Mental Health Round-up: Suicide, Rape & Stigma

It appears that Spring has most definitely sprung upon us with actual sunshine and everything. As I’m recovering from my Easter egg hangover, I’ve been in the garden willing all of those little vitamin D’s to jump into my skin while I wait another few agonising weeks for my meds to be changed over. My only post from the last month (I so wish they’d list “totally incapable of forming sentences” in block capitals on the side effects of my antidepressants) is Mint – a sort of deja vu, haven’t-we-been-here-a gazillion-times-before appointment with the GP where not an awful lot gets achieved.

Speaking of antidepressants, Real Housewife of Suffolk County shares in her brave post One Month On an update after deciding to start taking antidepressants and why she (rightly) isn’t ashamed about needing some help after feeling so broken. I can completely relate, resigning yourself to medication can feel like a huge failure, though I truly hope posts like these help break down stigmatisation and give others in a same position some well needed bolstering and a small light at the end of the tunnel.

While on the subject of depression, Little Pink Teacup writes a heart wrenchingly honest post directly to her two children in Dear Darling, as she wrestles with her depression and that shadow that does such a horrible job of tainting absolutely everything in sight. We’re all more than well aware of parental guilt, however this post shows just how your mental health can alter things, why mummy snaps and has so little patience and how many times we berate ourselves for it after.

A sobering and raw post from Queen Boudica in Another Beautiful Spirit – the aftermath of a school friend taking her own life as a result of depression is by no means an easy read, but a hugely important one all the same. As someone who often experiences suicidal thoughts and urges, this post is a sort of wake up call that such a devastating decision causes shockwaves in those all around us, to such an extent we’ll never quite realise while we’re neck deep in the mire.

As bold and hard to ignore as the acid yellow flowers in her post, Mammasaurus writes candidly about being raped over ten years ago in Rape, the anger and sadness it caused still remaining with her, reminders popping up in unexpected places. I was struck with how brave Annie has been, in facing up to one of those ugly reminders and am inspired by how she turned it into a beautiful memory with some imagination. Something I think we can all learn from, no matter what caused our scars.

Mummy Glitzer also shows how you can turn a deeply difficult time (Mother’s Day, her late mother’s birthday and ten years since she died) into something more positive in her post Painting & Smiles.

Right, I hope we now all know our Postnatal Depression to our Postpartum Psychosis, however something you don’t often come across is Postpartum Anxiety. As I read Transforming Into Butterflies’ post New Mama Anxiety, memories of the wholly irrational and disturbing thoughts and images I experienced in the first few months of motherhood came hurtling back. Blimey, it wasn’t just me that conjured up ridiculous yet terrifying scenarios such as an eagle swooping down and carrying away my newborn Bean. My son is now almost (gulp) five years old, but if this post helped my OMG I’M CRAZY fears, it may just help yours too.

Speaking of PND, Bod for Tea writes a brutally honest post about hers in Postnatal Depression: Our First Birth Story – the Aftermath and how she fought her way through it with the help of cognitive behavioural therapy and writing about her emotions. Proving that while writing may not be for everyone, it can be an invaluable tool to those who desperately need a way to cope.

Lastly, but no means leastly, Clara Unravelled can’t get no sleep in her post Insomnia, following withdrawal symptoms from her medication. Since I’m typing this at 3.51 am, my eyeballs firmly burrowed deep within my skull this is one of those “I totally could have written that!” posts, only, not as eloquently obvs, as I’d most likely resort to banging my head on the keyboard in frustrated exhaustion.

And I reckon that wraps up Aprils mental health round-up, if you have any posts you’d like me to read and include in the next round-up, just give me a gentle nudge, possibly leave me a plate of biscuits and I’ll emerge from my depressive duvet.

About Cas Imossi

Cas Imossi is the writer of the award winning blog MummyNeverSleeps, honestly covering what happens when motherhood and mental health collide. Open about her battles with depression and anxiety because it's cheaper than therapy after all, plus she can write at home in her pyjamas. Bonus. She's on a one woman mission to throw away the smoke and mirrors of parenting, proving that it ain't all one big Pinterest board. Sometimes you get poo on your face, and other times you go out with yesterdays pants stuck on your jeans. You can find her lurking by her coffee machine, in a doctors waiting room or hiding from her rambunctious four year old while he pelts her with Crème Eggs.

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