The Mental Mum

10/04/2025

“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried but actually you’ve been planted.” - Christine Caine

10/04/2025

"Sometimes when you're in a dark place, you think you've been buried but actually you've been planted." - Christine Caine

❤ The most growth we achieve is through the darkest times of our lives. You aren't buried right now, you're just waiting to grow. Water your mind and soul with the things in life that bring you the most joy. Find time for self-care and love and watch how taking care of yourself, starts to take care of the other things in your life. You are important, worthy of love and deserving of a break.

Happy Thursday!
-Hope

29/12/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, people often look ahead to the new year, dispose of bad habits and make goals for the future.

Tonight I broke out my creative journal for the first time in over 6 months… so that I can manifest what I want for my 2025. I’m no artist but I find being creative helps my mental health and helps with visualisation of things I want, how I’m feeling and what I’m grateful for. It’s great for processing.

Always remember when creative journaling that this is for you and your enjoyment, whatever you create, is beautiful and just as it should be, because it comes from you. You are enough and so is whatever you create.

I encourage you to make the leap, find something creative for you to channel and process your feelings, hopes and gratitude. ❤️ May you have a beautiful and peaceful 2025.

Love,
Hope

27/11/2024

Hello friends,
I have been quiet for quite sometime, I’m sorry for my absence.

I have had some personal matters going on since the start of the year and with my university studies, my job and motherhood, it’s all been a bit much.

I’m not going to say I’m back for regular posts but I’m going to try to post every now and then.
My work for The Mental Mum brings me joy and hope and sparks my creativity.

Last night I wrote this poem, I hope it brings you light and courage and hope for whatever you are currently facing.

Every storm runs out of rain, the sun always rises again, things will get better. I promise. You matter, you are loved and you are not alone ❤️

Much love,
Hope x

13/08/2024

If we aren't getting those tough emotions out in some way, they stay in and that can eat us alive. Whether we want them to or not they then seep out into other areas of our lives at random moments. There are many ways to get out tough emotions, what's your favourite?

15/06/2024

Happy Saturday ❤️

10/06/2024

Holy cow! I’m on a podcast! 🥰😍 feels very surreal!

In May I was interviewed for a NHS podcast about my maternal mental health journey and I’m excited to share that it’s just been released! You can listen on the Podbean app for free ❤️ trigger warning *talks of maternal sepsis, traumatic birth and suicidal ideation*

Content warning: This episode discusses mental illness and su***de. The World Health Organisation estimates that almost 1 in 5 women will experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or in the year after the birth. Women are more likely to develop mental health problems at this time than at...

08/06/2024

I’m obsessed with needle felting now. I LOVE it! It is so easy and therapeutic! I highly recommend people trying it out! It’s such a forgiving craft and easy to correct mistakes! 😍 thanks for felting evening, the teaching and the extra materials The Ginger Sloth! 😍

What did you do for your self care this weekend? Mine was a new hobby! Having things we love doing is so important to our mental health, it helps us to be mindful, it encourages us to take a break from screen time and it inspires creativity and expression. I encourage you to pick that old hobby back up or try a new one, just 15 minutes every few days. Do something for you that brings you joy and peace ❤️

31/05/2024

It's hard to recognise the pain we feel, we often bury those feelings deep down inside and think that it will go away. What it really does though, is fester, it becomes infected and it starts seeping out, poisoning every aspect of our life. Running away from those hard, raw feelings will never heal us.

We must FEEL to HEAL. Accept that pain. Write about it, talk about, sing about it, create art about it, as soon as you acknowledge that you have been through something terrible, your healing process begins.

We so often fear the pain we feel when we acknowledge it, when in reality the thing we should be fearing is the cancerous growth of denial and everything that denial destroys.

I hope that whatever you are facing right now, that you can be brave enough to accept the hurt and pain and begin to heal those wounds. You deserve peace. You deserve healing. You deserve happiness. ❤

29/05/2024

I found during my deepest post-natal depression that once I put a plan in place, once I planted a seed of change, I was nearly instantly brought back to life.

I had something to look forward to, rather than just doing the same mundane thing, day-in and day-out. Giving my support, help and lived experience to others who needed it, gave me hope.

I started volunteering for LATNEM and after doing that for a few months I felt an even bigger calling, going back to Uni to become a therapist.

I thought “I’m 32, I can’t go back to university, I’ll be 35 by the time I can make a difference.” But after some self-reflection, I realised, all I have is now, all I have is this life, this moment. If I don’t start somewhere, how will I ever expect change. If I’m not changing it (my life) I’m choosing it. And that was the hardest step, just starting something new.

Was it scary? Heck yes, I’m still scared. But I know, deep down, it’s the right thing for me.

It’s never too late, as long as you are living, breathing and thinking, it’s never too late. Look into whatever it is you’ve been too scared to start. It may just bring you back to life, too.

23/05/2024

Ever since I came out on the other side of my maternal mental health issues, it has been my goal to raise as much awareness about maternal mental health.

I was recently approached by the NHS and BBC to share my story, although incredibly nervous, I was incredibly honoured to be asked by both to get involved in raising awareness.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn7j74nzpo

If all goes accordingly, my recorded interview will be aired on BBC One Scotland this evening at 630pm, (it is dependent on how busy the election news gets).

If you have a calling, strive for it, even if you’re scared, even if your voice shakes, even if your heart is pounding. Be brave and reach for the stars ❤️

Hope Cawood experienced severe postnatal depression after giving birth to her second child during lockdown.

07/05/2024

It's hard to recognise the pain we feel, we often bury those feelings deep down inside and think that it will go away. What it really does though, is fester, it becomes infected and it starts seeping out, poisoning every aspect of our life. Running away from those hard, raw feelings will never heal us.

We must FEEL to HEAL. Accept that pain. Write about it, talk about, sing about it, create art about it, as soon as you acknowledge that you have been through something terrible, your healing process begins.

We so often fear the pain we feel when we acknowledge it, when in reality the thing we should be fearing is the cancerous growth of denial and everything that denial destroys.

I hope that whatever you are facing right now, that you can be brave enough to accept the hurt and pain and begin to heal those wounds. You deserve peace. You deserve healing. You deserve happiness. ❤