I've been well now for nearly 3 years. Recovery is individual to everyone but one thing we all know is it isn't an easy, straight road. Here I share what I've learnt from my own difficult moments and relapses. I've had two main 'relapses' when it came to my postnatal mental health. The first was… Continue reading What I’ve learnt from my Mental Health relapses…
Tag: thoughts
Thriving or Surviving?
5 years ago I was hanging on, living each day one dreaded day at a time. Everything felt too much, I was overwhelmed by responsibility, feeling completely empty of any positive emotion and anxious each second of the day. I was surviving, just. During 2011 I was a newlywed, pregnant with our first child, we… Continue reading Thriving or Surviving?
Guest Blog – Opening Up About Depression
In aid of Mental Health Awareness Week, I have a blog post written by a special friend. Here she shares how speaking to her friends helped her with her depression and made her feel more supported. Thank you so much for sharing xxx It's hard to sum up a lifetime of depression in one blog,… Continue reading Guest Blog – Opening Up About Depression
Maternal OCD – My Worst Nightmares
**Trigger Warning - contains talk of intrusive, disturbing thoughts** OCD affected me in my late teens, with therapy I got it under control but after having my baby, I was struck with PND & anxiety and they brought along Maternal OCD for the ride too. I was surprised to see I hadn't written much about… Continue reading Maternal OCD – My Worst Nightmares
Maternal Mental Health Matters May 2017
Monday 1st May marks the start of the first ever Maternal Mental Health Week run by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership Over the coming week we will be sharing details about the various services available in Essex and how you can access them, some guest blog posts and information regarding maternal mental health. Please feel… Continue reading Maternal Mental Health Matters May 2017
Losing The Unexpected
Sometimes in life we are surprised by an unexpected gift, and sometimes it can be cruelly snatched away. Occasionally though, these moments can also bring us clarity... *Trigger Warning - contains talk of miscarriage, please only read if you feel able* I've never been a great writer. I love reading but I don't have the… Continue reading Losing The Unexpected
Recovery – its individual
Recovery means different things to different people. For some it means no longer needing medication, for others, including myself it means being able to do the things your illness prevented you doing before and some people don't believe in the word recovery. These are all valid points, but something I believe is recovery is different… Continue reading Recovery – its individual
Finding Your Tribe
Just over two years ago I discovered a group of like minded people online who changed my life in wonderful ways. While I was struggling with anxiety after a recent miscarriage, and then feeling pretty low throughout my third pregnancy, I turned to the internet to try and find some local support groups. I'd already… Continue reading Finding Your Tribe
Flick of a switch
Experiencing a perinatal mental illness affects everyone in different ways, for some it's like a flick of a switch and for others it's a gradual decline of their mental health. There are times in our lives where we have the version of ourselves before an event and a version after. For me there have been… Continue reading Flick of a switch
Believing in yourself
Believing in yourself... When I had postnatal depression and my anxiety had me in its grip I lost every bit of self love, confidence and ultimately the belief I had the ability to make good decisions. I was always looking for someone to validate what I was doing, usually my mum. I felt I needed… Continue reading Believing in yourself