Motherhood Radio - Dr Christina Hibbert

Culture and mental health go hand in hand, impacting not only how we perceive mental health but also our identity, life experiences, how or if we ask for help, and too often, whether or not we can access that much-needed help. Today I'm talking with mental health & culture advocate, Ashley Carino (http://www.postpartumdepressionsupport.org), about the many ways community and family culture can either facilitate or block mental health, how to overcome the stigma of mental health and cultural barriers, and how we can learn to speak up for ourselves and our families! For more on the importance of speaking up, practicing self-care, and receiving help, read "Motherhood Mental Health: Self-Care & Letting Help In" http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/ppd-motherhood-mental-health-self-care-letting-help-in-the-2-most-important-things-psi-blog-hop/.

It's hard being "Mom!" Yet, how often do we forget that "hard" is "normal," in motherhood? How often do we place the blame on ourselves when things get tough--during transitions like back to school, everyday stress, and the ups and downs that are inevitable in motherhood? In today's one-on-one session, I'm sharing 5 "reality checks" all moms need to hear and believe, including some of the "paradoxes" of motherhood, how to survive the transitions and changes of parenting, and why you just might be doing better than you think. Tune in, and then pass it on! For more inspiration (or commiseration), please visit "Motherhood Reality Check: It's Hard! AND I'm Improving" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/motherhood-reality-check-its-hard-and-im-improving/) and "7 Strategies for School-Year Sanity" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/parenting-skills-back-to-school-mental-health-7-strategies-for-school-year-sanity/ ).

Breast cancer affects us all at some point or another, whether through a parent, friend, aunt, colleague. As mothers, it's crucial we understand the facts about breast cancer awareness in order to educate our daughters and families. In this educational episode, I'm talking with Kim Kusiciel, mom of 3, BRCA gene mutation carrier, breast cancer advocate, and early childhood teacher. Both Kim and I are daughters of breast cancer survivors, and we're discussing having a parent with breast cancer, how we can help/educate our children, as well as genetic testing, the BRCA gene mutation and the decisions that go along with discovering you are a carrier. Tune in with your daughters for this highly informative, important episode. And please visit http://www.nohappyaccidents.com to learn more about Kim's experiences with the BRCA gene mutation and breast cancer advocacy.

Why do we fear being our true selves? How do we find our true selves, especially when it's so easy to get lost in "being mom"? Why is it so easy to fall victim to fear--fear of being judged or criticized, fear of being different? The power of living authentically is the power to live without these fears, to be at peace with who we truly are and to let the world know us, the real us. Only when we, as mothers, learn the power of authenticity can we then teach and model it for our children. My guest, Kristy Dominiak, mom, speaker, and author of "The Shaken Snow Globe" (http://www.shakensnowglobe.com), and I discuss why it's so challenging to live authentically and how we can overcome those challenges to embrace the power of authenticity, for ourselves and for our families. And read my post, "The Value of Authenticity: 5 Ways to Get Real," for more ways to live authentically (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/the-value-of-authenticity-5-ways-to-get-real/).

Did you know anxiety is the #1 mental health issue in women? Anxiety is even more common than depression in women, and mothers seem to experience anxiety regularly. What is anxiety? How does it show up in women? And what can you do about it? My guest, Kathryn Gardner, LCPC (http://www.newdawnwellnessgroup.com/), is a Chicago-based counselor specializing in maternal mental health and anxiety disorders, and she's here to share her best strategies for coping with worry, fear, stress, PTSD, OCD, and all types of anxiety you may face. Get ready to give anxiety the boot and to help your family do the same, with this empowering episode! For more on 'Anxiety & Women: Sleep, & Hormones-What You Can Do" visit http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/anxiety-women-hormones-sleep-what-you-can-do/.

Guilt is one of the most common emotions mothers experience--guilt over not doing enough, not being enough, guilt for what we've said, done, or how we "are" as moms. Yes, guilt is all too common in motherhood. So, what do we do with this guilt? How can we overcome it, or even better, use guilt to help US "overcome, become, and flourish?" That's what today's episode is all about, in this one-on-one "session" on the skills of overcoming guilt. We'll discuss the two types of guilt, what to do with guilt, and some top strategies to ditch the guilt or let it motivate us to something better. Be sure to visit my website (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com) for more on overcoming guilt, including my "Overcoming Mom Guilt" post (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/overcoming-mom-guilt).

