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On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the Executive Director of PSI, herself, Dr. Wendy Davis. We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Wendy to hear how Perinatal Mental Health Disorders have touched her life personally and professionally, and she even indulged us by sticking around for a fun round of questions at the end of the episode. We’re so honored to close out Maternal Mental Health Month with this story, of one grateful survivor who lives and breathes the work of supporting parents and professionals every single day.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• Annual PSI Conference: June 28-July 2, 2023
• PSI Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line: 1-877-499-4773
• Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)
• Volunteer with PSI!
• Podcasts: Smartless
• Books: Storyworth

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Intrusive Thoughts, Mania, PTSD 

On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Tony Pacitti - a writer and a peer support group facilitator of PSI's Dads Group. When he's not facilitating support groups - or chasing his very energetic three-year-olds around - he can be found in a book. But for today, you can also find him on a podcast! Tony shares about welcoming and caring for newborn twins while his wife was experiencing Postpartum Psychosis, and how his PTSD from this traumatic postpartum period has fueled an inner-fire to help other Dad’s like him.

Helpful Resources about Postpartum Psychosis:

• Learn about Postpartum Psychosis
• FREE Webinar: "Slaying the Monstrous Misconceptions of Postpartum Psychosis"
• Mom & Mind Episode 258: Postpartum Psychosis

Mentioned in today's episode:

• PSI Support Groups 
• Podcasts: Gom Jabbar, The Moth
• Book: American Prometheus
• Games: Ticket to Ride, Magic the Gathering, Mario Kart, Miss Pacman

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Intrusive Thoughts

On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Samantha Konikoff, a guest that is near and dear to my heart. As mentioned at the beginning of every single I AM ONE Podcast episode, hearing one person share their story changed the trajectory of my life. And so, today we’ll hear from that person! Samantha is not only a good friend, she’s also an incredible change-maker whose passion and skills support folks in the perinatal period in her local community as well as across the country! We’ll hear how her lived experience with PPA, PPD, OCD influenced her greater purpose in advocating for parents. Also, we’ll touch on how Climb Out of the Darkness helped her connect with others, build community, and why supporting parents and new families is so important.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• Climb Out of the Darkness Program 
• Find a 2023 Climb near you!
• PSI Support Groups
• Village Circle Bellingham
• Mobile Mama Therapy
• Perinatal Support Washington
• Podcast: The Moth, Modern Love
• Book: Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Pregnancy Loss 

On today’s episode we’re sitting down with the fabulous Shivani Hiralal - Marketing & Communications Strategist here at PSI & mom to a brand new member of the 1-year old club. Therapy, support groups and speaking her truth have all played an integral role in navigating Anxiety and Depression. Today we’ll hear about Shivani’s lived experience with pregnancy loss, pregnancy after loss, and the intersection of becoming a mother within South Asian culture.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• PSI Support Groups 
• Podcasts: Unlocking Us, Dare to Lead (both with Dr. Brené Brown)
• Books: Real Self Care

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s episode, we’re chatting with Dr. Ellen Chance, a Maternal Mental Health Counselor, who switched her focus from serving school-aged youth to mothers when she noticed huge gaps in perinatal mental health care. Ellen also volunteers her time as an online support group facilitator here at PSI. Today we’ll hear a story that I suspect is more common than we may think. Because the reality is, Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders do not discriminate and nobody is immune to them - even practitioners who know what to look for. We’ll hear about how Anxiety showed up for Ellen during pregnancy and postpartum, how difficult it felt to express how she was truly feeling (pssst - spoiler alert … this is the first time she’s sharing so openly on a public platform). And finally, we’ll hear why she’s inspired to support pregnant and postpartum parents every day.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• PSI Support Groups 
• @whole.counseling (Instagram)
• @dr.ellenchance (Instagram)
• Whole Counseling & Wellness (in Stuart, FL)
• Podcast: Mindful Motherhood
• Books: The Art of Holding, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, It Ends With Us 

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Intrusive Thoughts, Traumatic Birth

On this very special episode of the I AM ONE Podcast, we’re sitting down with Laura Killgore, the amazing human and perinatal mental health advocate behind The Blue Dot Project! She’ll share with us all about what The Blue Dot Project is, and how you can get involved in advocacy, even from the comfort of your own home now! Be sure to check out today’s show notes for links to The Blue Dot Project, the social media kits for Maternal Mental Health Week (the first week of May), and for Maternal Mental Health Month (which stretches throughout the entire month of May).

