Finding Help: "Honoring your feelings is the first step."
If emotions get too rough and you need immediate help, call 911 or your local helpline.
It hurts. We don't want to talk about it. We'd rather it just go away. I get it, I've been there! But it won't just go away! A birth professional on our Facebook page made the comment: "Honoring your feelings is the first step." Her statement couldn't be more true! Finding help is hard, but necessary. Here's a list of help to get you started!
* Your partner. Be understanding to their needs, too. Your partner may also be experiencing birth trauma, especially if they were by your side when you gave birth.
* Your support group. This could include your doula, friends, family, parenting group, religious group, etc.
* Find a therapist. This isn't a bad thing, I promise. I remember thinking when I called a therapist for the first time, "Ugh, do I really have to go?" And yes, I really had to go!
* Keep a journal!
* Figure out what works for you and what helps you feel better. (Check out our Healing pages!) For some, it's artwork. For others, music helps. And others might enjoy making music. It's okay to have a "vice" that can help you 'snap out' of a PTSD or PPD spell. And it's a good thing to have something in place you can utilize for those times.
* Learn your triggers. With PTSD especially, we have to be aware of what triggers us and either avoid or overcome those situations.
* Share your triggers and "feel better aids" with your partner and those close to you so they can help you along your healing journey.
This is a growing list. What would you add?
It hurts. We don't want to talk about it. We'd rather it just go away. I get it, I've been there! But it won't just go away! A birth professional on our Facebook page made the comment: "Honoring your feelings is the first step." Her statement couldn't be more true! Finding help is hard, but necessary. Here's a list of help to get you started!
* Your partner. Be understanding to their needs, too. Your partner may also be experiencing birth trauma, especially if they were by your side when you gave birth.
* Your support group. This could include your doula, friends, family, parenting group, religious group, etc.
* Find a therapist. This isn't a bad thing, I promise. I remember thinking when I called a therapist for the first time, "Ugh, do I really have to go?" And yes, I really had to go!
* Keep a journal!
* Figure out what works for you and what helps you feel better. (Check out our Healing pages!) For some, it's artwork. For others, music helps. And others might enjoy making music. It's okay to have a "vice" that can help you 'snap out' of a PTSD or PPD spell. And it's a good thing to have something in place you can utilize for those times.
* Learn your triggers. With PTSD especially, we have to be aware of what triggers us and either avoid or overcome those situations.
* Share your triggers and "feel better aids" with your partner and those close to you so they can help you along your healing journey.
This is a growing list. What would you add?