Fighting to Stay - One Mom’s Battle Out of Postpartum Darkness: Adriana’s Story

Fighting to Stay - One Mom’s Battle Out of Postpartum Darkness: Adriana’s Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2380787/fan_mail/new] In this deeply moving episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Adriana Sanchez, a stay-at-home mom and college student who shares her raw journey through two high-risk pregnancies, consecutive NICU stays, and severe postpartum mental health crises. Adriana opens up about how her "go with the flow" life shifted dramatically when her first baby arrived prematurely at 32 weeks. When her second pregnancy was complicated by severe preeclampsia at 28 weeks, she found herself in a terrifying spiral of panic attacks, suicidal ideation, and intrusive hallucinations.  This conversation shines a necessary light on the biological realities of PMHDS and serves as a vital reminder that fighting for your life sometimes looks like asking for professional help. Connect with Adriana on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/adri.velazquez.9]or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/adrivsanchez/].   Key Takeaways * The Myth of the Immunity Village: Even with a strong, loving support system, perinatal individuals aren't immune to severe physical and mental health crises. * Trauma Compounds: A previous traumatic birth or difficult trying-to-conceive journey can severely heighten anxiety and PTSD in subsequent pregnancies. * Postpartum Preeclampsia is Physical and Mental: Sudden spikes in blood pressure and aggressive medical treatments like magnesium drips cause severe physical dazes that deeply impact mental well-being. * Validation is the Turning Point: True healing often begins when a professional validates that your experience is biological and normal, stripping away the internal guilt and self-blame. Impactful Soundbites (29:44) Chelsea Myers: "Just because it's in your head doesn't mean it's not in your body either. It is insane what your mental health can do to your body." (42:17) Adriana Sanchez: "Get it out, take it off my hands and you fix me. For my husband, it was like me giving up, but no, it was me fighting for an answer, fighting for a treatment, fighting for validation." (46:22) Adriana Sanchez: "What could be wrong today is not what's gonna be wrong tomorrow. I just try to keep telling myself that I'm okay, and then just hug my kids." This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels. Visit our Patreon [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs! Support the show [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]  Special Thanks to Steve Audy [https://www.facebook.com/StevenAudy] for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health? Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch  [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/quietconnectionpodcast]

Quiet Confessions: In Honor of Birth Trauma Awareness Week

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2380787/fan_mail/new] Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of medical trauma, postpartum hemorrhage, psychiatric hospitalizations, and suicidal ideation. Please protect your mental health while listening. Welcome back to Quiet Confessions, a mini-episode of Quiet Connection where I sit down to chat one-on-one with you about my personal journey. In honor of Birth Trauma Awareness Week [https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/birth-trauma-awareness-week], I'm re-airing a deeply personal episode from season five. Today, we're talking about traumaversaries: the anniversaries of the hardest moments of our lives. For many birthing individuals and parents, these anniversaries are tied to perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs) and birth trauma. I'm sharing my own story, including my scheduled C-section that turned terrifying, a severe postpartum hemorrhage at home, surviving three psychiatric hospitalizations, and later facing a brain hemorrhage from a pituitary tumor. I open up about what it's like to live with PTSD, face flashbacks, and handle the heavy seasons on the calendar. There is no toxic positivity here. I won't tell you that everything happens for a reason. But I will tell you that you aren't alone, your feelings are entirely valid, and we can survive these hard seasons together.   Key Takeaways * What is a Traumaversary: A traumaversary is the anniversary of a traumatic event. For many parents and birthing individuals, these milestones are deeply tied to birth trauma and perinatal mental health challenges. * Chelsea’s Timeline of Survival: A look at how a scheduled C-section spiraled into a spinal headache, a life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage at home, severe PMHDs, three psychiatric hospitalizations, and eventually, a brain hemorrhage from a pituitary tumor. * The Reality of PTSD & Flashbacks: Trauma doesn't just disappear. Flashbacks can bring back the sights, smells, and physical sensations of the original trauma, especially when the anniversary season rolls around. * Saying No to Silver Linings: It's completely okay to hate "silver linings". You don't have to find a beautiful lesson in the worst things that happened to you. You didn't deserve it, but you can still find gratitude for where you are today without romanticizing the pain. * Tools for Navigation: Surviving a traumaversary means reminding yourself that you're safe, you aren't in that dark place anymore, and you're surrounded by love.    Soundbites * "A traumaversary is the anniversary of any form of trauma that happened to you... and that anniversary may bring about some big feelings. Or it may not. It's a deeply personal thing." * "I say I missed the first six months of my daughter's life due to my perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and being hospitalized for those several times." * "I hate silver linings. I don't like the idea of them. I feel like what I went through was not okay, and I didn't deserve it. You didn't deserve whatever it was that you went through, either." * "No, I'm not thankful for what happened to me, but I am grateful for what has come of it." * "If you have experienced trauma and you are triggered or much more aware of big feelings around the time of year that these things happened to you, I see you. Your feelings are so valid." This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels. Visit our Patreon [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs! Support the show [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]  Special Thanks to Steve Audy [https://www.facebook.com/StevenAudy] for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health? Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch  [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/quietconnectionpodcast]