Mentioned in today's episode:

• Contact Laura: [email protected]
• The Blue Dot Project (Website)
• @thebluedotprj (Instagram)
• The Blue Dot Project (Facebook)
• Maternal Mental Health Week Toolkit 
• Maternal Mental Health Month Toolkit 
• Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
• Mom Congress
• Podcasts: Dark History, Murder Mystery and Makeup, The Deck

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Intrusive Thoughts

On today’s episode, we’re chatting with Samantha Reaves, survivor of a trifecta of PMADs (PPA, PPD, PPOCD), staff on the Communication and Development teams here at PSI, and she’s also local support volunteer in her state of North Carolina. Transitioning to parenthood during a global pandemic did not go how she had imagined. So, when Samantha reached out for help from her health care provider and was given very few resources, she knew something needed to change. We’ll hear about how PSI helped facilitate her recovery through online support groups as well as finding local support, and how she’s supporting folks in perinatal period now.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• Annual PSI Conference: June 28-July 2, 2023
• PSI Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line: 1-877-499-4773
• Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)
• PSI Support Groups 
• Find Local Support
• Become a Local Support Volunteer
• Podcasts: Crime Junkie, My Favorite Murder
• Books: How to Sit, The Bridgerton Series, Goldenrod, Keep Moving

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Episodes of Mania & Delusions

On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Jessica Ekhoff, a Chicago-area attorney, volunteer facilitator of PSI’s online Bipolar Support Group, AND as of early 2023, a published author of her book, “Super Sad Unicorn: A Memoir of Mania.” Today, she'll recount some lived experience that many parents rarely hear about. Jessica became a mother during the pandemic, and will give us a glimpse into her experience with postpartum-onset bipolar disorder, mania and psychosis. And spoiler alert - Jessica ISN’T a Super Sad Unicorn anymore. We’ll hear about the incredible support systems that helped get her on the road to feeling well again, and how she’s supporting new parents in the perinatal period now.  

Helpful Resources about Bipolar Disorder & Postpartum Psychosis:

• Learn about Bipolar Disorder I & II, Postpartum Psychosis
• FREE Webinar: "Slaying the Monstrous Misconceptions of Postpartum Psychosis"
• Mom & Mind Episode 258: Postpartum Psychosis

Mentioned in today's episode:

• PSI Support Groups 
• PSI Peer Mentor Program
• Super Sad Unicorn: A Memoir of Mania -  https://www.jessicaekhoff.com
• Podcasts: The Ezra Klein Show, Bachelor Party
• Books: The Great Believers, The Winners
• Blog: Capitol Hill Style
• TV Show: Fleichman is in Trouble

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Emily Jankowski, Director of PSI’s Climb Out of the Darkness Program & wearer of almost all PSI volunteer hats. She’s an outspoken perinatal mental health advocate, and Climb Leader for Life. Emily is the ultimate outside-the-box-thinking, dreamer-of-all-the-big-dreams, who loves nothing more than to manifest that … *ish*. Hey - this is a family show. Let’s just say she likes making things happen. So, assume your preferred podcast listening position and prepare to enjoy Emily’s story of Postpartum Anxiety, Depression & OCD, getting the help she needed, and finding her people.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• Questions about Climb Out of the Darkness?: [email protected]
• For Maryland Climb Questions: [email protected]
• Climb Out of the Darkness Program 
• Peer Mentor Program
• Local PSI Volunteer
• Find a 2023 Climb near you!
• @fruitcakemomma (Instagram)
• @fruitcakemom (TikTok)
• Podcast: Hysteria
• Book: Children of Blood and Bone, Lockwood & Co. (series)

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...

Send us Fan Mail

TRIGGER WARNING: Traumatic Birth Experience

On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Magan Dunbar, a neonatal-pediatric respiratory therapist, an adjunct college instructor, and a Local Volunteer for PSI in Dallas, TX. Magan touches on her experience with Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD after the birth of her pandemic baby, two years ago. We’ll chat about overcoming mom guilt, the power of journaling to process trauma and finding yourself again!

Mentioned in today's episode:

• PSI Directory
• Find Local Support
• Become a Local Support Volunteer
• Find a Climb Out of the Darkness Event
• Postpartum Journal
• Podcasts: Absolutely Not, Love Letters to Kellie
• Book: The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
• Author: Colleen Hoover

Interested in sharing your story?
Fill out our podcast interest form here!

Questions about the I AM ONE Podcast?
Email Dani Giddens - [email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect by PSI - Download PSI's New App!
Apple Version
Android Version

Visit PSI's website: https://www.postpartum.net
Find free resources & info on certification, training, and other incredible programs!

Call or text 'HELP' to the PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Not feeling like yourself? Looking for some support? You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S. only): 1-833-852-6262
Free and confidential Hotline for parents, providers & support people in English and Spanish.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada): 988
Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for pro...