Real moms share personal stories about their struggles with mental health in motherhood. Some women have struggled during pregnancy, post-partum, and during stressful times of motherhood. Other moms have long-term conditions that they have learned to manage and cope with. Find hope and validation in these stories.
Everyone has a place in this life, whether they believe it or not. A few weeks ago, I was able to internalize that concept in a way I hadn’t done before. It was extremely touching to be able to connect with other women and mothers and realize we have so much in common with each other as fellow humans on this Earth. I really believe we are more alike than different. Here’s why.
It happened just like that. You’re not a baby anymore. When you decided to potty train yourself over a year ago as a toddler, I thought it was a fluke. “Surely he’ll regress,” I thought. My other boys were much older when they potty trained. I didn’t want to set my expectations too high. When……
NO EXCUSES: I absolutely hate this phrase. I exercised today for the first time in months. It was hard and felt great and I’m proud of myself. But during my workout I reflected on WHY I haven’t exercised much recently, and the difficulties I finally feel like I’m moving past, it reminded me of why……
During my third pregnancy I suddenly plunged into a level of darkness that I never knew. Getting through each day became harder and harder and I eventually hit my breaking point. The conflicting emotions of depression and loving your children makes this struggle all the more painful.
What happened was not only humiliating, but it could have been very costly and dangerous. A few months after having my first child, I had returned to work full-time. I was in a state of major sleep deprivation, although at the time I didn’t realize quite how bad it really was. Maybe this story will help someone avoid the same mistake!
Read about why the advice of “thinking more positively” is based on a false premise. Depression requires professional help, just like any other health condition. Telling someone to “change their thoughts” is like telling a diabetic that their pancreas should just make more insulin.
Dear mama with depression, I see you struggling today. I feel it, too. You might feel like you are alone and no one understands, but that is not true. Depression lies. I want you to hear the truth.
For me, antidepressants ARE life saving. Not just in the physical sense of keeping me safe from my own brain, but also from a quality of life standpoint. I am able to LIVE life because of antidepressants instead of just BEING alive.
It can be hard to admit that I still struggle sometimes. But here it is. My name is Kristen. I am 1 in 5.
Eleven years ago it was our wedding day and we were on top of the world. Looking back now, I can see there was so much we didn’t know then. The big things, and the little things…we really had no clue.
