A Mother's Guilt

Often, when I learn more about the long term effects of maternal mood disorders on the health and development of children, I become very anxious that I have destroyed my children for life.

*** Next are the risks associated with UNTREATED maternal mood disorders on children ***

Short Term
Stress over-reactivity
Emotional and behavioral dysregulation
Disrupted brain development
Delayed learning
Delayed language
​Social disengagement

Long Term
Poor academic performance
Major depressive disorder
Internalizing and externalizing behavior
Need of special education or IEP
Delinquency
​Substance abuse

This can be pretty scary really!  

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Then I remember how brave I was to get help.  How important it was for me and my children that I sought medical treatment.  That I let go of my ego and stopped trying to "power" through.  By getting treatment, I took a huge step to reduce these risks and improve the health of my children.  This is the thread I hold onto when the guilt starts trying to eat me alive.  My saving grace.  

So to focus on the positives, I am sharing a few images of my beautiful, healthy children. Please feel free to share yours too!

Splashing in puddles with the kids,


Elizabeth 

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