Maternal Mental Health: You Are Not Alone in Your Struggle
Am I the only mom struggling with my mental health? We question ourselves when we see the perfectly curated social media post of a mom baking cupcakes with her kids smiling wide, no mess in sight, and the cupcakes look so delicious our mouths begin to water. And we start to compare, how come our baking attempts always look smooshed? And our kids, well, they’re messes too. Frosting everywhere.
That’s our confirmation: we aren’t enough.
Am I the only mom who’s exhausted but can't fall asleep at night because I worry about everything? The mom who says, “stay close by, so I can keep my eyes on you,” on repeat at the park. The mom who bases the majority of her choices surrounding fear.
Am I the only mom who has a past that would shock people? A mom who once went through self-harm and eating disorders. A mom who once awaited her next fix, searching for comfort to her pain through substances.
Am I the only mom who doesn’t recognize her body? The mom who stares in the mirror and feels bad about herself. The mom who cinches and pinches her stomach until the red marks of her fingers show on her stomach.
Am I the only mom who can't seem to get my crap together? The mom who wakes up every morning late and hands her kids' granola bars in the car because we’re running late, yet again.
Am I the only mom who struggles with depression? The mom who assumes that everyone thinks her brain is broken. The mom who believes she’ll never be enough for her kids on most days.
Am I the only mom who takes antidepressants for mental illness? The mom who needs to take a little pill nightly.
And should we wear the stigmas?
Yes, because we’re never the only mom wearing them.
And we’re all so much more than that stigma. We’re bigger than our mental illness. It’s a part of our lives that we fought hard to fix, overcome, and live with. And why should we be ashamed of that strength?
Instead, let’s be proud.
It's brave to fight for ourselves, so we can show our children how to do the same.
And the fact that our strength could one day help our children make the changes needed if they’re struggling—makes our vulnerability absolutely worth it.
