PostPartum Depression

Hey guys and welcome to March.  I can't believe that March is here already, but that means that for us people who live in the north that the spring weather is just around the corner and hopefully we will get some warmer weather soon.  This month I'm going to be talking about mental health issues, that people face all the time, and my ways that I deal with them.  I am not a doctor, so don't take it like I have all the answers, but I'm just here to share my experiences and to make this blog an inviting place to share your stories and become friends.  Today we are going to talk about postpartum depression, which is a silent topic or a taboo topic, but should be brought to the surface because a lot of mothers face this issue and it can be a lonely place.


What is postpartum depression?
     -Postpartum depression is usually triggered by what people call "baby blues."  After you have a baby, sometimes you can just feel overwhelmed and just down and not yourself.  You feel like crying, you feel sad, you feel like you can't get out of bed, even though that now since your a mom, you really need to.  It can last for a long time.

My Story
    -When I had my son, I was fine for a few months, but then we started to get told that he had some medical issues, and not just a little but a lot.  We were always taking him to the doctor, and I felt really sad.  I got to one point where I didn't want to hold him, or be around him, because I just was sad.  I was overwhelmed with everything I had to do.  Now, you might think, ok that sounds like depression, but the main difference is...depression is usually triggered from every day life, where as postpartum is triggered from becoming a parent and realizing that you now have another human being that you are responsible for, on top of everything else you have going on in your life.  I'm not completely over it, but I can say that I can  live my life better.  I love my son, I love playing with him and watching him learn new things, and just being around him, because he is such a happy child.

Ways that helped me cope

      1) Recognize that I had it. 
                 - I went to see my doctor, who talked to me about this, and said that a lot of mothers deal with this.  It's completely normal and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
      2) Find enjoyment in your child or children.
                 -Everyday I find something that I love about my child. That might sound stupid because you are supposed to love your children all the time, but as moms, sometimes we have to take a step back and find what it is about that child that makes us get out of bed everyday and be the best parent we can be.  The one thing about my child is his smile.  He is so happy and just makes everyone around him happy and smile, and I love that about him.  I hope that he never loses that happiness inside of him because it's so precious.
      3) Take care of yourself.
                 -Taking care of yourself as a mother is very important.  You want to make sure you are the healthiest, happiest, best mother you can be to your child because they depend on you.  Alot of the times, we mothers, put ourselves last and we forget about our own happiness, but we need our time.  I've started to take time for myself everyday.  I ask my husband or my parents to take Liam for a few hours or 10 minutes, so that I can be by myself, whether that is to write, or read, or sing or play my piano or do yoga, or watch a movie or a tv show or just to sit and breathe and listen to music.  Whatever it is, it's my time for me.  It's my way of taking care of myself so I can be happy and take care of my child.
       4) Talk to  friends or family members about it.
                   -Talking can really help.  If you know any other mothers who have gone through this, they can really help you seek help or atleast find your happiness again.  Even if all they do is text you for an hour or so and talk to you, that can really help and lift your spirits.  Don't be afraid to tell them what has been going on with you, so they can be there to help out if you need it.
      5) Get medical help.
                 -Medical help is not always a bad thing.  There are some people out there that need that in order for them to deal with it and that is ok.  Personally I don't like taking medications, so I try natural ways to deal, but if you really can't find those natural ways or if they are not helping, seek professional medical help and be there for your child or children.
     6) Enjoy life.
                 -Find something in life that you enjoy and embrace it.  Life is precious and it's short and it should be enjoyed with your family and friends.  Don't be afraid to do spontaneous things with your kids....they will appreciate it when they get older.  But be happy and live life.


That's all for this one.  I hope you all got something out of it, and if there are any moms out there, who have suffered from this and you feel ok with sharing your stories, please do....It's something that is so silent and we want to help those out there and let you know that you are not alone in this.



Reference:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/basics/definition/con-20029130

What I'm currently reading to finish out the month of February

This is about a girl, who's life is confused, so she goes to this house to find a place to live, and this old lady ends up telling her that she can stay for 90 days.  No more and no less, and this is because it gives her time to figure her life out again and figure out her next move.  The interesting part is that the house has powers, and everyone who has entered it and left, has left feeling better and knowing what their next plan is.  So far I'm really enjoying it, and interested to see how the story unfolds. 

Pride and Prejudice...best classical book and movie ever in my opinion.

This book is a self-help book that teaches you how to enjoy and love your life.  She talks about the different ways that can steal your joy and make you view your life as a miserable thing, when really if you just relax and learn to love and appreciate life, it can be a beautiful thing.

