I wouldn’t be a mother without modern medicine. I experienced perinatal depression during my first pregnancy. I felt fatigued, sad, and unable to do many normal activities. I couldn’t see a future where I could be happy. My husband convinced me to talk to my doctor, and after a lot of resistance, I finally did.
Being a parent is the hardest job in the world. I always say that humor is the best way to cope with the struggles of parenthood (because if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry). Here are a few of my favorite funny parenting memes that were created from some of those everyday moments that will make you feel seen.
Mental health during Covid is a concern for many, including myself. I’ve seen many, many comments of people saying they want everything open and have zero restrictions so that people’s mental health won’t suffer staying home. What they aren’t seeing is eliminating these restrictions would keep people who are concerned about their health at home, when they are the ones who need to be able to get out the most. That includes people like me who are concerned about their physical health AND their mental health. We need to address both.
I have heard many reasons why someone may not be interested in seeking therapy throughout my years of professional practice and in my personal life,. There are many myths, misconceptions and fears about mental health therapy, and many reasons why folks don’t think they need counseling.
I didn’t realize the intrusive thooughts I had about my baby dying were because of prenatal anxiety. I knew that something was really wrong, but advocating for myself and learning to speak up more loudly was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Maternal mental health isn’t just about post-partum depression. Some women struggle with antepartum/prenatal depression, prenatal anxiety, and other disorders. You are not alone.
You never know when anxiety will hit you. Today it hit me at preschool drop-off and it took everything in me to leave him there. My brain was telling me that he was in danger. And I had to actively disregard that information when my instinct was pulling me to do the exact opposite. But I realized these were thoughts due to anxiety. This is my daily battle.
I see judgmental comments about parenting choices on social media constantly, ranging from what parents feed their kids for dinner, how and when they eat, and what parents should do differently. But remember we aren’t always seeing the whole picture. We are not snapshots. We are people. And most of us, really and truly, are doing our best.
Anxiety can often bring intrusive thoughts that become extremely upsetting. I talked about this in therapy and I left with a bunch of ideas to combat the negative spiral these intrusive thoughts bring. These ideas are based on how the brain works and are designed to take you out of the fight-or-flight mode.
The holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year. But what if they’re not? A heart-wrenching experience that I had a few years ago right before Christmas has forever changed what I think about during the holidays. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone.
Anxiety tries to tell me I must control everything. I can get so worked up by the smallest things and I am learning how to talk myself down. It’s a difficult process, but one that I’m learning is very important for my mental health. Here’s 10 ways that I speak truth to my anxiety.
