Creating with your hands is a wonderful way to enter into the experience of the essential flow state. To be fully immersed in flow state is to be so absorbed in your task that you lose self-consciousness, your emotions are positively engaged and and you experience deep satisfaction. Developing a hobby is a good way to define a sense of sefl around positive experiences, outside of depression, postpartum depression and anxiety.

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Mom’s voice is perfection to her baby

 

Today I am pleased to have Matt Logan, MA, MT-BC, a board-certified music therapist, offer a guest post about the enhancing effects of music for the mother-baby relationship. Matt writes knowledgeably about the positive effects of music on our emotions and physiology. He works as a music therapist at a children’s hospital in Oakland, California., with kids of all ages and backgrounds and he loves this work! He runs two websites: A Perfect Lullaby and Music Therapy Source.

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Today I’m participating in Kathy Bender’s of Bereaved and Blessed “Time-Warp Tuesday” exercise. The idea is to reflect on a past blog post. This month’s theme is Decisions.

Beginning to process this enormous event

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Behind the Scenes

Spotlight: Leslie Butterfield, Ph.D.

Biography: Leslie Butterfield, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist specializing in pre and perinatal psychology and women’s health. She also works tirelessly in several not-for-profit organizations. She is on the Board of the Prevention and Treatment of Trauma in Childbirth (PaTTCH) and volunteers in various capacities for Postpartum Support International (PSI), including serving as the Chair of the 2011

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Gardening is my favorite spring  “mindbody relaxation therapy”!

I love spring in the garden, the plants are beginning to push out from the soil.  Here are some shots from around my garden. It’s a work in progress, I live in deer country and it’s a struggle to find landscaping plants they don’t love as breakfast, lunch and dinner!

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Dedicated to Jo, my mom

Footie, I am 6

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Guest Post! PSI’s Valerie Rudiak!

Today I have the honor of hosting a story that looks at postpartum depression from a different angle; the angle of a friend looking in. Read Valerie Rudiak’s story about her relationships around the time of her wedding and what the cure for cluelessness is! Please join me in welcoming Valerie’s contribution to the Postpartum Support International’s 2013 Blog Hop! Speak Up When You’re Down!

The Clinically Proven Treatment for Cluelessness

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This is my creative arts workspace. 52 years ago, my mom, who is now 92, created this beautiful needlepoint cushion cover for her antique chair. I now use this chair when I work on my creative projects.  Mom had this chair in her bedroom for many years before she created the cushion. I remember the chair when I was a small child.    My mom was very creative. She did many quilts and needlepoints. I like to think I inherited my creativity and love of color and texture from her. My Dad was an opera singer, he was always singing in the house.

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Spring was a great time for Women’s Reproductive Health events in New Jersey. I was fortunate enough to attend and also was invited to present at La Leche League of the Garden State’s Annual Conference in Jamestown, New Jersey. I also went to an event hosted by St. Clare’s Hospital and the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey.

I had so much fun meeting and seeing some virtual colleagues/friends, such as Ruth Callahan and Colleen White at LLL and Ivy Shih Leung and Irina Polanco-Ventura at St. Clare’s, and of course meeting new ones! Apparently, St. Clare’s has a kick-ass postpartum depression group. I was so glad to get pointers on getting my group in Wayne, NJ going to be as kick-ass as that one!

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Guest Post Today! Megan Daley!

Today I have the honor of hosting Megan Daley’s deeply felt and informative story about her experience with postpartum depression and anxiety. Megan discusses the circumstances surrounding her children’s births and how her postpartum depression expressed itself as sadness and rage. She talks about how she was proactive enough to seek professional help. She is an inspiration to us all and a shining light in our world!

Please join me in welcoming Megan’s contribution to the Postpartum Support International’s 2013 Blog Hop! Speak Up When You’re Down!

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