Real life stories

"The way in which I manage is to listen to myself."

'To other parents with BPD, I would say, “You’ve got this!”'

"Medication was helpful but I didn’t start really getting better until I found my toy library and playgroup family."

"Medication was helpful but I didn’t start really getting better until I found my toy library and playgroup family."

"I found it difficult to find language and culturally appropriate resources to give them to them until I found the Chinese language information brochure on the PANDA website."

"For other parents experiencing something similar, my advice would be to ask for help and do it early."

"The person I spoke to listened patiently without any judgment, which gave me the space to express everything I had been holding in."

"The counsellor validated all my feelings and gave me the space to just blurt out everything that had been weighing on my mind."

"It was challenging when everything I had planned and hoped for was out of my control."

"My anxiety from her previous bottle-feeding aversion had manifested itself into a form of health anxiety. A simple snotty nose seemed like the end-of-the-world."

"Culturally safe to me means a supportive environment where active listening, empathy, and no questioning of my identity happens."

"The emotions I experienced in those first few months rocked me to my core."

"Eventually, you’ll look back and think, ‘Holy moly, I’ve survived! I’m a badass! I’m strong!’"

"It's okay to not be okay."

"The hospital was so accommodating to me."

"The hospital was so accommodating to me."

"It is possible to live a full life no matter the diagnosis. I have done it."

"Neurodivergent parents should not underestimate how their differences can enrich a baby’s world."

"On paper, my birth experience probably looked rather normal. It was traumatic for me."

I grieved the decision not to fall pregnant naturally and experienced a long acceptance period.

"We do lots of small things to get through the hard times and we now enjoy many wonderful times also."

"I would look at my baby and see my father and wonder ‘how could I ever love him?’. All while loving him more than anything and fearing that I would lose him too."

"Taking care of yourself is not selfish - it is imperative to ensuring that you are able to take care of your baby and your family!"

"I would hardly go outside because I was scared something bad would happen. I felt like I was the only person who could protect Lexi, putting a strain on my marriage. I was absolutely exhausted."

"One of the biggest challenges for me during the perinatal period was communicating with my wife."

I was fighting my own brain for more than two years, trying to get better and get back to my family.

I think maybe it's a male pride thing, but you just can't solve all your problems by yourself. You’ve got to reach out, especially when you feel like you’re both struggling.

The hardest step is reaching out.

Your room may be dark but there are plenty of others in there with you.

Get to know PANDA's community education volunteers

Get to know PANDA's volunteers.

"I had tried so hard to keep all the plates spinning but the compassion of that doctor really broke down my barriers."

"Maintaining good friendships is important, the greatest friends won’t care if they don’t hear from you for a week or two, they embrace and love you whenever you need it."

"Now that I communicate my needs with my family and loved ones, they show up for me in ways above and beyond what I ask."

"Always fit your own oxygen mask first - I can only bring full compassion and patience to others when I have given them to myself."

Natasha's experience with intrusive thoughts after her baby's birth.

Katy shares how birth trauma affected her postnatal mental health

Get to know PANDA's volunteers

Get to know PANDA's volunteers

Jenna shares advice for other LGBTIQA+ expecting and new parents

This is my story of how postnatal anxiety got the better of me and how I recovered from it

A dad's story of his journey recovery from postnatal depression

A story of hope and supporting a partners' journey of perinatal mental health, from a husband's perspective.

A story of managing the transition to parenthood and creating a support network.

A journey of postnatal psychosis and finding the support to feel well again.

A story about everyone’s recovery path being different and finding what works for you.

A real story written for anybody who needs to read it- my encouragement for you to seek the help you deserve.

Postnatal depression and adjusting to parenthood from a dad's point of view.

A brave story of anxiety during pregnancy and reaching out for help.

A journey of mental health during pregnancy with a second child.

A powerful story of not letting postnatal depression define your role as a mother.

Navigating grief in the perinatal period.

Experiencing a traumatic birth.