Category: Healing

Motherhood is a beautiful and transformative experience, but it can also be challenging and overwhelming, especially when it comes to mental health. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around mental health, and mothers are often hesitant to seek help for fear of being judged or seen as a failure. In this article, we will explore the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health in motherhood and seeking support when needed.

The reality is that motherhood can be stressful, and it is not uncommon for mothers to experience mental health challenges. According to the American Psychological Association, up to one in seven women experience postpartum depression, and many more experience anxiety, mood disorders, and other mental health challenges throughout motherhood. These challenges can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal changes, lack of sleep, isolation, and the pressure to be the perfect mother.

Despite the prevalence of mental health challenges in motherhood, there is still a stigma around seeking help. Many mothers feel ashamed or embarrassed about their mental health struggles, and they may worry that seeking help will make them appear weak or incompetent. This stigma can be especially prevalent in communities of color, where there may be cultural and societal pressures to appear strong and resilient at all times.

However, the reality is that seeking help for mental health challenges is a sign of strength and resilience, not weakness. It takes courage to admit when something is not right and to take steps to address it. By seeking help, mothers can get the support they need to overcome their challenges and become better mothers to their children.

So how can mothers break the stigma around mental health and seek support?

The first step is to recognize that mental health challenges are normal and that seeking help is a sign of strength. It is important to remember that seeking help does not make a mother a failure, but rather a proactive step towards becoming a healthier and happier parent.

The second step is to find a support system. This can be a trusted friend or family member, a therapist or counselor, or a support group for mothers such as the Kuponya Group. It is important to find someone who can provide a safe and non-judgmental space for sharing and listening.

Additionally prioritizing self-care is so important. Mothers often put the needs of their children and families before their own, but it is crucial to take time for oneself. This can include practicing mindfulness, getting regular exercise, engaging in creative activities, or simply taking a break when needed.

Fourthly, It is also important to create a support system that includes healthcare professionals. This can include a primary care physician or OB/GYN, as well as a mental health professional. These professionals can provide screening and treatment for mental health challenges, as well as referrals to specialists if needed.

Lastly, it is important to recognize that seeking help is an ongoing process. Mental health challenges may come and go throughout motherhood, and it is important to continue seeking support as needed. This may involve regular check-ins with a mental health professional or participating in a support group.

Breaking the stigma around mental health in motherhood is crucial for the well-being of mothers and their families. By recognizing that mental health challenges are normal and seeking support when needed, mothers can become better equipped to handle the stresses and challenges of motherhood. This can lead to happier, healthier families and a brighter future for all.

In conclusion, motherhood can be challenging, and mental health challenges are not uncommon. However, there is still a stigma around seeking help, which can prevent mothers from getting the support they need. By breaking the stigma and seeking support, mothers can become better equipped to handle the challenges of motherhood and become happier, healthier parents. It is time to prioritize mental health in motherhood and create a supportive and non-judgmental space for mothers to seek help when needed.

With Love, Lakischa Smith

Meet Lakischa Smith, a proud mother and a dedicated public health advocate. With a Bachelor’s from Dillard University and a Master’s in Public Health from Florida International University, she’s committed to sharing honest narratives about black motherhood. Lakischa believes in fostering sisterhood to combat the pervasive forces of white supremacy, and empowering African American women to be agents of change for future generations. She asserts that recognizing and addressing our community’s struggles is crucial, for healing is the key to moving forward. Armed with the power of education and a deep belief in collective action, Lakischa is determined to ensure that the issues impacting African American motherhood aren’t just seen—they’re addressed and resolved.

Growing up with a narcissistic parent can be a traumatic experience. Narcissistic parents are often manipulative, controlling, and emotionally abusive. They may make their children feel like they are never good enough and can leave a lasting impact on their self-esteem and mental health.