If there's one thing all moms have too little of it's time! Between kids' schedules, home and family tasks and our own needs, there's just never enough time to go around. That's why today we're talking with Myrna Haskell, writer and editor of Sanctuary Magazine (http://www.santuary-magazine.com), all about the tools of time management. How can you prioritize? What will help your kids manage time better? And how can you face your work/home life with more peace and calm? Tune in to find out. Then, check out Sanctuary Magazine's May issues--devoted to moms, in honor of Mother's Day, and featuring an interview with yours truly! (http://www.sanctuary-magazine.com/may-17-christina-hibbert.html)

One in five women will experience postpartum depression after the baby is born, and many others will deal with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or even psychosis. Together, these disorders, named "Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders," are the most common complication associated with childbirth. We're taking a deeper look at the reality of postpartum depression with my friend, Lindsay Gerszt, PPD survivor and producer of the powerful new documentary, "When the Bough Breaks," narrated by Brooke Shields (http://www.whentheboughbreaksfilm.com). Lindsay shares her heart-wrenching experience with postpartum depression and anxiety in the film and here with us, to raise awareness and promote support and help for all mothers in pregnancy and postpartum. What is postpartum depression? How can you tell if you're experiencing it? Where can you turn for help? How can your relationships survive? These are just a few questions answered in today's episode, along with the inspiring message from Lindsay's life and film--that you truly are not alone, that with help, you will be well, and that beyond postpartum depression life goes on and can even flourish, with gifts of greater understanding, service, love, and personal growth. For more on Postpartum Depression Treatment, visit http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/postpartum-depression-treatment/ and read my post, "The Benefits of Postpartum Depression," http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/.

What happens to your body after childbirth? If you've given birth you've no doubt experienced some alterations in how your body works (or doesn't work), but you might be surprised at how dramatically the experience of pregnancy, labor and delivery can alter the body. From changes in the pelvic floor to the diaphragm, from the back and abdomen to the way we breathe, these changes can go unnoticed and untreated and lead to long-term physical and emotional symptoms that otherwise could be prevented. Today's guest, Lynn Shulte-Leech (http://www.instituteforbirthhealing.com) women's health physical therapist, birth healing expert and founder of The Birth Healing Institute, will open your eyes (as she did mine!) to the many changes our bodies undergo when we give birth. Lynn shares her incredible knowledge on what we can do to heal from such after-birth complications as vaginal prolapse, leakage, painful intercourse, or a "doming" belly. An important, eye-opening episode every mother who's given birth must see! (*Due to the intimate nature of today's topic, you may wish to ensure young children are not listening.) For more on Birth Healing, join the Birth Healing Summit, featuring Lynn, me, and several other birth and postpartum experts. Visit http://www.instituteforbirthhealing.com/summit-2017 to register or for more information.

#birthhealing

#postpartum

#childbirth

#trauma

#pregnancy

#healing

#motherhoodtv

#motherhood

When it comes to speaking up, asking for, and receiving what we need, we moms aren't doing so well. Too often, we feel guilty having "needs," let alone asking for help or letting that help in. Yet identifying and asking for what we need--for help, for support, for love, for a break!--is crucial to not only our own health and wellness, but our children's and family's as well. In this important episode, I'm sharing two stories I'm certain will motivate you to reconsider how you feel about asking for and receiving help. I'm also sharing the tools for how to identify, clearly state, and actually let that help in, including my 4 Steps to Asking & Receiving (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/how-to-get-your-needs-met-4-tips-on-asking-and-receiving/). To learn more about the stories, women, and tools I discuss in this moving episode, visit http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/postpartum-psychosis-40-years-prison-mental-health-stigma-its-time-to-speak-up/ and http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/ppd-motherhood-mental-health-self-care-letting-help-in-the-2-most-important-things-psi-blog-hop/.