The Mumologist- 5 Questions

Me and Social Media.

To mark #mentalhealthawareness The Mumologist invited me and a number of others to share our experiences of mental health and social media. How social media has played a role in our mental health journey by answering 5 questions.

Below are my 5 questions and answers, and you can view the full series here.

What made you start sharing your mental health experiences online?

After the birth of my first son I had a difficult time processing his birth which lead to a PTSD diagnosis. I joined Instagram on a whim. I connected with those bravely sharing their battles which encourage me to start a blog and then candidly share my mental health experiences.

What have been the pros for you?

Knowing I am not alone, knowing I am helping others. Knowing that I am normalizing talking openly about mental health. Finding a support network.

What have been the cons for you?

At times social media can be a drain. It can lead to an inferiority complex when I am at my most vulnerbale , comparing myself to those glossy flat lay squares without taking into account the real life behind the squares. It has also been daunting for those in my life to read and what they may think of me.

Did your sharing online lead you to making any real life changes?

Yes. Joining Instagram I connected with other NICU/CHD parents and began to feel "normal". I also began to learn the signs to look out for, to not to be ashamed of my mental health issues or the fact I was on/needed medication. I knew when to get help when before I didn't and it festered. I became better educated and equipped because of others sharing their experiences.

Did it lead you to making any decisions about accessing professional or medical help?

Yes. I am now in therapy - something I wouldn't have approached beforehand. I saw others talking of the benefit of therepy which promoted me to start it too.

Comments

The time Fajita night resulted in having a baby in a bath.

The newest Cockerill Do you all remember my ever so optimistic natural birth plan? You can read it here. However, spoiler alert, it didn’t happen. What did happen was something no one was expecting. Wednesday the 5 th July… a mundane sort of day spent cleaning the house and doing the weekly shop. With Greg going back to work the next day I was determined to make sure everything was ready for when this baby arrived! I was three days off my due date and still hadn’t had one single sign this baby was imminently coming. I had been receiving messages from quite a few people asking if baby was here yet. I was getting fed up as everything I had tried to induce labour failed miserably and every morning for the last two weeks I woke up disappointed I wasn’t in labour! I gave up, walking didn’t help, pineapple made me sick and I was beginning to tire of the raspberry leaf tea. This baby was staying put. In the evening I put Elijah bed, and we began to settle down for the eveni...

#bigkidsforgosh

I am sitting on the sofa with C Beebies blasting out and I look to my right, I feel a little hand grab mine. Elijah looks up at me and says, ‘Mummy’. This is one of those things that happens about a hundred times a day, but now and again I really take stock of them. I sweep his fringe out of his eyes and give him a little hug. There was a time that I may not have ever been able to do this. To be able to raise my (nearly) two-year-old as a normal, happy and healthy little boy. He may not have even be here at all. I am only able to do this because of Great Ormond Street Hospital. After Elijah’s diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot at birth, after his admission to NICU we had always known he needed open heart surgery to repair his heart. To put it simply, to save his life. Being a mother to Elijah means everything to me. GOSH saved my family. It was scheduled to be around the 6 month of age mark that he would have this surgery, from the latest consultant appointment a...

The one with Elijah's heart surgery.

We were back. April 22-28 2015, a year ago this weekend. In just two short weeks since we last went down to London. We had to go down the day before and check in and have another blood test. As all of the forms had been signed last time, we were out again within an hour or so. Back to the same family accommodation, in a different room and with a lot less luggage. Something felt different this time, although I didn't want to believe it was going ahead in the event it was cancelled again, deep down I knew it would be. The morning of the surgery I knew how I would feel as we had been through this all before. I didn't want to go out for a meal so we ate in the hotel room watching ch5 rubbish after Elijah went down in the travel cot. Its odd that through the whole pre admission, cancelled op and the actual operation I can remember what shit we watched on TV and what we ate for tea that night. One of those weird things that just sticks in your head. Sort of like when you remem...

Vicki Cockerill - NICU MUM Blog

Search This Blog