Motherhood is one of life’s greatest joys and privileges. But let’s be honest – it’s downright exhausting most days. Because mothers are still expected to be the primary caregiver and often have little or no support, they constantly juggle an endless to-do list and physical and emotional fatigue. And as if this wasn’t enough, mothers are plagued by feelings of guilt and worries over their child’s development and well-being, because of society’s growing pressures to be a “perfect mom”. It’s just never enough.
It’s no wonder then that mothers experience higher rates of anxiety and depression that the general population and this trend is worsening, with Generation Z mothers reporting the highest rates of postpartum anxiety and depression. This non-stop stress threatens moms’ mental health and even impacts family dynamics.
This is why we decided to offer our community a workshop on maternal mental health. This interactive event tailored for mothers STEMM provided much-needed tools and guidance to nurture maternal mental health and find more peace and joy in parenting.
The workshop was facilitated by Sarah Nahum, a licensed therapist specializing in women’s maternal mental health with over a decade of experience counseling new moms struggling with the life transition into motherhood. Sarah combines psychotherapy techniques with holistic modalities like meditation, yoga, and breathwork in her group and individual counseling practice. She specializes in helping mothers process “mom guilt,” grief over identity shifts after baby, and conditions like postpartum anxiety and depression interfering with motherhood joy and thriving career trajectories.
The workshop started with Sarah discussing vital topics such as combating "mom guilt" and dispelling the myth of the perfect mom. She explored postpartum concerns like anxiety, depression, loss of identity, and the dynamics of a relationship after having a baby. “Mom guilt” was discussed in detail, as all mothers seem to struggle with fears of being a “bad mom” because of various pressures. She explained how unattainable standards of the “perfect mom” set by our society fuel this distress. She also outlined the critical differences between baby blues, anxiety, and postpartum depression, along with postpartum conditions impacting fathers.
The transition into parenthood brings profound change and uncertainty that can negatively impact mental health. This is especially true for mothers balancing demanding STEMM careers.
Motherhood represents a huge life change and loss of previous freedoms, which can trigger grief over a shifting identity.
After Sarah’s presentation, the participants were divided into groups and moved into breakout rooms to conduct an exercise and discuss about their evolving personal and professional identities after having children, among other topics. Sarah normalized these complex emotions and provided reassuring advice on how to integrate rather than battle these two critical parts of self.
Through individual exercised and group discussions, the participants reflected on relationship, parenting and workplace challenges that arise postpartum and how they addressed them. As a group and with Sarah’s experience and guidance, solutions were discussed on how to overcome these challenges.
The intimate workshop environment encouraged vulnerable sharing without judgment as participants addressed these important questions. Like-minded moms brainstormed solutions together, formed new connections and supported one another.
“I finally feel understood and supported,” shared one participant. Another new mom confessed that she no longer feels alone in her struggles.
Sarah finished the workshop by outlining realistic and effective self-care practices for helping manage postpartum burnout, such as connecting with others, asking for and accepting help despite feeling of guilt, and practicing self-compassion. She shared creative ways to inject simple recharging activities into overloaded schedules, emphasizing that mothers cannot pour from an empty cup. Sarah highlighted the benefits of therapy during the postpartum stage for helping to make sense of thoughts and experiences, learning to articulate and set boundaries with others, and increasing your confidence and self-esteem.
After this wonderful moment sharing within a supportive community and focusing entirely on their well-being, the participants felt validated, uplifted and part of a vital support network to lean on when parenting and career pressures mount.
For more resources on mental health, visit the website northyorktherapy.com or send an email to northyorktherapy@gmail.com.
To engage with the empowered maternal mental health community, you can join a mommy group such as the peanut app, Mommy Connections, and Early On website or create a group chat with mothers in your area.
Written by Adaude Amalunweze
11th February 2024