When maternal mental health is suffering, it can feel like the world has lost its color.
Suddenly, you can’t show up in your life the way you used too, even the tiny things take such effort.
But what’s the difference between low mental health and the common hormonal changes?
Common warning signs of a mental health struggle could show up as :
- constant feelings of low mood ( sadness, anger,melancholy)
- disinterest in things you used to enjoy
- extreme anxiousness / feeling on edge
- inability to cope with daily stress
With this issue being so prevalent among mothers (maternal mental health statistics revealing one in 5), I hope this article empowers you with the information to.
- Identify pregnancy mental health red flags
- Discover free resources in case you need them
- Engage in preventative self care measures in the discussed below
- Provides with you with a supportive and safe space to rely on
Before we dive into this topic, I want to acknowledge that mental health issues in pregnancy can stem from a larger issue rooted inadequate health care services for women. My intention behind this article is only to empower you with alternative resources in spite of this.
Standing Up
We know what is best for our body and baby and when something isn’t right.
But as women, we put our needs before others, even at the expense of ourselves and our own well-being.
Asking ourselves questions, cultivates more awareness to what our mind, body & soul needs:
- Do I people please to the point of sacrificing my own needs?
- Do I feel guilty when I take time to rest?
- Am I holding space for my emotions, without judgement?
- What boundaries do I need to upheld to protect my energy and well-being?
Therapy
Having a weekly chat with a therapist ( especially one who specialists in perinatal mental health) is an act of preventative self care that will guide you into higher consciousness, and enrich your pregnancy journey.
There are so many different types of therapy to experiment with then traditional talk therapy if that’s not your thing :
- Creative Art Therapies ( Dance, Music, Drama)
- EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
- Animal assisted therapy
- EFT ( Emotion Focused Therapy)
And so much, learn about all the different types here
CREATIVITY
Of course, I couldn’t go without mentioning making time to engage your creativity when talking about mental health during pregnancy.
Why is this so important?
Because I believe we are designed to express, create, and reflect on different ideas, philosophies, and meanings.
When this isn’t engaged we start to lose our sense of selves, our purpose, and our emotions get tangled up in a mix of reactions and build up.
Some ideas:
- Journaling
- Taking a class
- Reading
- Gardening
- Cooking
- Photography
- Dance
- Art
- Sport
- Whatever you want!
FREE RESOURCES