The Grove
Beyond the Baby Blues: New Research Reveals the Hidden Reality of Perinatal Mental Health
Important research from our very own Allie McGee, CSW, on perinatal mental health in Utah - and the findings highlight experiences that often get overlooked.
What she discovered goes far beyond the typical "baby blues" conversation. We're talking about profound identity loss, unexpected coping strategies, and barriers that exist at every level of our healthcare system.
The most compelling finding? "I didn't know who I was anymore" - a reality that ALL participants experienced but rarely gets discussed.
Behind the Name Tag: How Gender Shapes LDS Missionary Experiences
Research from Madelin Pepper reveals female LDS missionaries face additional stressors including appearance pressures, weight-shaming, dismissal of concerns, and limited leadership. These gender-based challenges often go unacknowledged but significantly impact mental health. The study suggests standardized support systems and addressing systemic gender disparities could improve missionary experiences.
Understanding Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people develop psychological flexibility by accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while taking actions aligned with personal values. ACT benefits those with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and other challenges through its six core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, present moment awareness, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action.
Beyond Awareness: Addressing the Social Determinants of Mental Health
True mental health awareness must go beyond reducing stigma and promoting individual treatment. It requires acknowledging and addressing the social conditions that create and perpetuate mental health challenges.
When the Mission Takes a Toll: New Research on Stress and Mental Health in LDS Missionaries
Uncovering the Mental Health Impact of LDS Missions
Madelin Pepper's eye-opening research reveals a concerning reality: 95% of LDS missionaries experience significant stress during service, with 62% reporting lasting negative mental health effects. Beyond the statistics, her work identifies key contributors: perfectionism culture, privacy limitations, and mismatched expectations. Most importantly, these struggles often persist long after missionaries return home—highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive support throughout the missionary journey.
Understanding Trauma: Beyond the Buzzword
Trauma goes beyond everyday stress—it rewires the brain and nervous system after overwhelming events. Learn to recognize trauma's physical and emotional symptoms, which can emerge years later. At our practice, we offer specialized healing through IFS, Lifespan Integration, and ACT therapies, helping clients achieve not just recovery but post-traumatic growth.
Self-Care Strategies That Actually Work for New Mothers
This guide offers practical self-care strategies for new mothers, emphasizing both physical and mental wellbeing. From micro-moments of mindfulness to professional mental health support, these approaches acknowledge the realities of life with a newborn while prioritizing a mother's needs. Remember: caring for yourself isn't optional—it's essential for sustainable, healthy motherhood.
Beyond Soulmates: Cultivating Connections That Complete You
Explore why we shouldn't expect romantic partners to fulfill all our social needs. Challenges the "main character" mindset of modern society, emphasizing the importance of maintaining diverse friendships and showing up consistently for others. Learn why building a balanced social network leads to richer, more fulfilling relationships.
Embracing Imperfect Action
Small discomforts can feel overwhelming, but they don't define our reality. Building emotional resilience requires pushing through off days rather than retreating. While society often encourages avoiding discomfort to "protect your peace," growth often comes from leaning into discomfort. Change happens through action—especially imperfect action. By recognizing that current emotions don’t predict future feelings, we can reshape our experiences and foster growth.
Emotional Flexibility: Bending without Breaking
A candid reflection from our practice manager Shelli Armstrong on developing emotional flexibility through life's challenges. When comparing herself to her mother's seemingly effortless household management while she recovers from surgery, Shelli discovers a powerful truth: like an acrobat's poses, life's demands require us to bend—but we're not meant to hold these positions forever.
Friends Don't Flake: Rebuilding Adult Connection
When we constantly flake on friends and justify it with "self-care," we're fueling an epidemic of disconnection. While setting boundaries matters, we've twisted this concept to avoid vulnerability and meaningful relationships. Good friendships require showing up, being honest about our capacity, and matching others' energy. It's time to stop ghosting and start nurturing the connections that truly bring us peace.
From Overwhelm to Intention: Making Space for Yourself as a New Parent
Parenthood reshapes identity, often leaving new parents feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. Reclaiming a sense of self involves small steps like scheduling self-care micro-moments, reimagining hobbies, setting realistic expectations, leaning on support networks, and engaging in reflective practices. Embracing your evolving identity with intention can transform this transition into an opportunity for growth.
The Hidden Weight of Perinatal Anxiety: Supporting Mothers Beyond the Surface
Perinatal anxiety deeply affects mothers' lives, influencing infant feeding, relationships, and daily routines. This post explores these impacts and offers actionable strategies and downloadable resources to help mothers navigate anxiety during this transformative period.
The Vital Role of Postpartum Doulas in Recovery
A postpartum doula offers emotional, physical, and informational support to new mothers during their recovery and adjustment period. From assisting with breastfeeding challenges and light household tasks to providing education and partner guidance, postpartum doulas are invaluable in easing the transition into motherhood. Discover how their compassionate care can help new moms navigate this life-changing time with greater confidence.
Gratitude Isn’t About Ignoring Your Pain: Finding Balance This Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, gratitude isn’t about ignoring your pain. It’s about making space for all your emotions—letting them exist alongside each other. By starting small, like reflecting on peaceful moments or acknowledging your own resilience, you can practice gratitude in a way that feels authentic to you. It’s about recognizing your growth, appreciating what you’ve overcome, and being gentle with yourself.
Bonding with Your Newborn
Bonding with your newborn can take time and isn't always instant. Feeling detached or guilty is common but not a reflection of your abilities as a mother. Embrace the gradual process of building a connection, engage in small bonding moments, and seek support if needed. This blog post is designed to help you reframe some of your deepest worries about bonding with your newborn.
Battling Perinatal OCD: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Support
Perinatal OCD is an often overlooked condition that can occur during pregnancy or the first year postpartum. It involves persistent, intrusive thoughts, usually about harming the baby, which lead to compulsive behaviors like excessive cleaning or checking. These behaviors offer only temporary relief, trapping mothers in a cycle of anxiety and stress. For example, Bethany, a new mother, obsessively monitors air quality and cleanliness, isolating herself and feeling overwhelmed. Recognizing the signs and seeking specialized help is crucial. At Roots & Branches, therapists provide support to break the cycle of perinatal OCD.
Insight into Faith Transitions
Navigating a faith transition can be emotionally challenging, impacting your mental health through uncertainty, loss of community, and identity shifts. Therapy provides a safe space to explore these feelings, process grief, and manage cognitive dissonance. It can help you build resilience, find new support systems, and align with your evolving beliefs.
When Friendships Fade: Navigating the Grief of Letting Go
The end of a close friendship can be as painful as the death of a loved one. The emotional distance can feel overwhelming, with feelings of guilt and heartache amplifying the grief. Understanding this loss as part of life's evolving seasons can help in processing these complex emotions and finding healing.
Understanding Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression
Navigating the emotional challenges after childbirth can be tough. While the baby blues are common and usually short-lived, postpartum depression is more severe and persistent. Roots & Branches offers specialized support for new mothers facing these issues. Contact us for compassionate care to help you find balance and well-being during this transformative time.