Mental Health in Motherhood: Our Stories

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Many women experience struggles with their mental health in motherhood. 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 in motherhood, 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.

• What it Feels Like to be a Mom Who Wants to Die. Kristen shares her experience of severe depression and anxiety during pregnancy.
• 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.
• Prenatal Anxiety Nearly Broke Me, But it Also Helped Me Find My Voice. Kristen discusses the struggles of advocating for herself with her doctor.
• The Journey Out of Depression Starts With Honesty. Brittany shares how discussing the depression she was experiencing during pregnancy was difficult, but how she knew she needed to show up for herself.
• I Can’t Have Postpartum Depression…Right? Carolyn discusses how she grappled with symptoms of postpartum depression, and what ultimately led her to ask for help.

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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, and a few things that helped them with their mental health in motherhood.

• My Depression Reality Katie shares about her life with high-functioning depression and explains what suicidal ideation is.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Sometimes Depression Looks Like Dirty Dishes in the Sink. Danielle shares what depression looks like in her everyday life.

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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 of mental health in motherhood.

• 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 with our mental health in motherhood. 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Going to Therapy is My Self-Care. Kristen talks about the importance of making time to take care of yourself in more ways than one.
• 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.
• How to Calm The Intrusive Thoughts of Anxiety {With FREE Printable}. Kristen shares techniques her therapist showed her to work through intrusive thoughts and anxious moments.

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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.”
• 10 Mental Health Memes That Help Break the Stigma of Depression and Anxiety. Sometimes a simple sentence or phrases helps get the point across better than anything else. Enjoy these quotes and memes!
• 7 Common Myths and Fears About Therapy Explained By a Mental Health Therapist. You may have had some of these concerns. Christina gives explanations and encouragement.

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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. Mental health in motherhood matters. 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.

P.S. One thing that has helped me regulate my nervous system, by doing proper deep breathing, is CalmiGo. CalmiGo is a handy little device that coaches you during deep breathing while incorporating several of your senses to calm you quickly. If you want to try it out, use my code DRIVINGMOMCRAZY for a discount!

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