Lauren didn’t think she was mentally ill. But she had planned to end her life, feeling like a failure and burden upon her family. She was suffering from severe postnatal depression after the birth of her daughter and a challenging pregnancy, but fortunately her family and the health services intervened in time. The date she had chosen came and went, and day by day she learned how to manage parenthood as she healed. She returned to work and fell in love with her daughter.

In this powerful episode, PANDAS staff member Lauren shares her experience of being victim to the cruellest form of mental illness as well as her escape to recovery. She turned her challenging experiences into positivity at PANDAS by working towards the recovery of every parent, deepening her relationships and experiencing a love for her family she never thought she would see.

It is possible to return from rock bottom and we hope Lauren’s story will inspire you.

If like Lauren you have questions about use of medicines in pregnancy, speak with your GP and look at the BUMPs website.

https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org

Find out more about PANDAS support groups on this link:

https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/how-we-can-support-you/support-groups/

This podcast series may and will include, from time to time, themes of the entire spectrum of mental illness. Themes may include suicide, baby loss, self -harm, domestic violence and upsetting topics. If you urgently need help, if you're in mental health crisis, please call the Samaritans on 116 123. Or the emergency services via 111 or 999.

Please note, you should always follow your GP or health practitioner's guidance for anything medically associated from conception onwards. The PANDAS Foundation does not advise on any medication.

https://pandasfoundation.org.uk

Contact PANDAS WhatsApp for support on 07903 508334 every day between 8am - 10pm

Samaritans 116 123

US: Postpartum Support International 1-800-944-4773

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Faye is one of PANDAS incredible volunteers, and her connection to the charity is personal.

After months of research, big decisions, uncertainty and longing, Faye and Jane finally became parents to their son through IVF. This was the beginning of their adventure into parenthood, but the strain of hormone treatments, endless scans and a global pandemic had meant the conception and pregnancy journey had been a strain on Faye’s mental health. Jane on the other hand, was facing her own journey of returning to work soon after maternity leave and forging a bond with her baby as his non-biological mum. Add to this the cultural and social experience of being a two-mum family in a home counties town and they had more than their fair share of challenges to face.

Hear how Faye and Jane overcame perinatal anxiety and mental health struggles to forge a stronger relationship with each other, their support networks and their beautiful son. They share their insights into conception, birth and beyond.

You can follow Faye on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mummyandothermummy/

This podcast series may and will include, from time to time, themes of the entire spectrum of mental illness. Themes may include suicide, baby loss, self -harm, domestic violence and upsetting topics. If you urgently need help, if you're in mental health crisis, please call the Samaritans on 116 123. Or the emergency services via 111 or 999.

Please note, you should always follow your GP or health practitioner's guidance for anything medically associated from conception onwards. The PANDAS Foundation does not advise on any medication.

https://pandasfoundation.org.uk

Contact PANDAS WhatsApp for support on 07903 508334 every day between 8am - 10pm

Samaritans 116 123

US: Postpartum Support International 1-800-944-4773

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor Dr Krystal Wilkinson is an advocate for change in the workplace after her own experiences of perinatal mental health opened her eyes to the value of supporting employees and employers for a positive transition.

Krystal shares her experiences of depression and how a supportive work environment helped her build back her confidence and recover. This inspired her work focussing on women’s reproductive and mental health in the workplace. She tells us about the report she received and the benchmarks of standards all employers should be setting for their teams.

She also discusses the misconceptions around Keeping in Touch or ‘KIT’ days and shares her thoughts on planning a successful return to work after parental leave.

You can find download PANDAS HR toolkit here:

https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/hr-toolkit/

This podcast series may and will include, from time to time, themes of the entire spectrum of mental illness. Themes may include suicide, baby loss, self -harm, domestic violence and upsetting topics. If you urgently need help, if you're in mental health crisis, please call the Samaritans on 116 123. Or the emergency services via 111 or 999.

Please note, you should always follow your GP or health practitioner's guidance for anything medically associated from conception onwards. The PANDAS Foundation does not advise on any medication.

https://pandasfoundation.org.uk

Contact PANDAS WhatsApp for support on 07903 508334 every day between 8am - 10pm

Samaritans 116 123

US: Postpartum Support International 1-800-944-4773

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.