Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Latest Episodes:

37: Playing Monopoly with God - Personal Story Feb 06, 2017

Show notes

Melissa Bangs tells us parts of her personal story of postpartum mania and psychosis, a hospitalization, how her husband and supports helped her through and how her experience transformed into a powerful stage performance.

She is a writer, director, storyteller and comedian who is currently on a year-long West Coast tour with her husband, Eric, four year-old daughter, Adelaide and 130 pound Bernese Mountain Dog, Etta James.

They are touring Melissa's nonfiction storytelling performance PLAYING MONOPOLY WITH GOD & OTHER TRUE STORIES, a tragicomedy unlike anything you have ever experienced.

In September 2012, at 40 years old, Melissa Bangs gave birth to her beautiful daughter Adelaide. A month later, dramatically hormone depleted and sleep deprived, Melissa is admitted to the an in-patient psych unit in a complete manic state. After nearly a month, she is sent home with a bipolar diagnosis and on lithium. What comes next is an extraordinary journey.

Find Melissa Here:

You can watch the trailer, read reviews, purchase tickets, check tour dates (upcoming dates and locations listed below)!

Website: www.playingmonopolywithgod.com

Facebook: Playing Monopoly With God & Other True Stories

Twitter: @melissabangs1

Follow the tour and connect others with the show up and down the West Coast and far beyond by LIKE-ing Playing Monopoly with God & Other True Stories on Facebook or Melissa Bangs on Twitter and then sharing posts and tagging friends.

Upcoming Shows!!!!

Pasadena, March 17th & 18th

Santa Cruz, April 26th

Santa Barbara, June 3rd

Portland, August 4th, 5th & 6th

Dates to be set soon in San Diego and the Bay Area!!!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

36: What is Postpartum Psychosis? Jan 30, 2017

Show notes

Postpartum Psychosis

I’m honored to have expert Dr. Diana Barnes back with us today to discuss Postpartum Psychosis. This is a highly-misunderstood part of postpartum mental health and it absolutely needs to be understood and clarified so that mothers get the help they need. See below for supportive resources. We will go over:

-What IS postpartum psychosis?

- Who is at risk?

-"How" does this happen?

- The most important things for people to know about PPP

-Speak to the stigma and how that damages mothers

-How can we support and better interact with a mom who is suffering?

Please go check out Episode 7: The Good Mother, where Dr. Barnes discusses the psychological gestation of motherhood. It’s an essential and fascinating look in to how we become mothers.

Diana Lynn Barnes Psy.D, LMFT is a past president of Postpartum Support International is a member of the training faculty of Maternal Mental Health Now in Los Angeles as well as the California statewide Maternal Mental Health Collaborative and the 20/20 Mom project. She also sits as the mental health consultant for the California Commission on the Status of Maternal Mental Health Care.

In addition to private practice specializing in women’s reproductive mental health, Dr. Barnes presents nationally and internationally. As an Expert witness, she has had close to 60 cases in the last 15 years all over the country covering everything from pregnancy denial and neonaticide to postpartum psychosis and infanticide to child abuse causing death.

More from Dr. Barnes:

Book: Women’s Reproductive Mental Health Across the Lifespan (Springer, 2014) http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319051154

Website: http://dlbarnes.wixsite.com/dianalynnbarnes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherhoodConsortium/

Postpartum Psychosis resources/support/information:

http://www.postpartum.net/get-help/postpartum-psychosis-help/

http://www.postpartum.net/learn-more/postpartum-psychosis/

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (UK): http://www.app-network.org/

http://www.postpartumprogress.com/the-symptoms-of-postpartum-psychosis-in-plain-mama-english

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

35: Coping with Perinatal PTSD Jan 23, 2017

Show notes

Sarah Randall, Psy.D.

Coping with Perinatal PTSD

We are talking with Dr. Sarah Randall today about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) related to maternal mental health and how it can show up during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Trauma can result from a real threat to life, to a moment where a person feels that they don't have control. It is really in the eye of the beholder, sometimes others may not even realize that you have experienced something traumatizing.

-We talk about what PTSD can look like or feel like

-Vulnerable times and how to cope

-What to do and what kind of help to get

Many mothers (and fathers) deal with the symptoms of PTSD and may not know what is happening. We will discuss what PTSD is, how it affects moms, and considerations for healing or treatment.

Dr. Sarah Randall is a licensed psychologist at Calabasas Behavioral Health specializing in peripartum mood and anxiety disorders. She also has extensive experience with trauma resolution. Dr. Randall received her doctorate from Pepperdine University, where she is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

www.calabh.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

34: ASK HER: Preventing Postpartum Suicide Jan 16, 2017

Show notes

Gabrielle Kaufman LPCC, BC-DMT, NCC

Postpartum Suicide is a very real risk to new mothers. In this episode we are discuss Suicide as it relates to maternal mental health and postpartum, resources to support prevention of suicide (see below), as well as:

-Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of postpartum maternal deaths!

-Asking about suicide does not “give” someone the idea to do it.

-what to look for and how to be there for a new mom.

