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Speaking Up, Reaching Out, Inspiring Hope

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That phrase.

It’s a powerful one. It encourages us to use our voices to reach out and inspire hope in those who need it most.

Right now, there’s a community that is imploding over a pattern of marginalization of women of color. A pattern that has repeatedly disenfranchised and discarded their efforts and their voices. It’s not okay for that to be happening. Anywhere, let alone in an arena where it’s already difficult for women of color to speak up and reach out because culture tells them not to do so. Culture tells them to be strong. To chin up and just move forward no matter what they are facing.

But.

They too, are human. They too have hearts. They too, have feelings. And they too, MATTER.

This is why we are angry.

This is why we are raising a cacophony of voices which will not be silenced until all is made right and the pattern ceases to exist.

We were told it would change. We were led, like sheep, to the trough of hope, and then that trough disappeared…it was empty. A mirage.

So here we are. Once again. But this time? This time we will not be silenced. We will not be dismissed.

In the meantime, for those who once sought support from Postpartum Progress for women of color and are in need of different avenues for resources, I strongly urge you to start with The Tessera Collective. Graeme Seabrook also has postpartum resources. And I will be re-opening #PPDChat soon as well, because moms don’t need to lose out as this battle wages on. Just because we are entrenched in this, doesn’t mean that Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders will be put on hold. No, they’re gonna keep knocking at the doors of so many and we need to be there to help them speak up, reach out, and inspire hope in their hearts that they WILL get through this.

(If you’re interested in helping me re-open #PPDChat, because I can’t do it alone, please reach out to me either on Twitter or email me. )

If you want to sign a petition to make it right?

Go here.

Want to support Graeme & Jasmine financially as they’ve now lost their PPI income as a result? Go here.

Make a difference.

#PPDChat 04.25.16: Babies after PPD

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ppdchat 4-25-16Any one of us who has experienced an episode of any of the Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders has asked ourselves if we should have any more children.

Do we want to put ourselves through the emotional hell once more? Put our loved ones through it? Put our child through it? It’s a tough question – and one only you can answer.

Some go on to have more children while others join the “one and done” club. There’s no right or wrong answer here. You do what is right for you and your family. But there is grief. There is heartache. There’s the mourning of the child you wanted but won’t meet because you know, deep in your heart, you simply cannot tread back down that same path again.

I know because I have been there, at the mouth of that gaping path, trying to decide if I dare step foot upon it again. I did, and the first time back didn’t end well but the second time ’round (when I found myself on the path accidentally), didn’t go so badly. It’s different for every person and for EVERY pregnancy.

I sincerely hope you will join us tonight as we discuss the ups and downs of making the very personal decision to have another child after the roller-coaster of Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders.

See y’all at 9pm ET!

4.18.16 #PPDChat: Books for Moms

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books for momBooks are powerful things. Within their pages, there is wisdom. There’s wit. There’s whimsy. There’s sheer magic. Books are answers. They’re hope. They’re stigma busters. They’re the shimmer of light at the end of a tunnel.

This is why, today, #PPDChat is proud to announce the development of a Book for Moms program. Here’s how it will work – through Amazon, #PPDChat will purchase books related to Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders for any mom who requests it and can’t afford to make the purchase on her own. No mom should have to go without access to a book that may just help her see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

We need your help, though.

I’ve signed #PPDChat up for its very own Amazon account. The email associated is ppdchat(@) gmail (no dash between ppdchat). How can you help? Amazon now allows you to send allowances to people – so if you want to donate funds to help with these purchases (and I will provide documentation regarding purchases on a quarterly basis), all you have to do is send an allowance to #PPDChat using the email address above.

Right now, unfortunately, this isn’t a charitable donation but I hope to have 501(c)(3) status within the next 12 months at the very least so that in the future, this sort of thing will be a full charitable donation and we can expand the program even further.

Also, if you have written a book about Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders that is available through Amazon, let me know so I can add it to our list of available books.

The chat will focus not only on the new program but also on the value of books in the healing process, and what books have helped our current community members.

Let’s get going!

See you tonight at 9pm ET!

#PPDChat 03.21.16: Self-Care with @HonestlyMamaG

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Self-care discussion with @HonestlyMamaGYou know I am a HUGE proponent of self-care. Huge. So when I run into someone else who is actively creating a community around this concept, particularly for mamas, I have to get them involved in #PPDChat. Because self-care is at the core of our philosophy here.

Today, I’m so thrilled that Graeme of @HonestlyMamaG will be joining us. I had the pleasure of meeting her at last year’s first maternal mental health patient centered conference held by Postpartum Progress. We’ve kept up via social media. Every Saturday, Graeme would post Self-care Saturday posts. My self-care, particularly on the weekends, has increased because of these posts. (I am also a huge proponent of walking the walk so if I post something, better believe I’m going to do it!)

She’s recently started Periscoping and a separate community specifically for self-care. When I asked if she’d be willing to do a #PPDChat to talk about it, she enthusiastically said YES.

I hope you’ll join us tonight as we discuss the importance of self-care as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, heck… as a human. See you on Twitter at 9pm ET, y’all!

LNRed, tired eyes? Tear-streaked face? Spit-up- or drool-covered shoulder?  Leaky boobs or formula stains on your sleeve? Hair that is frizzy – or greasy – beyond belief – and has only been in a bun for weeks? An anxious brain that won’t shut off – or a foggy one that won’t turn on?

And – ahem – who even knows what’s going on down there?!

You’re a new mom. You’re in the thick of it. You’re likely terrified, and sad, and happy, and angry, and tired, and ecstatic, and all of the feelings all at the same time.

But I promise you’ll get better. I promise life will get better. I promise you’ll be able to shower, and sleep more, and claim some of your time back for yourself soon.

You’re an incredible mother – and if you feel like you’re not, and that scares you or makes you worried or upset or sad?

That shows even more that you are.

I promise.

(Lesley Neadel)