However, there are ways to combat the effects of growing up with a narcissistic parent. Here are some tips for dealing with the aftermath of narcissistic parenting:

1. Seek Support

One of the most important things you can do is to seek support from others. Whether it’s talking to a therapist, joining a support group, or confiding in a trusted friend, it’s important to have people in your life who can offer you validation, understanding, and emotional support.

2. Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is crucial when dealing with a narcissistic parent. This means being clear about what you will and will not tolerate, and communicating those boundaries in a firm but respectful way. It may also mean limiting contact with your parent, especially if they continue to be emotionally abusive or manipulative.

3. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is an essential practice for anyone, but it’s especially important for those who have experienced narcissistic parenting. This means taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. It may involve things like exercise, meditation, therapy, or spending time with people who make you feel good about yourself.

4. Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Children of narcissistic parents often internalize the negative messages they receive, leading to a negative self-image and low self-esteem. It’s important to challenge these negative beliefs and replace them with more positive and affirming self-talk. This may involve seeking the help of a therapist or practicing self-compassion and self-love.

5. Forgive Yourself

It’s important to remember that none of what happened was your fault. Children of narcissistic parents often blame themselves for their parent’s behavior, but it’s important to recognize that you were not responsible for your parent’s actions or feelings. It’s important to forgive yourself for any mistakes you feel you made, and to focus on moving forward and creating a positive future for yourself.

In conclusion, growing up with a narcissistic parent can be a traumatic experience, but there are ways to combat the effects of narcissistic parenting. Seeking support, setting boundaries, practicing self-care, challenging negative self-talk, and forgiving yourself are all essential steps in healing and moving forward. Remember, you are not alone, and there is hope for a brighter future.

With Love, Lakischa Smith

Meet Lakischa Smith, a proud mother and a dedicated public health advocate. With a Bachelor’s from Dillard University and a Master’s in Public Health from Florida International University, she’s committed to sharing honest narratives about black motherhood. Lakischa believes in fostering sisterhood to combat the pervasive forces of white supremacy, and empowering African American women to be agents of change for future generations. She asserts that recognizing and addressing our community’s struggles is crucial, for healing is the key to moving forward. Armed with the power of education and a deep belief in collective action, Lakischa is determined to ensure that the issues impacting African American maternal health aren’t just seen—they’re addressed and resolved.

Epigenetics is a big word that may seem hard to understand, but it’s actually a really cool and important topic that affects Moms of color and their children. In fact, epigenetics can explain how some things that happened to our ancestors can still affect us today!

First, let’s talk about what genes are. Genes are like the blueprint for our bodies. They determine things like our eye color, hair color, and even how tall we are. We inherit genes from our parents, but did you know that we can also inherit something called epigenetic changes from our parents too?

Epigenetics is like a little switch that can turn our genes on or off. These switches can be turned on or off by things like our environment, diet, and lifestyle. But here’s the really cool part: these switches can also be turned on or off by things that happened to our ancestors!

For Moms of color, this is especially important to understand because some harmful experiences like racism, poverty, and trauma can leave a mark on our genes that can be passed down to our children. This means that the things that our ancestors went through can still affect us today.

But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that we’re stuck with these harmful marks on our genes forever. In fact, by understanding epigenetics, we can take steps to protect our children and future generations.

One of the most important things we can do is to make sure that we take care of ourselves and our children. This means eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and finding ways to reduce stress. When we take care of ourselves, we’re not only protecting our own health but also the health of future generations.

Another important thing we can do is to create a positive and supportive environment for our children. Studies have shown that a supportive and loving environment can actually help to turn off harmful switches that may have been turned on by our ancestors.

It’s also important to remember that we’re not alone. By connecting with other Moms of color and seeking out resources, we can find support and guidance on how to protect our children and future generations.

In conclusion, epigenetics is a really cool and important topic that affects Moms of color and their children. It can explain how some harmful experiences from our ancestors can still affect us today. But by understanding epigenetics, we can take steps to protect our children and future generations. By taking care of ourselves, creating a positive and supportive environment, and connecting with others, we can help to break harmful cycles and create a brighter future for our children.