-Suicide is preventable when we get mom the right help

Clearly, this is a very difficult topic, but it is essential that we talk about this so we can all be aware of the very real impacts of mental health for new moms, and more importantly making sure that moms are safe and well cared for so that we can prevent suicide in postpartum.

Gabrielle Kaufman is a dance/movement therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor with over 20 years experience in the helping profession. Currently, she is director of Training and Technical Assistance for Maternal Mental Health NOW. Ms. Kaufman has spoken widely, published articles on parenting, and served as editor for Bringing Light to Motherhood.

She serves as Los Angeles coordinator for Postpartum Support International, is on faculty of PSI/2020 Mom, and UCLArts and Healing, and has a private practice in Los Angeles providing services in both English and Spanish languages.

Maternal Mental Health NOW

www.maternalmentalhealthnow.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaternalMentalHealthNow/?fref=ts

Instagram: @maternalmentalhealthnow

Twitter: @MMHealthNow

Gabrielle Kaufman : www.gabriellekaufman.com

Suicide Prevention Resources:

APP (support) www.my3app.org

www.Suicideispreventable.org

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273- TALK (8255)

Postpartum Support International (warmline, leave a message, non-emergency) 1-800-944-4773

_______________________________________________________________

This episode was sponsored by 2020Mom

2020Mom is hosting the 7th Annual "Emerging Considerations in Maternal Mental Health" This year's Forum will be held in Los Angeles on February 13th and will discuss the MMH link to hormones and inflammation, as well as the role of diet. You can register for the live event in Los Angeles or view a webcast from the comfort of your own home or office. So, anywhere in the world you are, you can watch this forum! Learn more at www.2020mom.org/annual-forum

*** Listeners of this podcast will also receive a 15% discount by using registration code MOMANDMIND ***

Also, Listen back to episode 11 where I interview Joy Burkhard, the founder and executive director of 2020 mom.

Thank you 2020Mom for supporting this Podcast!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

33: Pregnancy and Neonatal Loss Grief Jan 09, 2017

Show notes

Deb Rich, Ph.D.

Understanding perinatal grief. We are talking with Dr. Deb Rich about pregnancy loss and neonatal loss. This is a very difficult topic for folks to hear about, but even harder for those families who are trying to deal with the loss of a child. Its so important for us to be talking about pregnancy loss…the impacts on the family…and how to support people who have experienced loss.

We discuss:

-The different kinds of pregnancy loss and neonatal loss.

-The importance of understanding loss as how it may impact the transition to parenthood.

-This type of grief needs a deeper understanding for the complexities that it brings.

-Being informed is important because mothers, fathers AND Providers will either experience loss or be in a position to support others who have.

-How to get support and be supportive during this difficult time.

Deb Rich, PhD. is a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of specialty experience. She provides patient care, consults with local health care professionals, teaches graduate, medical and nursing students, and lectures nationally. She is the founder and clinical director of Shoshana Center, which is named in memory of Dr. Rich’s first child, a daughter, who was stillborn in 1985.

Dr. Rich is the creator and facilitator of MommaCare training and Perinatal Bereavement Training in St. Paul Minnesota. I have taken this training and I HIGHLY recommend this for psychotherapists working with perinatal mothers.

Connect with Dr. Deb Rich

Website: http://www.shoshanacenter.com/

Training: http://www.shoshanacenter.com/mommacare.shtml

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShoshanaCenter/?fref=ts

For more support in your area, check out Resolve Through Sharing:

www.bereavementservices.org

_________________________________________________________________

This episode was sponsored by 2020Mom

2020Mom is hosting the 7th Annual "Emerging Considerations in Maternal Mental Health" This year's Forum will be held in Los Angeles on February 13th and will discuss the MMH link to hormones and inflammation, as well as the role of diet. You can register for the live event in Los Angeles for $95, or view a webcast from the comfort of your own home or office for $50. So, anywhere in the world you are, you can watch this forum.

Listeners of this podcast will also receive a 15% discount by using registration code MOMANDMIND.

Learn more at www.2020mom.org/annual-forum.

To learn more about 2020Mom, listen back to episode 11 where I interview Joy Burkhard, the founder and executive director of 2020 mom.

Thank you 2020Mom for supporting this Podcast!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

32: Supporting Asian American Moms Jan 02, 2017

Show notes

Dr. Juli Fraga

Asian American Moms: Cultural Sensitivity in the perinatal period.

In this episode, we discuss maternal mental health in the context of Asian cultures. There are many different cultures under the banner of Asian American, so we are giving an overview of some cultural considerations to keep in mind when supporting an Asian American mother. We will talk about some of the cultural challenges faced by pregnant and postpartum mothers, and how to better support their mental health.

Some of the important topics we discuss:

*Individualistic (western) vs. Collectivist (non-western) cultural perspectives on family, pregnancy and postpartum

*Thinking about cultural components that providers can be sensitive about for the mother

*Some of the “non-western” concepts of birthing and motherhood.

