SarahSantos

Sarah Santos is a married chiropractor living in Idaho. She had a daughter in November 2019. Despite fantastic support systems, she still found herself suffering from severe insomnia, a lack of appetite, a lack of a bond with her baby, anxiety, depression, OCD, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and eventually, thoughts (and intent/acts) of suicide. Due to the severity of these symptoms, she chose to place herself inpatient and receive the Zulresso infusion; and then continue with medication management and therapy upon release from the hospital. Her site exists to raise awareness to the number one complication of childbirth: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs); to stress the importance to providers of all types that treat women in their child-bearing years to know the signs and symptoms that they should be aware of and to be an ally for new mothers; to advocate for easier access to treatment as it truly took a team for Sarah to get care and that shouldn’t be the case; and for women to know that they shouldn’t feel any shame or guilt when asking for help. Women don’t ask for this. Never would a Mama want motherhood to look this way. But unfortunately it happens fairly frequently. However, there are great treatment options available that can help Moms get better! Please check out the “Resources” page as well as Sarah’s blog for more information, and reach out anytime.

Tailspin

How quickly your mind can put you right back on the bathroom floor, sobbing, hitting your forehead, speaking unkind words to yourself, wondering why, feeling like giving up, and yet, too exhausted to give up. Let me back up a little bit. Olivia’s 1st birthday was on the 7th. I was having a bit of … Read moreTailspin

September 8, 2020

Suicidal thoughts might sound something like this:   “I’m just so tired.” “I keep hoping I won’t wake up in the morning.” “This will never get better.” “I feel no joy.” “I want to disappear.” “Why can’t I just die?” “I’m so hopeless.” “I have no purpose.” “I wish something would happen to me so … Read moreSeptember 8, 2020

September 7, 2020

Maternal Suicide It’s astounding that the US does not report these rates; especially when in the postpartum period. I was almost a part of this group of statistics that don’t even exist. If we can’t acknowledge this is happening, how will treatment ever become more readily accessible? Moms are definitely not immune. The postpartum period … Read moreSeptember 7, 2020

August 2, 2020

Remembrance Wall I hate that this tribute has to exist. And yet it serves as an incredibly sobering reminder of the power of #PerinatalMoodandAnxietyDisorders (#pmads) and how your brain is altered. It’s hard to admit that I should be on this wall. BUT GOD.  I have an incredible tribe that came around me and ensured … Read moreAugust 2, 2020