Current Affairs Round-up: Mental wellness

January was Mental Wellness Month and so I requested posts about this issue. I’m sad at the overwhelming response: seems it’s prevalent – and it’s not going away, with many parenting bloggers having stories to share on the subject. I shouldn’t be surprised really, according to The Independent, nearly a quarter of new mother’s will suffer from Postnatal Depression – I was one of them myself, sort of.

See, what I’ve come to understand is that there’s another, less talked about but more common affliction – Postnatal Anxiety, and that is what I believe I suffered with personally. Either way, this problem is one that’s pervasive, and the best way to help is to encourage openness.

Hannah at Budding Smiles described her experience of PND and how CBT helped her overcome her demons. The post really spoke to me for many reasons; I think we have much in common and I was so pleased to read that she’s doing well now. Angela of The Inspiration Edit talked about the benefits of counselling, and I am definitely an advocate of any form of therapy if you’re in the right mindset – it’s good to talk, if you feel able.

Jane from Hodge Podge Days wrote about how a throwaway comment is all it takes to make her reel due to her diagnosis of PTSD. I was not too surprised to read that part of the underlying cause was a traumatic delivery – seems this is a theme for many of the women who submitted their stories. Jane’s post also resonated with me because of the anxiety she describes – very familiar territory. In this guest post I wrote about my own experiences and one of the points I make is that PND / PNA are not confined to women – men can also suffer. And though not related to becoming a parent, Spencer shared a piece on Zeit my Geist about his depression; it was a difficult read because of its poignancy.

Mim from Love from Mim also discussed mental health, but her situation is unusual and I found it quite distressing to read. I’m fortunate enough to call Mim a friend, and this post demonstrated how incredibly well she’s coping since her cancer diagnosis and treatment – and the brave face she’s put on since. I’m sure many of you reading will also consider Mim a pal, or at the very least be aware of her, and agree with me that she’s a rather marvellous and hugely brave lady.

Moving on, Kate of My Family Fever produced a brilliant crowdsourcing post about the changes needed in maternity services. It was fascinating to read about different women’s experiences; I find it incredible how vastly the services and care can differ, and I understand firsthand how crucial it is for a woman to be supported during what is arguably the most vulnerable time of her life. In fact, some of the comments referred to the support available to women who face tragedies, as discussed by Eleanor from Savings 4 Savvy Mums in her heartbreaking post.

Lucy from Real Mum Reviews wrote a different perspective about the same issue, and it was lovely to read about all the ways in which she felt the midwives caring for her and her family got it right. I like to think this situation prevails over the times when they get it wrong; of course it’s impossible to say for sure, but it can’t hurt to talk about what works and what doesn’t. Speaking of which, Jenny aka Midwife and Life reviewed a novel new product to help couples conceive! So if you are having difficulties this could well be worth a read…

On a different theme but still relevant to mental wellness, Lucy from The Parent Game shared her brilliant tips for dealing with trolls. This is genius and I highly recommend a nosy!

Finally, I love this uplifting post from Kate at Counting to Ten. I wanted to end on something positive, and this list of ways to give yourself a little boost when you’re feeling low is undeniably it.