Tag Archives: Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

Speaking Up, Reaching Out, Inspiring Hope

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 06.06.16: PPD & The Military

Join us at 9pm ET on Twitter as we examine PPD & The MilitaryMilitary life has an effect on the Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder experience. There’s an sharp increase in the rate of cases experienced (and again, those are just the ones reported), for instance.

Tonight, we’ll explore this aspect and others that make experiencing a Perintal Mood & Anxiety Disorder either as a soldier or a partner of a soldier challenging. See you tonight at 9pm ET on Twitter!

#PPDChat 5-23-16: First Aid for Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

#PPDChat on Twitter at 9pm ET - First Aid for Perinatal Mood & Anxiety DisordersJoin us this evening as we discuss the need for more and more people to know the signs and symptoms of Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders. We’ll also go over what to ask, how to help a mom get the care she needs, and how to support the whole family as they navigate this issue. See you tonight at 9pm ET!

#PPDChat 05.01.16: Just the PPD Facts

PPDChat Topic 05-01-16In recognition of the month of May as Mental Health Awareness month as well as the month during which several states recognize Maternal Mental Health, we’re going to be going through the signs and symptoms of Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders this evening. It’s a chat we do every so often because it is so important to be aware of many signs and symptoms of the disorders on included within the group of PMADs.

I truly hope you will join us tonight as we discuss this important topic as well as recognize the awareness days across the country. See you at 9pm ET!

4.18.16 #PPDChat: Books for Moms

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!