Securely Attached

Trigger Warning: This episode involves topics related to postpartum psychosis, suicide, and infanticide.

In this eye-opening conversation, one mother is sharing her raw and unfiltered story of navigating a postpartum psychosis diagnosis, shedding light on this often misunderstood and stigmatized perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.

After the birth of her second son, Chelsea battled with intense challenges with postpartum depression, which eventually snowballed into postpartum psychosis.

As we delve into Chelsea's story, we aim to foster a space of empathy, understanding, and support. I hope her openness invites you to connect with the human side of maternal mental health struggles, acknowledging that each tale contributes to the larger call to action for early intervention and better support for women in healthcare.

RESOURCES FOR PERINATAL MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS (PMADs) SUPPORT:

Postpartum Support International

The Motherhood Center in New York

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988 in the US and Canada.

SECURELY ATTACHED PODCAST EPISODES ABOUT PMADs:

A breakdown of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders

How PMADs can affect new fathers

Shining a light on postpartum psychosis with Paige Bellenbaum

Addressing the crushing weight of parenthood with Dr. Christine Sterling

ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES TO MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTHCARE:

Chamber of Mothers

Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC)

Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA)

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...

2:10 - Playing with gender norms is developmentally typical for preschoolers and is how they learn to make meaning of things.

3:12 - For most parents, this is less a worry of our child's playful experimentation and more about how the world will respond to them.

8:50 - You can have family rules and still be supportive of your child's experimentation and play - they are not mutually exclusive.

10:08 - We can be quick to jump to questioning what these actions mean for our child's identity development, but often at this age they are just playing.

10:45 - It's helpful to be mindful of the different societal expectations of boys versus girls with gender norms.

15:04 - Playing out the fantasy your child has in the moment can sometimes satisfy their desire.

✨We want to hear from you! Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions! ✨

Discover how to navigate bias and guide your children toward a future of genuine cultural understanding and allyship!

Join me for a vulnerable and honest conversation on how we can navigate bias, and nurture cultural and racial awareness and inclusivity in ourselves and our children with pediatric and clinical psychologist, Dr. Dana E. Crawford. Dr. Crawford is the developer of the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training (CBRT), a systematic approach to reducing bias, prejudice, and racism, and she has recently opened pre-ordering for her newly released R.A.C.E. Cards aimed at helping foster open communication around issues of race.

In this episode, Dr. Crawford guides us on a journey of self-reflection, teaching about strategic vulnerability and the essential steps to reduce bias in our lives and in the way we raise our children. This episode promises to be a transformative experience, offering valuable insights that will stay with you long after the conversation ends.

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...

2:20 - At 3 years old, kids often start to have more desires for autonomy.

4:13 - The more we can be a predictable container and create consistent routines and boundaries for our kids, the less they will feel a need to test limits.

7:30 - Theory of Mind is the ability to understand that there are perspectives different from one's own. This only starts coming online at around 5 years old.

10:42 - Understanding your 3-year-old's brain development helps you to take their behaviors less personally.

11:55 - Building distress tolerance and impulsivity control will ultimately translate into executive functioning skills over time.

16:24 - How to stretch your child to help them to get from A to Z.

19:20 - There is a whole different skill set for doing something when you don't feel like doing it versus just the skill required to perform the specific task in and of itself (like getting dressed in the morning versus getting dressed in the morning WHEN YOU'D RATHER BE PLAYING).

✨We want to hear from you! Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions! ✨

Discover how being self-aware and intentional in your actions can shape your children's emotional resilience!

Joining me today is licensed clinical social worker and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do, Amy Morin.

In this episode, Amy and I are shedding light on how parents, couples, and friends can harness this empowering mindset. From fostering curiosity and confidence to navigating complex emotions like guilt and values like honesty and kindness, we're providing you with practical tools for strengthening your own mental wellness and raising mentally resilient kids, too.

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...

3:28 - This age is when "stranger danger" and object permanence comes online with typical cognitive development.

6:47 - Crying to alert you that they don't prefer being held by another safe adult that is not Mom doesn't always mean they are in distress.

9:41 - Building resilience means reflecting our child's feelings back to them and staying calm in the face of that upset - your feelings are real, and they're safe.

12:05 - Self-regulating and titrating your responsiveness are two key elements of intervening in this exchange.

17:42 - When is this a matter of being held (by a safe adult), and when is this a matter of respecting their bodily autonomy and teaching consent when your child is a baby?

In this episode, I talked about The Authentic Parent. CLICK HERE if you want to learn more about my self-paced course that teaches you how to confidently move through your first year of parenthood.

✨We want to hear from you! Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions! ✨

Unlock the transformative power of understanding and connecting with your child's ADHD brain - rather than fighting against it!

