This year I set myself the challenge to feel the fear and do it anyway. To not let my worries prevent me from grabbing opportunities that may help me or possibly even others.
I have a long standing unease with public speaking, probably stemming from a lack of confidence, and for most of my life, I have activity avoided situations that would ask this of me. I decided no more; no longer would I be scared, but instead I would try to embrace these situations and see where they took me.
From reading my blog you may or may not be aware that I have PND. I have been affected since having Baby and, although I manage it for the most part adequately, it is still present in my life. I don’t write about the illness much on my blog, as I prefer to look at the positives of my life. However, a few weeks ago I received an email from Mumsnet who were seeking mums with PND who hadn’t sought help immediately. I didn’t seek my Doctor’s help until Baby was 7 months old, so I responded, then thought nothing more about it.
Then, earlier this week I was approached to do an interview with the Daily Mail. It would be focusing on the recent research which found that a third of all PND sufferers do not seek help from a medical professional. They are prevented from doing so by fears of being judged, feeling like they are letting their families down or over concerns they will be deemed an unfit mother and possible run the risk of having their child taken away from them.
I chatted to the journalist and the article is on the Daily Mail online if you fancy a read. Some of the comments on this piece are shocking and shows what a long way we still have to go in terms of support and understanding around PND. It is an illness, just like a broken leg, only you can’t physically see the damage.
Just as I was getting over being in a national paper (albeit online) Mumsnet called again this time with a request for a live radio interview. Alas not with my personal favourite Grimmy, but with the equally lovely Anne Diamond on BBC Radio Berkshire. The words live….radio….interview would have previously had me running for the hills, but I played my ‘feel the fear and do it anyway‘ mantra in my head a few times and agreed, before I had time to change my mind.
I would like to say I felt like a pro, however in reality I was petrified. Anne was really lovely though and apart from one moment, when I heard Baby shouting from downstairs, causing me to become a little distracted, I think I sounded o.k.
Yesterday, I also did another radio interview for Jack FM (a local station). This was not live, but it is being used in a piece which will be aired today.
So there you have it, my first brush with the media and I can’t think of a more important topic to speak about. There is so much ignorance and it is partly this ignorance that prevents many women from seeking the help they need.
Thanks to Mumsnet for trusting me to speak on this subject and for making it happen.
Comments 25
This is fantastic work! Thanks so much for speaking out about this vital issue. I hope you continue to feel well xxx
Author
Ah thanks so much. I just thought I needed to speak if given the opportunity x
Wow good for you Aby! I also have a fear of public speaking and never know which way it’s going to go – sometimes I’m okay, other situations I’ve totally crumbled. You did so well to speak live on the radio and well done for raising awareness of PND xx
Author
Thanks so much. I was really pleased I did it x
Firstly well done you, it’s such a nerve wracking thing to do isn’t it? Secondly this post really resonated with me as I was des pressed pre and post baby. But when my midwife suggested it at 7 months pregnant my husband said don’t worry I can make her laugh, she’ll be fine, fast forward to when J was 5 months old I went to my doctors for something else and she suggested that she was worried about me having PND. We felt so ashamed and I went on medication but too afraid to discuss it or tell anyone. 2.5 years later I’m out the other side, I’m not ashamed of it, in fact I’m ashamed of the taboo surrounding it and talking to so many people they had it too. Great job helping to raise the awareness of it x
Author
Thanks so much. I am glad you are out the other side x
Well bloody done you, superstar! I love public speaking but only when I’ve had a chance to rehearse first – something you don’t really get to do in a radio interview situation! Sure you did great and very proud of you. x
Author
Thanks so much huni xxx
I read this article on their website the other day and have nothing but respect for you mama. My sister suffered terribly with PND so i understand completely how much it affects your life. Good on you for facing your fear and speaking up about it, it’s a topic not discussed enough in the media in my opinion so great that you’ve helped to raise awareness xxx
Author
Thanks lovely xxx
This is really brave and such an important topic to be involved with. I suffered, a friend of mine suffered and in the midst of it you feel almost weak to even admit it. A lovely post (and all the other platforms you’ve spoken out on I’ve listened to) I really admire this x
You were fab,so proud of you xx
I am sorry to hear about your pnd but well done for confronting your fears head on and allowing yourself to get interviewed. That takes a lot of courage and to those who condemn you are ignorant because invisible illnesses does not make it any lesser of an illness than physical illnesses.
Amazing work Aby well done you for speaking about something so personal that afters a lot of mothers. I am not a mum yet but I hope in the future when I am and found myself with PND I would like to think I would draw courage from you.
Good for you doing these pieces. Radio is n’t something I’d want to do – mainly because I’d probably waffle on too much and I hate my voice when I hear it. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve not had it, or had any real life friends diagnosed with it, although we think my mum had it after my brother was born (2 weeks later my dad died, so not really surprising!)
Author
Thanks, I didn’t really want to do it, but felt it was a good opportunity to give the story more coverage x
Congratulations on facing your fear and doing the interviews – well done 🙂 and such an important subject. I’m sorry you have had to face PND. Raising awareness is the only way to make it less invisible xx
Oh my gosh, you are so amazing for doing this. I am so bloody proud you are an absolute star. I just know this will help others suffering, the stats are shocking but you’ve done so well for speaking out. xxxx
Well done to you lovely, what an important cause to raise awareness on. I have a fear of public speaking too, although weirdly I used to talk a lot in my previous career- but I hate it. So I just signed up to do my first blogging workshop- i am scared already. x
Author
You will be amazing, I know it xx
Well done on speaking out about this hun, it is such an important issue that needs awareness x
How fantastic, something to be very proud of. I just had a post published about PNA which I suffered with – something I wrote a long time ago when I was still ill – but I was never comfortable publishing on my own blog. I feel a little disappointed in myself for not being brave enough to do so! Hats off to you x
Author
Ah thank you. We must all do what is right for us, there is never any pressure xx
Wow, well done! Amazing work. This is really going to help others and letting people know they are not alone, seriously well done. It couldn’t have been easy. *hugs* xx
Author
Thanks so much, I appreciate your support xx