We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Scott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany , we can’t begin to explain how much we appreciate you sharing about your PPD experience, but we can say that so many in our community are suffering from or have suffered from postpartum issues including postpartum depression and so you sharing your story and how you overcame it might help someone who is going through it right now or in the future. What can you share with us about how you overcame PPD? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I didn’t, the simple answer. I adapted my life to my new “normal”. I’m not a doctor or healthcare professional by any means but I don’t think Mothers overcome PPD; I think we adapt to the changes it inevitably causes. I just don’t believe the massive effects PPD has on the brain chemistry are “overcome” by anything, we learn how to manage it. I’ve learned how to manage my PPD symptoms through God, Physical Fitnesses, adopting a minimalistic perspective on what I truly NEED in life, becoming obsessed with herbal /natural medicine and agriculture, and making a daily decision to fight for my own right to happiness.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a Mother, first and foremost. This interview or interview topic wouldn’t be possible without my daughter, Zaria; so to my baby I love you and thank you. The Millennial Mom’s Digest was a passion project that I am turning into a business. When I became a mother in 2017, I had no idea how much PPD would alter my story. I had a wonderful pregnancy, I was healthy and I would even say pretty happy throughout my pregnancy. However, like many mothers after the birth of my child I struggled deeply with PPD and suicidal ideation so much so the first year of my daughters life is a blur to me. I obviously have pictures to look back on but most times I do not remember those times because my mental health was so crippling and my energy went to simply just trying to convince myself to be alive during those days. So I birth The Millennials Mom’s Digest in one of the darkest times of my life because I knew if I was struggling this bad, other moms were too and we needed a real outlet.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
God, Physical Fitness, and My Bestfriend “Under The Rock” with me.
1. I’m not one of those Christians who believes you can pray it all away so to speak. So when I say God. I mean God + Therapy! But before speaking on Therapy I want to give the upmost credit to the one who even made me believe my life was worth living and that was God. I lived by Galatians 6:9. I hope this verse will be helpful to someone reading this.
2. Physical Fitness- Working out became so much more than trying to loose weight for me once I started dealing with PPD. What you eat has so much effect on your mood and mental health. I became cognistant that it’s about the healthy patterns that you develop to sustain and build the life you want, that’s the real benefit of being physically fit. The physicality of it , is nice icing on the top but the real rewards are the healthy patterns you learn through consistent discipline by taking care of your body & mind.
3. My Bestfriend “under the rock with me” was so essential to journey. Depression is heavy. It’s not like sadnesses. When you’re depressed, people to a certain degree have to be willing to sacrifice just a tad bit of their own happiness to REALLY get down with you in your pain and pull you up. Most people don’t even know how to respond to the level of despair that is depression so they say things like “I’m here if you need me” but if you have ever been depressed before you know half the time you don’t even want to live so clearly you don’t know what you need; so it’s not helpful. It sounds helpful buts it’s not. However I had one friend that truly at times sacrificed just little bits of happiness so I wouldn’t be so alone in the darkness of my mind. Showed up without me having to ask. Did without me having to ask. Found words to comfort me even though she maybe didn’t always know what to say. She didn’t try to rush me through my pain, she sat with me in it and I know that came at a cost to her. In fact one Birthday, I told her I would just get under a rock and she said she would get up under there with me and when you’re depressed that’s truly what you need…just one person, to get up under that rock, and be with you. She was and is my person ! Thank you Princess !
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m overwhelmed I’m overstimulated and need to regulate; so I pull away from anything that is stimulating like TV or Social Media and most times even people. I ground myself in worship music, being outside in nature or amongst the chosen people that calm me. I pray a lot.
My advice would be to pay attention to how you feel when you’re overwhelmed and also what you’re doing or what you did leading up to the overwhelming feelings.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: The Millennial Mom’s Digest
