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

Dear Elijah, on your fourth heart day

Elijah the heart hero never letting anything stop him. Today is your 4th heart day. It's 4 years since we took you down to Great Ormond Street for open heart surgery. It seems to have crept up on us again. Another whole year has passed but it hasn't changed how I feel about that day. Some have said that oh, by now surely you should have gotten over it after all it's been 4 years. The answer is I don't think I ever will. I have been thinking a lot about that day, where I signed the consent forms for them to take you and operate on you. To either save or take your life. That day was the worst of my life, the unknown certainty of whether you would come back up again. I held you as they put you to sleep. They gave me your dummy as they took you from me and laid you on the operating table as if you weighed nothing. I couldn't even kiss you goodbye in case it was the last time. That's why I won't ever get over it and those who have been in the

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

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 rememb

Vicki Cockerill - NICU MUM Blog

Search This Blog