That's all for this post, and that ends this theme for this month.  Next month I think I'm going to do Mental Health Awareness Month.  Throughout the month, I'm going to be talking about the different mental health issues that not only have I faced, but also what other's have or might have gone through.  In these post, I will most likely have ways to deal with it, and different things that you can try to enjoy your life better. I will post some advice, be answering some questions and just overall be a friend to you all.  This will start March 1, 2016 which is next Tuesday, so if there is anything that you have been struggling with, that you would like me to talk about or share your story, please let me know in the comments, or write me an email at: lilvina25@gmail.com and label it Mental Health Awareness Month for March topic.  So share with your friends, stay tuned, show them my blog if you have liked it,and I will see you all next week :)

BOOK TABLE TOUR

Hey everyone...welcome back to It Is Well...With My Soul...February Book Month.  So today I'm going to show you my book table.  I have all my books on a table because I don't have a bookshelf that can hold all of my books...so let's get into it.


So it's kind of blurry, I don't really have a great camera right now and I did everything I know what to do to try and make it not blurry but it didn't work...but here's how they go:

Back row left: Classic books, and my husband's books
Back row center: All of my Christian contemporary books
Back row right: All of my Christian books and bibles
Front row Left and Center: Contemporary books and Series
Front row right: audio books and smaller books

I also keep wipes and diapers, nail stuff, planner stuff and random extra stuff.  On the right...I keep bookmarks, tissues, and other random stuff.

So that is it for today's post.  Let me know in the comments, what you have on your bookshelf.

My Reading Routine

Hi everyone, so today I will be sharing my reading routine.  Now keep in mind, this is how I read, if you don't do this, that is ok, everyone is different.  Before I get into this, I have been sick for a few weeks now, and so I haven't put up any posts.  I'm not really feeling any better, but I wanted to share this with you, in case any of you wanted to know how to get started with reading...without further adew, let's get into it....shall...we :)


1st step: I get into comfy clothes:
    -I hate wearing jeans when I'm going to sit down and read a book, so I get out my sweatpants, my sweat shirt, comfy socks and that is what I wear.

2nd step: I get something to drink:
     -Now I love having something to drink.  Normally I grab a hot tea of some sort, but sometimes I go for a hot chocolate.  I'm not really a coffee drinker so that doesn't really cross my paths, but if you are...then go for it :)

3rd step: I grab something to eat:
     -Normally I just grab a snack...most of the times it's oreos because those are my guilty pleasures.

4th step: I turn on some soothing music:
     -Now I love reading to music...however I love reading to soothing, soft music.  Normally I listen to classical music, sometimes I listen to jazz, or meditation music, but I always listen to instrumental music.  I never listen to anything with words or people singing, because that distracts me and I can't concentrate on my book.

Last: After I have all my stuff around, I curl up on the couch, the bed or a comfy chair, snuggle up in a blanket, and I'm ready to read.

Note:
I'm a mother so I normally read while my toddler is taking a nap or when he is bed for the night.  But if you don't have any children, then you can read whenever.

Ok hope this gave you some inspiration, to start a great book.  If there are any topics dealing with reading that you want me to cover for the month of February, let me know in the comments below.  If you have a reading routine, please share, I would love to hear from you.  Til next time....

Books I'm reading for February and The Rainbowthon Reading Challenge February 7-14th

Hello everyone, so here are the books I'm planning on reading for February, and I'm also going to talk about a challenge that if you would like to participate, feel free.  Here we go....

The Rainbowthon 2.0 Challenge: February 7-14

This challenge is where you read the books of the rainbow.  So you can read 6 books for each of these colors: Red, Orange, Blue, Purple, Yellow, and Green, or you can pick 4 books that coordinate with one color like blue.  These books you try and read from February 7-14th.  This challenge was thought of by these youtubers:  

Kayla: https://www.youtube.com/user/BOOKadoo...
Jillian: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aR...
Lainey: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWEb...
Riley: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfyr...

They started it last year on youtube, and it was very popular so they are doing it for 2016.  If you would like to participate, go right ahead...in the comments below, let me know what books you will be reading for that week, and what color scheme, or colors you have chosen for your books. And if you don't get to those books for that week, it's ok, just read them for the month of February. :)

These are the books that I'm reading for this challenge.  I have chosen the colors orange and red because my books went with those colors.

Prairie Tale
By Melissa Gilbert

A Girl Like Me
By Ni-Ni Simone

Soul Stealer
By Martin Booth

The Elite
By Kiera Cass
2nd book in the trilogy

February Book Month

Hello everyone and welcome back to It is Well...With my Soul blog.  So we wrapped up New Year-Better You January Month Series, and now we are into February.  So just a little update because I've gotten some people who really loved last month's theme.  First, I'm glad you loved it, and I will continue to post positive things because I love those types of blogs, and two, my toddler has been sick for awhile so I haven't been writing much on here, and I've also been reading a lot and doing a lot of homework.  So without further adew...let,'s go into this month.  This month, I've decided is going to be book month, because I've been reading so much lately, that I just couldn't help but do Book Month, and share books with you.  Now I may not do reviews because I'm really bad at describing things, so I might just do a copy and paste with the URL of the summary so that you all don't have to try and figure out what I'm saying LoL. So starting off today I'm going to show you the books that I've read in January of 2016. In the next post, I'm going to show you  the books that I'm going to be reading for February of 2016, and also, share with you  a challenge that I want to try and if you want to try, feel free and try.  Here we go....

