I recently had the pleasure of “e-meeting” a fellow mommy blogger and kindred spirit. Leah, the creator of And1MoreMakes3.com, uses her blog as a platform to discuss mental health issues, using her own experiences as a springboard into the larger discussion of mental health for moms and others in the UK. Her tone is frank, open, approachable and light. She makes the topic of mental illness less scary by virtue of her attitude about it.
She suffered from depression and anxiety for over 10 years, and now considers herself a “survivor.” Her blog is an extension of her own journey to mental wellbeing, as well as a platform for sharing with other people that it is ok to feel this way and to get help. By using her own journey as the example, she shows her readers the benefits of facing mental illness and fighting it. She helps remind those who have forgotten that there is hope, and it is possible to take control. There’s no shame in suffering a mental illness, or an invisible illness; And 1 More Makes 3 also reminds readers that there is hope too.
In the awesomely titled post, Invisible Illnesses Suck, Leah shares some of her readers’ experiences dealing with those who cannot “see” the illness. From this we learn that there are many different types of people who suffer, and invisible illnesses are not confined only to mental illness. And everyone who suffers from a condition unseen struggles with some form of unintended discouragement from the outside. Perhaps it’s a well-meaning co-worker who says “get over it” or a parent who continually suggests that you just “need some fresh air.” While fresh air never hurts, these seemingly thoughtful suggestions imply that any pain you’re experiencing because of your invisible illness is simply imagined. Leah’s post reminds readers that these encounters with those who don’t understand happen to all of us. As survivors, we must continue the discussion and keep educating and supporting ourselves and others.
In addition to sharing her work with you, I’ve had the pleasure of “interviewing” Leah about her own journey as a mommy blogger, and her viewpoint on mental health perceptions in the UK. I’ll soon be sharing the details of that exchange.
In the meantime, connect with Leah and learn more about And 1 More Makes 3!
I am so excited about this collaboration. Thank you so much for including me, I am honoured! xx
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