to a support system that we can all benefit from. Anyone who has suffered through a mental illness knows how difficult it is. The empathy we share for one another is exactly what is needed during those hard times.

• Hold On To These Truths When You’re In the Trenches of Motherhood. Stephanie shares what she’s learned through the struggles of being a mother of young children.
• 10 Tips to Help Stressed Moms Chill Out Brandi shares some methods to deal with stress and help you calm yourself down.
• What Moms with Depression Need to Know. Kristen shares encouraging words to other mothers who are experiencing depression.
• 15 of the Most Uplifting Bible Verses for Anxiety. Katie shares the Bible verses that have brought her comfort, while also reminding us that while prayer and scriptures are NOT the cure for mental illness, they can be part of a multi-pronged approach to managing mental health.
• Finding Faith Among Feelings Pamela from Upheld Life discusses how our emotions aren’t a contradiction to our faith, rather, faith can be found among what we feel.
• How Postpartum Nutrition Can Improve Maternal Mental Health. “Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum healing and lactation all put additional demands on a woman’s body, and therefore nutrient deficiencies arise more easily during this time, which can increase the risk of mood disorders, like postpartum depression…Supplements and dietary changes alone are not cures for postpartum depression and maternal mental illness, but rather, should be an integral part of treatment and recovery.”

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We are with you, mama. If you think it’s time to reach out for help, consult with your doctor or other professional. Don’t wait!

Do you have an article that should be added to this list? Leave it in a comment below!

Visit Nami.org for more information about mental health. If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Did you miss some posts? Go back and read more here:

Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum
Depression, Anxiety, and Other Struggles
Parents of Children with Special Needs
Treatment and Recovery
Encouragement and Support