I had a very colicky baby, and I was desperate for a reprieve. I often wonder what it would have been like to ENJOY the first few months of my third baby’s life. I can’t help but feel like I missed something really special. I am grieving a newborn experience I didn’t have.
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.
The problem with getting help for depression and mental illness is there can be so many obstacles to overcome to get it. It can feel like a losing battle as you try over and over again to seek treatment, and are forced to jump through a bunch of hoops to receive basic care.
Depression sucks. It sucks because the way it affects you can change throughout time and circumstances. It’s a moving target. I recently felt my depression hit me harder than it has in a very long time and it taught me a valuable lesson about self-care.
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.
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.
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.