Dr. Juli Fraga is a psychologist in San Francisco where she specializes in maternal mental health concerns. She also co-facilitates a postpartum support group, "The Afterglow" at UCSF, as well as a three-week pregnancy support circle, "The New Nest." Dr. Fraga is also a freelance health writer and she's written about women's health concerns for Refinery29, NPR, Quartz, Psychology Today, The Huffington Post and the Washington Post.

Connect with Dr. Fraga here:

Twitter @dr_fraga

www.drjulifraga.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31: Maternal Ambivalence and Our Bodies Dec 26, 2016

Show notes

Helena Vissing, Psy.D.

Our bodies, our minds and how we understand them in the change to motherhood.

In this episode we are talking with Dr. Helena Vissing, about maternal ambivalence and some of the feminist psychanalytic and somatic perspectives on how women feel about their body related to pregnancy and postpartum. We are looking at how to broaden our understanding of maternal ambivalence and how ambivalence comes up how our body in motherhood.

We discuss the mental changes of becoming a mother and the mixed feelings we sometimes have about our children - Love and Hate -

Dr. Vissing has a Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology. She has experience working as a School Psychologist and in private practice from her home country Denmark. She moved to Los Angeles in 2010, where she conducted a doctoral dissertation study on the experience of becoming a mother in the Psy.D. program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on the psychology of the emotional and somatic changes related to motherhood.

She is active in the non-profit organization Maternal Mental Health NOW She works in a group practice called Triune Therapy Group, where she runs a moms group. She is also Adjunct Faculty at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Helena is contributing with a chapter to a book titled "A Womb of Her Own: Women's Struggle for Sexual and Reproductive Autonomy" which will be released in January. Helena's chapter is an exploration of the Birth Rights Movement and the psychology of birth. Check it out here:

http://section-three.org/events-calendar-2/upcoming-book/

Connect with Helena here:

Blog: All Things Maternal allthingsmaternal.wordpress.com

Twitter: @allthingsmat

Triune Therapy Group facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/triunetherapy/

Facebook group called Maternal Studies Scholars Network

https://www.facebook.com/groups/787721161279489/?fref=ts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30: Sleep Deprived Moms Dec 19, 2016

Show notes

Lauren DePaola, LCSW

SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP!

We are talking about a very important topic…SLEEP! We’ve all heard that new moms and parents don’t sleep when they have a baby, but its actually a pretty huge deal. Lauren DePaola is going to give us the information we need to know about how it Impacts us and why we need to be taking a closer look on protecting our sleep as much as possible.

We cover stages of sleep, how much sleep you really need and what kind, what can happen when you don't get enough sleep and why its so important!!!!

Lauren DePaola, LCSW is a wife, mother of two boys and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida. She owns a private mental health practice with a focus on reproductive mental health: Postpartum Wellness & Family Counseling, located in Gainesville, FL.

Lauren is the founder of the Alachua County Perinatal Mental Health Coalition, the President of the Florida Chapter of Postpartum Support International and Co-Chair of the newly formed Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative.

website:

www.postpartumwellnessandfamilycounseling.com

Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/pwandfc/

Alachua County Perinatal Mental Health Coalition website:

http://ppwandfc.wixsite.com/acpmhc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29: From Pain to Meaning & Empowerment Dec 12, 2016

Show notes

Lisa Cross, LMFT

Finding Empowerment and Meaning through your pregnancy or postpartum experience.

On this episode we are talking with Lisa Cross, LMFT about finding empowerment and meaning in your pregnancy, birth or postpartum story. This is an essential piece of making your way through the struggle that can come with pregnancy and postpartum. As you find your way through, your meaning may be very personal, your empowerment may only be known to you, or it could be a huge life changing experience. In any case, finding meaning or empowerment in our experiece can be incredibly healing.

Lisa is a licensed marriage and family therapist who is in private practice in Plymouth Minnesota and also serves as the Co-Director of a non-profit organization called Pregnancy & Postpartum Support MN. She has a certificate of training in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International. 12 years ago this, Lisa welcomed her first child into the world. Along with her daughter came an illness called Postpartum OCD. Unprepared for this disorder, she embarked on a battle to understand and overcome her illness. It was this experience that lead her to focus her career in Perinatal Mental Health.

Connect with Lisa and PPSM here:

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Minnesota

www.ppsupportmn.org

Facebook

Twitter and Instagram @ppsupportmn

Lisa Cross, LMFT Twitter @lisacrosslmft

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28: Couples Life with Baby Dec 05, 2016

Show notes

Jessica Scales, LMFT

How much do we really think about how a baby will impact or change the relationship that we have with our partner? Generally, not enough! This episode discusses that topic and how to be intenetional about life with a new baby!

In this episode we will talk with Jessica Scales about how to help couples navigate the changes that new parenthood brings. It can be hard to know if you need that kind of support or not, most folks think they will be fine, but really, everyone can use this kind of support.

Jessica Scales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in the greater Seattle area. She works with both individuals and couples to navigate life transitions with intention, specifically, couples transitioning from a childless couple to parenthood. She teaches a Life with Baby class to help couples identify and plan for common relational challenges couples face when becoming parents.

www.nextleveltherapynw.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected