In this episode, Kara is stepping into the important topic of postpartum depression with Holly Fisher. The two have an honest conversation about how moms aren't really given the space to acknowledge or grieve that a part of them is changing after the birth of their child. Holly shares feelings of guilt and repressed emotions around the thoughts she was having. It felt shameful to share them, so she suffered in silence to uphold society’s expectation of how she “should” be doing as a new mom. Holly emphasizes that her identity isn’t in being a mom or in her work or in her experience of postpartum depression and gives us all useful strategies to really check in on the moms we love. Postpartum depression isn’t a failure, it is a medical imbalance in a mom’s body after giving birth.

Highlights:

• As a new mom, Holly felt guilty because she wasn’t feeling wonderful and didn’t want to admit that she was struggling. 


• Fueled by expectation that we are naturally wonderful moms and we are great at it. 


• Moms may be grieving/mourning a part of us that has changed. 


• Our society emphasizes a woman’s identity as a mom. We don’t take a moment to make that transition well. Moving into a new season, new roles. It is a huge adjustment.


• Coupled with her perfectionist personality and plans for everything to go a certain way, she didn’t feel like she was good at this.


• She was having thoughts like: “What have I done? Can I do this? How might I undo this? Can I go back in time?”


• Holly’s faith has been a landing place for her.


• This was a 3 year process to find healing and balance. Medication helped.  Peer support was so important. 


• Holly suggests always assuming there is a chance a new mom could be struggling. 

Quotes:

• “I can’t stress enough the importance of reaching out for help.”


• “My Identity is not in motherhood. Not in postpartum depression. Not in work. My identity is in Christ.” 


• “The minute you think something is wrong, get some help. I suffered needlessly for months. You just don’t have to.”

• 
  fisher-creative.com


• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyannfisher/


• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyannfisher/


• Personal Website: https://hollyannfisher.com/

Holly Fisher is the owner of Fisher Creative Marketing and a StoryBrand Certified Guide. She’s helped dozens of organizations clarify their marketing message and develop an effective sales funnel that generates more leads and boosts their bottom line. A long-time professional writer and former full-time journalist, Holly believes in the power of story to inform and engage. She has worked with clients around the globe and in a variety of industries. Holly lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband and teenage daughter. She enjoys hiking, doing CrossFit, reading and driving her Dodge Challenger on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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