Naturally managing perinatal mood disorders
Trigger Warning- talk of mental health disorders, mention of suicidal thoughts.
Continuing with this month’s theme of discussing perinatal mood disorders, I wanted to touch on the natural ways you can help manage your mental health. Please do not hear me say that you shouldn’t seek medical attention or not take medication- I believe the opposite! If you feel that is best for your health, then do that.
I know many people want natural solutions for a variety of reasons- cost of medication, history of their body not responding to medications well, a desire to live more naturally, etc. Whatever your reason, my desire for this blog post is to give you a starting point to seeking natural solutions for your mental health.
I don’t use or take any of these things perfectly- there are many days where I am struggling and I realize I’ve forgotten one or more of these things! And there are days where I try #allthethings and nothing seems to help. Again, these solutions aren’t perfect- but I do find that 90% of the time, for me, they have helped me greatly.
I’ve written before of my love for Young Living products. I’ll have many of them listed here, because they are what I have used most. Especially when using “natural” products, it’s important to make sure you’re getting high quality ones that you can trust. Supplements, vitamins and oils are an unregulated industry, so finding a reputable source for them is key. You’re also usually spending a pretty penny on these products- you want something that’s actually going to work! And for me, finding a company that practices environmental and societal ethics is really important- Young Living checks all of these boxes, which is why I choose them.
So- what exactly did I use to help manage my postpartum struggles?
Here’s a list of the following things I used and why I used them. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of the ways you can naturally manage your mental health- there are many more ways than I can think of to help yourself!
Omegagize- this an Omega-3 fish oil complex. Omega 3 is one of the most important supplements to take for skin, brain and heart health. One of my triggers during my postpartum was having dry hands, which I often got because of all the hand washing I had to do with young kids. This supplement kept my skin soft and my mind clear.
Super B- taking a B complex is incredibly important for your mental well being. Young Living combines this important vitamin with nutmeg, which supports adrenal health. Young moms can easily be plagued with adrenal fatigue due to contestant stress, little sleep and the tiring demands of having young children. This supplement is also super friendly to the wallet ($20 for 60 tablets), which makes it one of my favorites!
Sulfurzyme- this supplement comes in capsule and powder form. It’s made with MSM and wolf berries. Sulfurzyme is not only amazing for your skin, hair and nails (who else here has postpartum hair loss??), but also for your emotional state. I am not very familiar with the science behind it, but I know that on the days that I took Sulfurzyme, I did not have suicidal thoughts and my general outlook on life was better. It helped me in my mental struggles and for that, it’s a staple in my house.
Cortistop- cortisol can flood our systems when we are in a state of chronic stress- which for young parents is ALL THE TIME. Cortistop is a supplement that combines pregnenolone, herbs and essential oils to help the body maintain its natural balance. My stress level is so much better when I have this in my rotations
Progessence Plus- we all know our hormones can be a wreck after we have a baby. One of the hormones that can easily become depleted is progesterone. Progessence Plus is a serum made with naturally derived progesterone from yams to help women balance this important hormone. Many women have seen huge improvements in their mood, their cycle and their libido from using this regularly.
Valor Essential Oil Blend- this essential oil blend is formulated with blue tansy, black spruce, geranium and frankincense essential oils, all of which have emotional benefits. On days where my kids are throwing tantrums and I can’t seem to stay calm, I lather this over everyone. It helps us all to self regulate!
Endoflex Essential Oil Blend- The endocrine system is a messenger system comprising feedback loops of the hormones released by internal glands of an organism directly into the circulatory system, regulating distant target organs. It’s clearly an important system, especially after going through birth and postpartum! Endoflex is an essential oil blend specifically formulated to support this system.
CBD Calm- the benefits of CBD have become very well known over the last few years. Combined with some the best calming essential oils, they make for a powerhouse blend that is a godsend for those of us who have anxiety! I am never without this.
Vitamin D with vitamin K- we are woefully deficient in vitamin D as a people! While getting out in the sun is the best way to get vitamin D, that’s not always possible. Young Living does sell Super D, but I also like the Now brand from Amazon.
Chiropractic care- your spine is connected to your nervous system. If your spine is out of alignment, it will affect your ENTIRE body, including your brain health! Getting into a chiropractor is one of the most important things you can do for yourself postpartum.
Yoga- moving my body is always a sure fire way to make my day better. The rhythm and mindfulness yoga brings is doubly good for my mental health, especially on very stressful days.
Other tricks I pull out when I’m having a rough mental health day are:
Going for a walk- seriously, the best way for me to improve my bad mental health days is getting outside and into the sun! I always take my earphones (don’t worry, I’m very mindful of my surroundings) and I use that time to send voice messages to friends or catch up on my favorite podcast.
Getting away from my kids- I’m a SAHM mom and have been since my kids were born. I’m with them nearly 24/7- and while I love them dearly, I NEED breaks from them. Whether that’s sending them to their grandparents for the night or hiring a mothers helper to take them outside, having space from them greatly improves our relationship and my mental health. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for getting a well deserved break!
Being able to vent without judgement- whether it’s to a professional or a friend, verbally processing my frustrations is key for my mental and emotional well being. If I can’t talk through what I’m experiencing, I spiral quickly.
Outsourcing stressful tasks- one of the most freeing things I’ve done is to give someone a check to take care of my yard or the housework when I feel overwhelmed. I recommend finding a young teen who wants to earn a bit of cash to help you!
Giving yourself more grace than you think you need- seriously, you just had a baby. Your job is to keep that tiny person alive and to take care of yourself. Let everything go as much as you can! I wish I had done more of that.
I sincerely hope this list was helpful! If you can think of anything else I missed, please leave it in a comment below.
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