Motherhood naked, plain & uncensored
Last night I met with American Foundation of Suicide Prevention Washington State Chapter board members Erin and Seth, and officially joined the Media Team. Please follow AFSP WA on Facebook HERE and Twitter HERE. I'll be tweeting personally from @AFSP_WA on a regular basis, along with … [Read more...]
"I'm creative and sensitive." -- Jenn "I love my sense of humor and my kindness." -- Jenny "I am witty and clever." -- Natasha "I am creative and caring." -- Marcilla "I am empathetic and an advocate for others." -- Andrea "I love my sense of humor." -- Amy "I'm creative, loving and can dance … [Read more...]
Mental Health Month is all about breaking down barriers, changing perceptions, and fighting stigma. So I'm working on an upcoming post that I hope will do just that. But I need your help!! I'm creating a photo collage in honor of May as Mental Health Month." I'm inviting those of you who battle … [Read more...]
Yesterday I admitted my mental health is suffering. I felt so fortunate to get a quick appointment with my psychiatrist today. I truly am lucky that I can reach her quickly and schedule an appointment when I really need it. I know lots of mental health treatment does not go so smoothly. So with … [Read more...]
Please don't forget to join Postpartum Progress today for the 5th Annual Mothers Day Rally for Moms' Mental Health starting tonight at 9pm PT/Midnight ET, one post every hour on the hour. (Mine is at 3am PT/6am ET) Today I honor Mothers. But wait. I know for many, Mother’s Day is not … [Read more...]
Misunderstanding. Misdiagnosis. Chemistry experiments. Intensive therapy. Weight gain. Weight loss. Depression. Mania. Suicidal thoughts. Accompanying anxiety. Substance abuse. Living with bipolar disorder is fraught with a load of obstacles. According to the National … [Read more...]
I am so honored to be a part of this event on Mother's Day and during Maternal Mental Health Month! Sunday, May 12th is the 5th annual Mother's Day Rally for Moms' Mental Health, featuring 24 letters from survivors of PPD, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, depression after weaning and/or … [Read more...]
Finding HOPE in the midst of postpartum depression can be so very trying . I know, I've been there. I understand the isolation, the guilt, the desire to run away. Right now--today--are you struggling? Do you feel like no one will ever understand? Do you feel like a terrible … [Read more...]
Mental health is obviously a big theme around here. Not just the nitty gritty details of mental illness and suicide, but the impact of motherhood on mental health. The every day stuff, as well as the hard to read and hard to think about topics. This May 2013 is Mental Health Awareness Month … [Read more...]
Last Thursday I received a phone call from a producer at Anderson Live daytime TV show. "Hi Cristi. Would you be interested in being a guest on our show next Tuesday about the Parenting.com story Xanax Make Me a Better Mom." The story had gone viral and was making news. After panicking for a bit, … [Read more...]
I'm scared. In a few months time I'll be doing something so huge. Something so big that I know will be one of the top challenges of my life...mentally, physically AND emotionally. I'm committed to doing the Overnight Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, but I've gotta tell … [Read more...]
For several months I've been stalking the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention web site to find out when the 2013 National Overnight Walk would be held. I've thought about doing the "biggie" since my first Seattle Out of the Darkness Walk in 2011, and last year it wasn't even too far from … [Read more...]
Last year Healthy Place: America's Mental Health Channel contacted me to be a part of a new mental health campaign launching today called Stand Up for Mental Health. Stand Up for Mental Health is asking people who have already disclosed their mental health condition, or who are now ready to do so, … [Read more...]
The song--"That I Would Be Good", by Alanis Morissette--has been a mental health theme song for me for a long time. I was listening to it last night and it still evoked the same emotional response. No matter how I may be feeling, I always want to feel loved, to feel like a good person--a worthy … [Read more...]
Please welcome my friend Singlemama CC to the blog today for Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). I met CC back in May and she made a big impression on me. She is truly a pull-no-punches, tell-it-like-it-is mama, who fiercely loves her daughter (called the PIT on her blog Not Your Average … [Read more...]
This week Oct. 7-13, 2012 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of the National Alliance on Mental Illness's efforts to raise mental illness awareness. This week mental … [Read more...]
Today October 5th is THE #1 day each year on which more babies are born than any other. And I totally believe that statistic. Today is my first born Ronin's 5th birthday! Happy Birthday Little Man! AND its my brother Ron's 36th birthday. Happy Birthday Little Bro! Today is also the … [Read more...]
We've created a team for our local American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk. If you'd like to find a walk in your area, please click HERE. Our team MotherhoodUnadorned/ PurposefulPractices will once again be walking around Green Lake in Seattle on October 13 to raise … [Read more...]
In case you missed it, I'm over at Postpartum Progress talking about Depression, Body Image and Weight Gain. Come by and let me know your thoughts. I'm pretty certain this is a big issue for many people. It's nice to know we're not alone. … [Read more...]
I truly can't believe its been almost 11 months since I started this blog inspired by and in honor of my friend who died by suicide. Since the day I began writing I've been striving for many things. But most importantly I've been striving for better mental health, for myself and for others. There … [Read more...]
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