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With it being the month of May, I felt like it was time to have a REAL and honest conversation about maternal mental health.

While we’ve gotten slightly better at talking about postpartum depression, there are still many parts of motherhood and perinatal mental health that people quietly struggle through without support or understanding.

Maternal mental health is about sooo much more than postpartum depression. It’s also anxiety, rage, intrusive thoughts, identity shifts, overstimulation, and loneliness. It’s the emotional weight of matrescence, and the invisible mental load mothers carry every.single.day.

Ultimately, maternal mental health is not *just* an individual issue - it’s a public health issue that needs our attention, now, more than ever.

I hope this episode reminds you that you are NOT failing at motherhood. You are human, and you were never meant to carry all of this alone. There is support available, and you deserve care LONG before things become unbearable!!

Episode Recap:

• Why maternal mental health is about so much more than postpartum depression
• The many ways perinatal mental health struggles can show up
• How normalized maternal suffering keeps moms struggling silently
• Understanding matrescence + identity shifts in motherhood
• Grieving former versions of yourself while loving your children deeply
• Maternal rage, overwhelm, and the invisible mental load
• Normalizing intrusive thoughts + why trained support matters
• Loneliness, isolation & unrealistic expectations in modern motherhood
• How unsupported systems impact maternal wellbeing
• Why maternal mental health IS a public health issue
• The importance of therapy, rest, community & shared support
• Maternal mental health resources + reminders that struggling does not mean failure

**Disclaimer: The content shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health care. If you’re struggling or need support, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area, because you don’t have to go through it alone.

Links/Resources:

• Ep. 3 | What “The Mental Load” Really Looks Like (and Why It’s So Damn Heavy)
• Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA)
• Postpartum Support International
• Follow on Instagram @tztherapy
• Check out my website

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I’m honored to welcome Lisa Vawter to the podcast today!

Dr. Lisa Vawter is a mother of two and a dedicated women's health chiropractor specializing in prenatal, postpartum and pediatric care. With a Master’s in nutrition and certifications in the Webster Technique, Spinning Babies, and Birthfit, along with 100 hours of acupuncture training, her practice offers comprehensive and holistic support for expectant and new mothers and their kiddos.

Inspired by her own transformative experience with chiropractic care during pregnancy, she’s committed to providing compassionate and personalized care using movement as medicine, and to help navigate the physical changes of motherhood.

We talk a lot about pregnancy like it’s a checklist of physical changes…but what if that’s only part of the story?

In today’s conversation, I sat down with Dr. Lisa to unpack the metaphysical experience of motherhood, and what it actually feels like to live in a body that’s constantly changing, stretching, and becoming. The truth is - your physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual experiences during this season are NOT separate. They’re deeply intertwined!

Something that needs to be said louder: pregnancy does NOT have to equal pain. Yes, your body is changing in big ways, but movement, basic body awareness, and simple daily habits can make a massive difference during this time!

Motherhood is a full-body, whole-person transformation. You DESERVE care that reflects that, and you should never feel like you’re meant to do this journey alone!

Episode Recap:

• Why motherhood isn’t just physical
• How Lisa’s personal journey shaped how she supports women today
• Lisa’s 2 birth experiences + how they were completely different
• Why letting go of control + accepting support matters
• How pregnancy changes your identity (not just your body)
• Pregnancy ≠ pain (even if we’ve normalized it)
• How simple movement can reduce discomfort + build confidence
• How mobility supports baby positioning + smoother labor
• Why you don’t have to wait until you’re in pain to get support
• How the system often overlooks the physical experience of pregnancy
• Why there IS hope w/more education + support shifting maternal care
• Focusing on the basics like eating, moving, resting & staying connected during pregnancy

**Disclaimer: The content shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health care. If you’re struggling or need support, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area, because you don’t have to go through it alone.

Links/Resources:

• Follow Lisa on Instagram @lisavawterchiro
• Check out Lisa’s website
• Follow on Instagram @tztherapy
• Check out my website

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For the past few years, I’ve challenged myself to do Dry January. But…this year became something much bigger.

What started as “just seeing if I could do it” turned into 100 days sober. Honestly? The biggest thing I’ve gained hasn’t been about alcohol at all! It’s been about self-trust, and proving to myself that I CAN do hard things, sit with uncomfortable feelings, and stay present (even when I want to check out).

Believe me, I totally understand the many “quiet” ways that so many moms cope. Whether it’s alcohol, scrolling, overworking, or staying constantly busy, sooo many of us are just trying to find relief from #allthethings that come with motherhood.

More than anything, this episode is about learning how to STAY. Stay with yourself, your body, your hard emotions, and your life…even when it feels uncomfortable.

Self-trust is not built in huge, dramatic moments -it’s built in small, quiet choices over and over again. This is your reminder that you do not have to be “perfect” to rebuild that trust - you just need to keep staying!

Episode Recap:

• How doing Dry January turned into 100 days sober + a deeper journey of self-trust
• Learning to stay with hard emotions instead of immediately checking out
• Why self-trust matters just as much as confidence or discipline
• How ADHD can impact follow-through, emotional regulation & identity
• The connection between ADHD, overwhelm, and substance use
• Why many moms use alcohol (or other coping tools) to regulate an overwhelmed nervous system
• Realizing alcohol was often about seeking relief, not the drink itself
• How stopping drinking changed relationships, socializing & identity
• The unexpected benefits that came with cutting alcohol
• What really builds self-trust over time

**Disclaimer: The content shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health care. If you’re struggling or need support, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area, because you don’t have to go through it alone.

Links/Resources:

• Follow on Instagram @tztherapy
• Check out my website