Joining me is the founder of Russell Coaching for Students and the author of Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis, Dr. Norrine Russell.

If you have a child with ADHD, you won't want to miss this episode where we're sharing personal insights, evidence-based techniques, and empowering strategies to guide parents on a journey towards fostering empathy, embracing your child's strengths, and helping them reach their full potential.

PRODUCTS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT I LOVE:

If your child (or you!) has ADHD, you're going to love all the products from BestSelf as much as I do! CLICK HERE and use code DRSARAHBREN15 to save 15% off your entire purchase!

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...

1:52 - When is it appropriate to seek help from a mental health professional to help your child manage their anxiety and fears?

4:40 - How to identify the difference between our child's natural desire for information versus a desire for us to soothe their anxiety.

8:45 - Addressing concepts like death with your child is difficult because it is a scary thing for adults to confront too, which can lead to parents to do more accommodating than is actually helpful long-term.

13:05 - Asking yourself "why now?" - Working to identify if there is anything that activated this sudden shift so you can work toward targeting the root of the problem.

14:48 - Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a great resource for parents:

LISTEN: Listen to my interview with the creator of SPACE, Dr. Eli Lebowitz

READ: Breaking Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD by Dr. Eli Lebowitz

THERAPY SERVICES: If you are in NY State and would like to learn about Upshur Bren Psychology Group's SPACE individual and group therapy options, click here to learn more.

18:38 - What to Do When You Worry Too Much and What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck are workbooks we use in our practice and are helpful resources to use with your child.

✨We want to hear from you! Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions! ✨

Would you say you're a 👁️ visual or an 👂🏼 auditory learner? What if I told you that the research has actually debunked the theory that learning styles even exist?

So, then what actually is the best way for helping our kids to learn, feel successful, and become resilient?

That is exactly what I’ll be talking about with University of Virginia Professor of Psychology and the author of several amazing books, including the best-selling Why Don't Students Like School?, and most recently, Outsmart Your Brain, Dr. Dan Willingham.

In this episode we’re shedding light on the factors that influence a child's sense of self-efficacy, the importance of a growth mindset, and the delicate balance between praising effort and problem-solving for success.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or clinician, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Uncover proven techniques to manage anxiety, guilt, and overwhelming emotions, empowering you to parent with confidence. 👩‍👧

Joining me this week is Dr. Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco. Ilyse is the Founder/Director of the North Jersey Center for Anxiety and Stress Management and the author of Mom Brain: Proven Strategies to Fight the Anxiety, Guilt, and Overwhelming Emotions of Motherhood—and Relax into Your New Self.

This episode is a must-listen for all new and seasoned moms, with actionable insights, real-world advice, and a fresh perspective on being the parent you want to be. We're offering you guidance on finding joy, letting go of perfectionism, and making decisions aligned with your values!

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...

If your child (or you!) has ADHD, you're going to love all the products from BestSelf as much as I do! CLICK HERE and use code DRSARAHBREN15 to save 15% off your entire purchase!

3:50 - How parents of a child newly diagnosed with ADHD can utilize specific strategies to support them.

6:02 - Understand ADHD and what a child with ADHD might struggle with (and what they might excel in as a result of their neurodiverse brain.)

7:20 - Trustworthy resources for parents of a child with ADHD:

1. ADDitude Magazine

2. 12 Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD by Russell A. Barkley, PhD

3. What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew by Dr. Sharon Saline

4. Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson, EdD & Richard Guare, PhD

10:36 - ADHD is more of an executive functioning and emotional regulation disorder and symptoms can present vastly different from one child to the next.

15:38 - Looking at ADHD from a strength-based perspective.

✨We want to hear from you! Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions! ✨

Embark on a journey of self-exploration that will empower you to rewrite your attachment narrative!

Joining me to share her expertise on attachment patterns in adult relationships is psychotherapist and the author of the new book Your Pocket Therapist, Dr. Annie Zimmerman.

Together Dr. Zimmerman and I have an engaging conversation that dives deep into the nuances of matrescence and patrescence, how to begin unpacking your triggers, and the transformative 5-step process she outlines in her book, providing parents with a roadmap for increased attachment security and positive change.

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...

2:02 - Distinguishing between the different interventions for how to respond to biting with a young child versus an older toddler.

5:55 - Babies don't often bite out of angry, but for many other reasons including exploratory and sensory seeking behaviors.

7:53 - When a baby bites another kid and the child has a big reaction, our baby may bite more because they are exploring the response this may illicit.

9:20 - The less attention we give this behavior the more likely we can see a reduction to the biting.

12:04 - If your child is prone to biting other kids, you may have to be their "buddy guard" for a while to try to catch it in the moment before they lose interest in biting.

✨We want to hear from you! Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions! ✨