Category Archives: advocate

On Speaking with Katherine Stone & D. Jeffrey Newport

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Today I was a panelist along with Katherine Stone at a Community Lunch and Learn sponsored by Mental Health America and Skyland Trails of Atlanta.

Dr. Jeffrey Newport was the keynote speaker while Katherine and I both shared with attendees our story and how we had been moved to share with others about our experience. Katherine was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her. (Look for an upcoming interview soon!) Dr. Jeffrey Newport was also terrific and is a great speaker – wonderful sense of humour and very down to earth. His presentation was terrific and once I have a chance to read over and edit my scribbled notes into something coherent, I will certainly be sharing some of them with you!

We had several attendees thank us for sharing our stories afterwards, including a woman recently diagnosed with PPD. That alone made the journey worth it. To be able to reach out not only to women who are currently suffering but to also provide a personal insight to those in the field who are directly dealing with this disorder is an amazing and powerful opportunity. I sincerely look forward to not only continuing with my current work but to being able to have additional opportunities like the one today. God has truly blessed me and I am very thankful!

(Oh, and I also enjoyed having the day off from kiddie-care too! I was gone from about 9a-4p today. Oh the heaven! LOL)

A Little Nervous

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I have my first “big” speaking engagement on Friday and I can feel myself starting to get nervous. I know I’ll be fine. I’m really looking forward to meeting Katherine Stone and Dr. Jeffrey Newport. I am more in awe that I have been asked to speak along with them than anything else and it speaks volumes to me as to how far I have come since giving birth to my first daughter and struggling through those first dark days of Postpartum OCD all alone. I have found immense comfort in the knowledge that I will never be alone again and that has made all the difference this time around. (Ok, that, and the meds. I can’t forget about the meds.)

I’d like to take this opportunity to again thank everyone who believed in me and has supported me through this endeavor – especially my husband who lived through it all with me and is still here (although snoring at the moment) and as strong as ever. Amazement really doesn’t do this justice – the journey I’ve been on has been such a treacherous and yet fantastically awe-inspiring one at the same time. I can’t wait to share it on Friday and hopefully educate and light the way for other women to emerge from their PPD coccoon with as much strength and energy and support as I have.

GREAT READ!!!! The Lifter of My Head by Sue McRoberts

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Sue McRoberts is an amazing woman. Not only did she survive a difficult struggle with Postpartum Depression but she has also raised herself up to share her story with us and for that I commend her. As I know from personal experience, the first step you make to admitting there is a problem is a hard one but making the decision to share your story with others takes a lot of courage. Speaking out against the shame and stigma attached to PPD is a very courageous thing to do.

Sue’s book, The Lifter of My Head: How God sustained me during Postpartum Depression is an amazing read. Not only does Sue share with us how her faith grounded her during her spiral downward and helped to soothe her towards recovery, but she also educates her readers by explaining the disorders under the PPD umbrella as well as points her readers towards reliable sources for help in their time of need. This book is a responsible and respectful look into the world of PPD.

Coming soon I will have interviews with Sue McRoberts and her fellow bloggers from Totally New Moms so stay tuned!

Atlanta Lunch & Learn

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3_28_08_community_ed_flyer.pdf

Well Dear Readers, I have agreed to my first BIG speaking engagement and it will be happening on March 28th in Atlanta. I will be speaking about my story as well as how I came to found my organization, PACE. The small details are in the attached PDF flyer but I will be speaking alongside Dr. Jeffrey Newport from Emory University and Katherine Stone of Postpartum Progress. I am very honored to be a part of this event. Registration is required but the event is free. MHA and Skyland Trail are co-sponsoring this event.

Even if you can’t attend, please pass the information on to someone who may be able to or post it at your place of employment.