Listen to Episode 43 for Interview Part 1 here and Episode 44 for Part 2 here.
Our Interview today is with Mom and Licensed Professional Counselor Martha Burke. We are going to talk about a much-needed topic—and that is mental health, pertaining specifically to moms….
Interview Part 1:
- Body Image/destructive self-comparison. We all struggle with the “mom bod” and things not usually going back to they way they were before kids, but we must remember to have compassion on ourselves. Appreciate what your body has been through to bring your babies into this world! And remember: SOCIAL MEDIA “PERFECTION” is NOT REAL!
- Our Stories: Martha’s shares her story of walking through her anxiousness walking through initial infertility, and I share about walking through some pretty bad postpartum anxiety with my first child.
- Philippians 4:6-7 is a great promise to cling to! “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- Talking through Postpartum hormonal/situational mental health vs. clinical depression and anxiety. Situational is temporary, whereas clinical is not. What are the differences? Some Anxiety is normal, but an abnormal amount can happen and keep us from living the life God wants for us. Martha shares on this topic and how/when to reach out for help.
- Is it okay to be a Christian and struggle with this? YES! Absolutely. There is a reason there are many verses on worry and anxiety in the Bible. It doesn’t make you a bad Christian to struggle. If you need help, reach out!
Interview Part 2:
How to maintain a healthy mental state in Motherhood?
- Overcome “mom guilt” and take time for yourself and you will be a better mother for it!
- Stay in the Word and consistently in prayer!
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise. Just taking a walk alone or drinking more water, can help improve your mental state.
- Give counseling a try if you need someone to talk to that you can trust in confidence.
How do I communicate the way I am feeling with my family?
- With my spouse?
- What am I modeling to my kids?
- Is my mental state effecting the way I parent? If we can’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of our families.
How to Recognize a problem if a friend is struggling?
- Knowing when a friend needs encouragement/prayer and when it’s more serious and they need to get help.
- How do I connect them with someone? Connect them with a church staff member or Christian counselor. Below I included Martha’s contact information as well. She practices in the Memphis, TN area, but she can also zoom appointments from anywhere.
Martha Burke email: marthaburke@kardiacollective.com
Listen to Episode 43 for Interview Part 1 here and Episode 44 for Part 2 here.