All The Hard Things

In this episode, you'll learn about...

- things that you're doing that you probably think are problem solving, but are NOT problem solving

- four simple steps to effectively solve problems

- how to effectively brainstorm potential solutions to problems

This podcast should not be substituted, nor is meant to act as a substitute, for legitimate mental health treatment/a legitimate mental health treatment provider.  This podcast and any information in it is solely the reflection of general knowledge and cannot be taken as a personal therapeutic recommendation.  To find a therapist near you to work more directly with these issues, head over to psychologytoday.com or nami.org.

In this episode, you'll learn about...

- negative vs positive problem orientation

- the consequences of perceiving problems as threatening, dangerous, and bad

- practical ways to start having a more positive relationship with problems so you can view them as opportunities for growth/learning

This podcast should not be substituted, nor is meant to act as a substitute, for legitimate mental health treatment/a legitimate mental health treatment provider.  This podcast and any information in it is solely the reflection of general knowledge and cannot be taken as a personal therapeutic recommendation.  To find a therapist near you to work more directly with these issues, head over to psychologytoday.com or nami.org.

Welcome to my Anonymom series.  Real moms talking about their deepest and darkest moments - anonymously.  Anonymom episodes may consist of difficult topics including miscarriage, infertility, separation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other potentially triggering issues.  Names have been changed to protect the identity of the mom.

This episode features Amanda, who says she never really wanted to be a mom, then as she got older and decided to try to get pregnant, struggled with infertility.  She talks about...

- her postpartum depression and how she felt trapped in her new life

- how her depression manifested as rage at times, especially when sleep deprived

- dealing with a colicky baby, having no family or social support, and finally getting help 

- how she deals with the regret and shame of lost time with her daughter, and also how she feels stronger than ever because of these experiences

This podcast should not be substituted for legitimate mental health treatment.  If you or a mom you know is struggling with mental health difficulties during pregnancy, postpartum, or beyond, contact Postpartum Support International at 800-944-4773 or visit www.postpartum.net.  If you are worried about your safety or the safety of a loved one, please call for help immediately at 911 or by reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Welcome to my Anonymom series.  Real moms talking about their deepest and darkest moments - anonymously.  Anonymom episodes may consist of difficult topics including miscarriage, infertility, separation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other potentially triggering issues.  Names have been changed to protect the identity of the mom.

This episode features Jessica, a woman who always wanted to be a mom and now has two children.  She talks about her experience of feeling very confident with her first child then being "thrown for a loop" with the second.  She also discusses...

- trying to find balance with all of the roles she fulfills in her life including mom, wife, friend, and more

- managing anxiety and building confidence with her second child

- navigating her own identity, desires, and needs after becoming a mom

- being on active duty in the navy/in the reserves while pregnant and while being a parent

This podcast should not be substituted for legitimate mental health treatment.  If you or a mom you know is struggling with mental health difficulties during pregnancy, postpartum, or beyond, contact Postpartum Support International at 800-944-4773 or visit www.postpartum.net.  If you are worried about your safety or the safety of a loved one, please call for help immediately at 911 or by reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

In this episode, you'll learn about... 

- how to deal with worry and anxiety about the upcoming election

- what to do if the person you didn't vote for becomes president

- practical mental health and spiritual tips to ease the uncomfortable emotions leading up to, and after, the election

This podcast should not be substituted, nor is meant to act as a substitute, for legitimate mental health treatment/a legitimate mental health treatment provider.  This podcast and any information in it is solely the reflection of general knowledge and cannot be taken as a personal therapeutic recommendation.  To find a therapist near you to work more directly with these issues, head over to psychologytoday.com or nami.org.

Welcome to my Anonymom series.  Real moms talking about their deepest and darkest moments - anonymously.  Anonymom episodes may consist of difficult topics including miscarriage, infertility, separation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other potentially triggering issues.  Names have been changed to protect the identity of the mom.

This episode features Allison, a recently divorced single mother of 2 who experienced a miscarriage, became an emergency foster parent, and became pregnant again all in less than a year.  She also talks about.. 

- her experience with mental illness which resulted in suicidal thinking, inpatient stays, and residential treatment for depression and an eating disorder

- having to unexpectedly become an emergency foster parent for her niece and helping her cope with a trauma background

- managing her own mental health amidst a divorce and how she uses skills she learned in treatment to overcome these difficulties

This podcast should not be substituted for legitimate mental health treatment.  If you or a mom you know is struggling with mental health difficulties during pregnancy, postpartum, or beyond, contact Postpartum Support International at 800-944-4773 or visit www.postpartum.net.  If you are worried about your safety or the safety of a loved one, please call for help immediately at 911 or by reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

For this episode, I'm joined by Monika Friedman, a 4 time IVF warrior and now a working mom who owns Monika Friedman Coaching.  She focuses on a Full Circle Fertility Method and helps women find hope and peace on their journey to increase their changes of getting pregnant.

In this episode, you'll learn about.. 

- 3 practical things you can do to decrease stress, anxiety, and sleep issues as well as boost your self worth and outlook on life during the infertility journey

- how mindset, lifestyle, and tactics come together to create a full circle picture of fertility and how you can use these factors to help you beat the odds

- how to handle the mental load and sometimes post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms that coincide with infertility/experience of miscarriage

- as a support person, what's helpful vs. not helpful to say/do when someone you love is struggling with infertility

You can find more on Monika by heading to her website: https://www.monikafriedman.com/

Monika is also on Instagram: @monikafriedmancoaching

This podcast should not be substituted for legitimate mental health treatment.  If you or a mom you know is struggling with mental health difficulties during pregnancy, postpartum, or beyond, contact Postpartum Support International at 800-944-4773 or visit www.postpartum.net.  If you are worried about your safety or the safety of a loved one, please call for help immediately at 911 or by reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

In this episode, you'll learn about... 

- the rules and "must haves" of exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD/anxiety 

- what to expect out of ERP/what it looks like - how to know if you or a client has done an exposure successfully 

- what to avoid during exposure therapy and how to navigate unsuccessful trials  

This podcast should not be substituted, nor is meant to act as a substitute, for legitimate mental health treatment/a legitimate mental health treatment provider.  This podcast and any information in it is solely the reflection of general knowledge and cannot be taken as a personal therapeutic recommendation.  To find a therapist near you to work more directly with these issues, head over to psychologytoday.com or nami.org.

In this episode, you'll learn about...

- what is perinatal OCD, some day to day examples, and how it affects pregnancy and the early weeks of motherhood

- how to handle these symptoms after experiencing infertility, a high risk pregnancy, and/or miscarriages

- how to manage your symptoms so that you can get back to enjoying your pregnancy and prevent your anxiety from getting worse when the baby arrives

This podcast should not be substituted, nor is meant to act as a substitute, for legitimate mental health treatment/a legitimate mental health treatment provider.  This podcast and any information in it is solely the reflection of general knowledge and cannot be taken as a personal therapeutic recommendation.  To find a therapist near you to work more directly with these issues, head over to psychologytoday.com or nami.org.

In this episode, you'll learn about...

- 9 ways you can reinterpret your bad or "okay" days

- how to feel less judgment and more acceptance about these kinds of days 

- how to practice skills like the emotional guidance scale and radical acceptance

This podcast should not be substituted, nor is meant to act as a substitute, for legitimate mental health treatment/a legitimate mental health treatment provider.  This podcast and any information in it is solely the reflection of general knowledge and cannot be taken as a personal therapeutic recommendation.  To find a therapist near you to work more directly with these issues, head over to psychologytoday.com or nami.org.