Below is the Afterword writted by the late Ilyene Barsky, pioneer in the field of maternal mental health. We will not forget her professional influence and her personal grace and fortitude. As Amy and I proceed to work on the second edition of “Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts”, I feel compelled to bring […]
♥ I will listen to my body and my good instincts to determine whether I need help or not. ♥ I will be prudent when listening to the well-intended but sometimes misled suggestions from others. ♥ I will spend less time on the Internet, on my phone, on social media media, and any other place or temptation […]
Opinion LETTER March 27, 2019 Image Credit:Chloe Cushman To the Editor: Re: “Can a Drug Stop Postpartum Depression?,” by Elisa Albert and Jennifer Block (Op-Ed, March 25): We do not completely understand the etiology of postpartum depression. Those of us in the trenches with moms who suffer deeply know only too well that our best efforts to understand […]
Yep. That’s me. Working on my first book, This Isn’t What I Expected circa 1992. In one month from today, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A healing guide to the secret fears of new mothers is coming out. (March 1, 2019, Familius) Please indulge me with this personal post, so I can tell you why this […]
“Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able.” -Charlotte Perkins Gilman 1892 NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE… Maybe it’s because nobody’s listening Or maybe it’s because women are not telling us how bad they feel Or maybe it’s because nobody’s asking the right questions Or maybe it’s because women […]
It has been reported that maternal suicide is the leading cause of death during pregnancy and the first year after birth. This is why the current shift in attention toward greater awareness to maternal mental health is urgently necessary and long overdue. We are just scratching the surface, and have far to go, but this momentum toward improved […]
In light of the recent focus on the inexcusable ways some healthcare providers respond to acute distress in postpartum mothers, let us do some teaching here. Please share and inform your local resources. **NOTE TO ALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS** Some postpartum women are afraid to tell you how they really feel. They are worried that you […]
This post was written anonymously by a mom in response to our #speakthesecret campaign. We thought her words would resonate with many of you: “I want to share my personal story of dealing with postpartum depression. The reason I’m doing this now is because in the last 3 months, 2 mothers from my home town […]
Pic credit: The PPSC magic bracelet. You know who you are. Wear it. Believe in it. The Holiday crunch is here. Shopping. Eating. Rushing. Spending. Talking. Family. Friends. Gathering. Too much? Not enough? Too crowded? Too lonely? Excited about it? Anxious about it? Dreading it? Overwhelmed by it? Ambivalent about it? If you have a […]
A CAUTIONARY NOTE TO THERAPISTS WHO THINK THEY CAN/SHOULD TREAT PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN IN DISTRESS WITHOUT SPECIALIZED TRAINING This past weekend, I was fortunate to speak at Postpartum Support International’s (PSI) annual conference, whose clear and inspirational mission is posted on their website: “The mission of Postpartum Support International is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of […]
Suicide is a scary word and if you work in the mental health field it is a word that conjures up panic in the hearts of dedicated professionals who are trying hard to support, enlighten, inform and protect individuals who might be tormented or tempted by the distorted lure of an end to their suffering. […]
You’ve recently had a baby. You are more than 3 weeks postpartum. You do not like the way you are feeling. You wonder if you are too anxious or too depressed. Your family, friends and healthcare provider have tried to reassure you, but you wonder if they really understand how bad you feel. You worry that […]
There is new reserach on the use of SSRIs during pregnancy that is unsettling. This study reports that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy may increase the risk of having a child with autism. Tons of folks are understandably reaching out to us for clarification and reassurance. I am writing this only to say that […]
Postpartum depression and anxiety are getting tons of attention in the media. From catastrophic accounts of misdiagnosed psychotic episodes, and an increase in state legislative action, to emerging research, as well as an explosion of passion-driven personal narratives from women who have recovered. All of this translates into greater awareness and activity in research, in clinical […]
Many thanks to Kathleen Kelley, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Oregon, for submitting this review of Tokens of Affection. I’m thrilled to get the message out to families who can use the support. Thank you, Kathleen, for supporting my work and for making such a difference with the work that you do at your […]