With Love, Lakischa Smith

Meet Lakischa Smith, a proud mother and a dedicated public health advocate. With a Bachelor’s from Dillard University and a Master’s in Public Health from Florida International University, she’s committed to sharing honest narratives about black motherhood. Lakischa believes in fostering sisterhood to combat the pervasive forces of white supremacy, and empowering African American women to be agents of change for future generations. She asserts that recognizing and addressing our community’s struggles is crucial, for healing is the key to moving forward. Armed with the power of education and a deep belief in collective action, Lakischa is determined to ensure that the issues impacting African American maternal health aren’t just seen—they’re addressed and resolved.

Motherhood is a journey that requires courage, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to breaking cycles of harm. For mothers of color, this journey can be especially challenging as it often means confronting generations of trauma and harmful practices. But the reward of breaking those cycles and creating a better future for our children is immeasurable.

As mothers, we must be willing to do the work. We must be willing to educate ourselves, to reflect on our own experiences, and to make changes even when it feels uncomfortable. This journey will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

It takes a great deal of strength to break cycles of harm. For many mothers of color, the harm is not only physical but also emotional and psychological. It is passed down from generation to generation, often in the form of beliefs and practices that we may not even be aware of.

It takes courage to confront this harm and to make the decision to do things differently. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to examine our own experiences and beliefs, and to make changes that may feel uncomfortable or challenging.

But the reward of breaking those cycles is immeasurable. We are not only creating a better future for our own children but also for future generations. We are healing wounds that have been open for far too long and creating a legacy of strength and resilience.

This journey requires a spiritual foundation. It requires us to connect with our inner strength, to rely on our faith, and to draw on the power of our ancestors. Our ancestors have walked this path before us, and their strength and resilience live on in us. We must honor them by continuing the work of breaking harmful cycles and creating a better future.

It is important to acknowledge that this journey will not be easy. There will be setbacks, there will be days when we feel like giving up. But we must not quit. We must keep going, even when it feels like we’re making little progress. We are breaking toxic cycles that have been passed down for generations, and that is no easy feat. But our dedication is what will create lasting change.

When we break cycles of harm, we are not only creating a better future for our children but also for ourselves. We are releasing ourselves from the grip of harmful beliefs and practices that may have been holding us back. We are creating space for healing and growth, both for ourselves and for our children.

This journey requires a commitment to self-growth and an openness to change. We must be willing to educate ourselves, to seek out resources that are geared towards mothers of color, and to reflect on our own experiences. We must also be willing to make changes, even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging.

One of the most important things we can do in this journey is to create a support system. Surrounding ourselves with people who support our growth as mothers can be incredibly helpful. This can include other mothers of color, family members, friends, or even a therapist. It is important to have people who we can turn to for advice, encouragement, and accountability.

Practicing mindfulness is also important in this journey. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and aware of our thoughts and feelings. It can help us to be more intentional in our interactions with our children and to respond to them in a calm and loving manner. Practicing mindfulness can also help us to break the cycle of harmful practices by allowing us to pause and reflect before reacting.

We must also be willing to celebrate our successes, no matter how small they may seem. Recognizing the progress that we have made and the positive impact that it is having on our children and our families can be incredibly motivating. It reminds us that our efforts are making a difference and encourages us to keep going.

With Love, Lakischa Smith

Meet Lakischa Smith, a proud mother and a dedicated public health advocate. With a Bachelor’s from Dillard University and a Master’s in Public Health from Florida International University, she’s committed to sharing honest narratives about black motherhood. Lakischa believes in fostering sisterhood to combat the pervasive forces of white supremacy, and empowering African American women to be agents of change for future generations. She asserts that recognizing and addressing our community’s struggles is crucial, for healing is the key to moving forward. Armed with the power of education and a deep belief in collective action, Lakischa is determined to ensure that the issues impacting African American maternal health aren’t just seen—they’re addressed and resolved.