I Wish I Knew…
What I wish I’d known before slipping down the rabbit hole that is perinatal mental illness. … Read More I Wish I Knew…
Why fed MUST trump breast
A mentally well mother is more important than a breastfed baby. What’s truly devastating is a motherless child. I had to abandon breastfeeding at four months in order to properly recover postnatal psychosis. I had become fixated on breastfeeding to my own detriment – and without the right medication I may have taken my life. … Read More Why fed MUST trump breast
A Tale of Two Cities
Before Perth there was Sydney. My other life. The life before marriage, before kids, before postnatal psychosis. I’d say before Bipolar but, if I’m being honest, I think all the signs were there – minus the mania. Sydney life revolved around my incredible group of friends. I was working for Aunty (the rather cliched pinnacle… Read More A Tale of Two Cities
Baby #2
Baby, Baby, Baby. On a sunny Autumn morning in Perth, my husband and I trundled up to the hospital that had been both my failure and saviour back in 2012 for “pre-conception counselling”. This is the result. … Read More Baby #2
Losing My Mind
In 2012, I spent four months in a Mother and Baby Unit following the birth of my son. I’d lost the plot. This is part of my story. … Read More Losing My Mind
Recovery and the silly season
I spent nearly four months in the MBU over two admissions. Then it was time take recovery home and celebrate our first family Christmas. … Read More Recovery and the silly season
A Time to Grieve
I’m eternally grateful for life, my changed mind, my perfect son and my insight. But I have grief.… Read More A Time to Grieve
Groundhog Day and recovery
Four months of my life gone. Newspapers read? None. News programs watched? None. Understanding of current world events? None. I can honestly say between August and November 2012 I had no idea what was going on in Perth, let alone the rest of the world. The MBU vortex had sucked away every last shred of… Read More Groundhog Day and recovery
Losing Cherie
One of the hardest things about my breakdown isn’t what you think. It wasn’t the mechanics of losing my mind. The weeks of mania or the months in hospital. Those things seem far more confronting and painful in hindsight. At the time, mania wasn’t particularly scary – in fact it gave me more energy and… Read More Losing Cherie
Fear and loathing
Some days I just want people to get what it’s like to be me on the crap days. I never write on those days – I literally can’t bring myself to. So here’s what it’s like from the perspective of a good day. … Read More Fear and loathing
A Mental Note for #mentalas
The truth I feel about my bipolar life.… Read More A Mental Note for #mentalas