Punk Rock, Irish Twins, and Postpartum Realities: Leah’s Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2380787/fan_mail/new] Have you ever felt like you should have it all figured out, only to find yourself crying on the bathroom floor? In this episode of Quiet Connection, I'm sitting down with the wonderful Leah Wright. She's a licensed clinical social worker, certified perinatal mental health therapist, and a mom of Irish twins. Even with a career dedicated to mental health, Leah found herself completely blindsided by the realities of postpartum anxiety, depression, and the "sundown scaries" after her first child was born. We dive deep into the unique pressures placed on mental health professionals, the toxic myths of instant maternal bonding, and the unacknowledged struggles that non-birthing partners face. Leah also opens up about the emotional parallel of navigating her son’s autism diagnosis and how she had to relearn to trust her own gut all over again. Whether you're dealing with perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDS), parenting a neurodiverse child, or just trying to find your footing with your partner after baby, this conversation is a gentle reminder that you don't have to carry it all perfectly. Key Takeaways * The Professional Blindspot: Having a degree or a background in mental health or education doesn't exempt you from experiencing the isolating reality of PMHDS or the grief of a child's diagnosis. * The Non-Birthing Partner's Journey: Partners and non-birthing parents go through massive environmental and emotional adjustments, and their mental health struggles are just as valid. * The Myth of Instant Bonding: It's incredibly common to feel fear, anxiety, and a sense of grief for your old life rather than a sudden, overwhelming wave of maternal bliss right away. * Parenting Neurodiversity: Comparing milestones between close-aged siblings can spark a resurgence of postpartum-like anxiety, making professional support and self-compassion vital. Visit Vermont Birth Network [https://www.vermontbirthnetwork.com/] to find local resources for the perinatal and postpartum period in the Green Mountain State. Support the show [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]  Special Thanks to Steve Audy [https://www.facebook.com/StevenAudy] for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health? Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch  [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/quietconnectionpodcast]

Quiet Confessions: Postpartum PTSD, Triggers, & Flashbacks Pt. 3

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2380787/fan_mail/new] In this solo mini-episode, I'm letting down the veil and sharing a very raw look at how postpartum PTSD still shows up in my life today.  This past weekend, our family celebrated the arrival of my new nephew. While I made a conscious choice to stay present and fully embrace this journey with my sister-in-law, holding that sweet, fresh newborn ended up opening a floodgate of unexpected emotions. I'm opening up about the painful realization of the missing memories from my youngest daughter's first few months of life, a time when mental illness and medical trauma kept me from being fully present.  We'll talk about what happens when a trigger catches you completely off guard, how I used my DBT skills to stay grounded, and the beautiful moment of connection that came from letting myself cry in the quiet space of our car ride home.  If you've ever felt like your healing journey's taking two steps forward and one step back, this episode's a gentle reminder that you aren't alone, and your feelings are entirely valid. Key Takeaways * Healing isn't a straight line: You can prepare yourself mentally for a situation and still find yourself blindsided by a full-body trauma response when you least expect it. * Grieving missing milestones is normal: It's completely valid to grieve the hazy or missing infant memories that were stolen by severe perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDS) or physical illness. * The impact of grounding tools: Utilizing daily DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills is essential for pulling your mind back to the present when your brain tries to drag you into past trauma. * Vulnerability strengthens partnerships: Allowing your partner or support system into your raw, unpolished moments can break down walls and spark deep, healing conversations. Support the show [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]  Special Thanks to Steve Audy [https://www.facebook.com/StevenAudy] for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health? Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch  [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/quietconnectionpodcast]

Parenting with Bipolar 2 and ADHD: Sarah Sherman’s Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2380787/fan_mail/new] What happens when your mental health journey starts long before you ever consider becoming a parent? In this episode of Quiet Connection, host Chelsea Myers sits down with author and mental health advocate Sarah Michelle Sherman. Sarah opens up completely about living with Bipolar 2 disorder and ADHD, and how those diagnoses shaped her path to motherhood. From the terrifying reality of early pregnancy loss to the agonizing decision to stay on psychiatric medications instead of breastfeeding—and navigating the public backlash that followed—Sarah shares the unfiltered truth of her experience.  This conversation is a beautiful, stigma-smashing reminder that taking care of your mental health is a fundamental part of taking care of your children. If you have ever felt isolated by intrusive thoughts, grief, or the heavy expectations of parenting, this episode will make you feel profoundly seen. Key Takeaways * Correct Diagnosis is Game-Changing: Sarah spent nearly ten years being treated for general depression and anxiety before receiving an accurate diagnosis of Bipolar 2 and ADHD, which completely transformed and saved her life. * Prioritizing Parental Mental Health is Best for the Child: Choosing to stay on necessary mental health medications rather than breastfeeding is a valid, loving choice that allows a parent to remain stable and present. * The Reality of Pregnancy After Loss: Experiencing a miscarriage can fundamentally change how a subsequent pregnancy feels, replacing typical milestones and excitement with intense anxiety and fear. * Holding Two Truths Simultaneously: A parent can love their child completely while also finding the daily reality of parenting to be exhausting, overwhelming, and incredibly difficult. * Writing and Truth-Telling as Healing Mechanisms: Sharing your story, vocalizing intrusive thoughts, and refusing to hide your reality can quiet the mind and build a vital community of support.  This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels. Visit our Patreon [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs! Support the show [https://patreon.com/user?u=96458539&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]  Special Thanks to Steve Audy [https://www.facebook.com/StevenAudy] for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health? Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch  [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/quietconnectionpodcast]