Mothers Helpers Founder Kristina Grace talks to USA Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Debra Wallace in Part 2 of a two-part episode on trauma and how it impacts our mental health. Debra has extensive training in trauma and in this episode she talks about the keys to preventing trauma in our children and how we can recover from trauma ourselves. There is no content warning for this episode. To follow Debra on Facebook click on the … [Read more...] about How to Prevent and Recover from Trauma
Depression
Climbing Out of the Darkness (and the sweatpants!)
Guest Blogger: Amy Taylor After a complex first pregnancy I was anxious that number two would be the same. Much joy but some trepidation when the doctor called to say I was pregnant. I lost that baby. I held my fetus in my hand and weeped. On my very next cycle I was expecting again but this time the anxiety gripped me every day. Each time I went to the loo, I’d check my undies . I found myself sitting on the loo far more often than I needed to just as an excuse to check. My first midwife … [Read more...] about Climbing Out of the Darkness (and the sweatpants!)
From One Mum to Another
by Mothers Helpers Founder Kristina Paterson It took me 18 months to go and get some help for the way that I was feeling. 9 of those months I was anxious throughout my pregnancy but the midwife didn't pick up on it. In the first week after my baby was born, I had a new midwife, and she said to me that if I was still crying by day 7 (hours of crying every day), then I'd have to go and see the doctor as I may have postnatal depression. So I forced myself to stop crying. I … [Read more...] about From One Mum to Another
High Expectations and Depression
It would be fair to say that for some mothers who have developed perinatal depression/anxiety, the "temperament" that researchers speak of that make some mothers more prone to developing it than others is not only that we're naturally a sensitive soul, but we can also place high unrealistic expectations on ourselves - setting ourselves up to fail and becoming disappointed with ourselves time and time again. Whether you are recovering from your first episode of perinatal depression or … [Read more...] about High Expectations and Depression
Attachment Between Baby and You
I have been reading a bit on attachment theory lately - it's a fascinating topic and something I'm keen to study more in depth. It is certainly an issue for mothers with postnatal depression to be aware of - how their anxiety may be affecting their young baby or toddler. The good news is that it's not too late to work on your parenting so that you can provide a secure attachment for your child. Here is an article on Anxious Attachment - what they describe as Ambivalent/Anxious Attachment … [Read more...] about Attachment Between Baby and You
A Letter To All Mums with Postnatal Depression
Dear Mums, It is the last day of Postnatal Depression Awareness week for 2014. Usually, I am out there planning an event, fundraising for the cause, creating awareness. This year, I am taking care of my own health after a series of stressful events that has prompted me with the little reminder "Kristina, take care of yourself!" You see, like you, I suffer with depression. Sadly, Postnatal Depression was my second major depressive episode and for many reasons, I never fully … [Read more...] about A Letter To All Mums with Postnatal Depression