The Selection book 1 of 3
By Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green

 http://www.kieracass.com/books/

 The Fault In Our Stars is a fabulous book about a young teenage girl who has been diagnosed with lung cancer and attends a cancer support group.

Hazel is 16 and is reluctant to go to the support group, but she soon realises that it was a good idea. Hazel meets a young boy named Augustus Waters. He is charming and witty. Augustus has had osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, but has recently had the all clear.

Hazel and Augustus embark on a roller coaster ride of emotions, including love, sadness and romance, while searching for the author of their favourite book. They travel to Amsterdam in search of Peter Van Houten the author of An Imperial Affliction. While on their trip Augustus breaks some heartbreaking news to Hazel and both of their worlds fall apart around them.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/17/review-fault-in-our-stars-john-green

Helen Of Troy
By Margaret George

With her amazing ability to summon the voices of historical characters, Margaret George tells the story of the woman whose face "launched a thousand ships" in Helen of Troy. Laden with doom, yet surprising in its moments of innocence and beauty, this is a beautifully told story of a legendary woman and her times. An exquisite page-turner with a cast of irresistible characters--Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Priam, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, as well as Helen and Paris themselves--and a wealth of material that reproduces the Age of Bronze in all its glory, Helen of Troy brings to life a war that we have all learned about but never before experienced.

http://www.amazon.com/Helen-Troy-Margaret-George/dp/0143038990/ref=sr_1_1/179-1311440-7908709?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454782514&sr=1-1&keywords=helen+of+troy+margaret+george

These are the books I read in January of 2016.  With the picture is the title, author, and summary with the URL so that it's not plagiarism.  Go check out the next post for the ones I'm reading in February.  

What books did you read in January?

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January: New Year-Better You Month Series: 6 Ways to Boost Your Mood

Hello everyone and welcome back to January: New Year-Better You Month series. So just like everyone else, I get in those days where I'm not feeling good, I'm not feeling my best or I'm just in a bad mood all together.  Feeling like this is ok, as long as you are able to get yourself out of it. So here are my 6 ways that I use to help me get out of those moods and into a better one.

1)  Spending time with God/reading and inspirational blog, post or picture. I love doing this because God is amazing.  When I spend time with the Lord, I instantly feel better.  Even if you don't believe in God, then tell him why you don't believe in him, and he will answer you and listen to you.  When I talk to God, I talk to him like I'm talking to a friend.  He knows exactly what to say, and how to just lift my mood so that I can be the best version of myself I can be, and so I can bless others. And if that doesn't help, then I go online, usually pinterest and look up inspirational quotes, or blogs or pictures.  Always makes me feel so much better.

2) Reach out to a friend.  I don't do this all the time, but when I need to feel better, I try to get in touch with a friend and talk.  Whether that is silly talk or serious talk or whatever it may be...just say Hi to a friend, say I'm thinking of you.  By doing this, it will make you feel so much better and just be in a much positive mood because you were being nice and generous and thinking of others.

3) Listen to a positive video or podcast or music.  I love doing this; lately I've been listening to Joyce Meyers...if you don't know about her, look her up on Youtube, she is really good and is very relatable.  But I love listening to her and just soaking in all that she says.  Also I love music, I've been listening to a lot of Selena Gomez, and demi Lovato and some more uplifting music.  But by listening to uplifting music or a podcast, it sets your mind to a more positive state and just boosts your mood.

4) Read, drink tea or do something you love.  I love reading as well as tea and things I love.  Reading to me is really soothing and lets you be somewhere else instead of where you are at.  I love reading with some soft instrumental piano music playing and it just really makes me happy. I also love drinking tea and doing something I love...just makes me happy, and that's what we want...right :)

5) Spending time with family and friends.  Now this goes back to reaching out to a friend, but also spending time with friends and family is just amazing.  They usually know how to get you feeling happy and just thankful that you are alive and have the opportunity to spend time with them.

6) Go outside.  I love going outside, even if it's just stepping outside for 2 seconds.  Just to let the air get into your lungs and just feel good.  My favorite season is fall season because of all the leaves and the weather, but it is winter here so I just step out on my porch and just breathe in the fresh crisp winter air. I also love going outside with my son, just to spend time with him and watch him play.

Remember Happiness is a choice, not a chore or a result.  Nothing will make you happy unless you create it and choose to be happy.  It's not a chore, that you have to do, it's a decision that can change the way you look at life.