My glow
RECLAIMING
One Mother’s Journey Through Postnatal Anxiety and Depression By Stefanie Poole
T
he psychiatrist’s words reverberated through my body. “You have postnatal anxiety and depression,” he said, “but it’s treatable.” Silence filled the office. There I sat, trained in psychology and aware of the symptoms and risk factors yet it took me eight months after the birth of my son to finally seek treatment. I am not alone. According to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), “More than 1 in 7 new mums and up to 1 in 10 new dads experience postnatal depression each year in Australia.” Upon reflection, my symptoms were there all along. A difficult delivery caused me both physical and emotional pain. What I thought would be short-term “baby blues,” ended up persisting and intensifying. Every morning I woke to the feeling of dread. I would cry most days, and the slightest things made me irritable. I began to lose my appetite and felt I could not get through the day alone with my son. My anxiety was unbearable. I began to have obsessive thoughts that our house
As I muddled through these emotions, I looked to surround myself with other mums who were traveling a similar path. I searched for local postnatal support groups that had a focus on the mind, body, and spirit but my search came up short. This inspired me to develop Project Afterglow. Project Afterglow was created to help others find their glow. Afterglow is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as; "A glow remaining where light has disappeared." This resonated with me. Throughout my journey into motherhood, there were many moments when I felt my light and my spirit had disappeared. I knew my glow was still there, and I just needed the support and resources to reignite it.
Project Afterglow Events
PANDA National Helpline: 1300 726 306
Monthly Workshop: Muma Morning, 9:30am-11:00am at the Garden in Frankston. For workshop dates, more information, or questions about Project Afterglow’s services/events, please visit www.projectafterglow.com or email info@projectafterglow.com.
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Addit ional Supports Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness week (November 12th -18th). Please see the PANDA website www.panda.org.au for ways to get involved in raising awareness! 40
was making my son sick and contaminated with harmful substances. I felt like crawling out of my own skin. Not only was I suffering, but my behavior was negatively affecting my husband, son, and extended family. Enough was enough.
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017
Lifeline: 13 11 14 COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence): 9376 6321 Centre for Perinatal Psychology: 1300 852 660 Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network: antenatalandpostnatalpsychology.com.au Boost Up Blues (Frankston City Council): 9784 1756 Speak to your GP about developing a Mental Health Plan