My HG Adventure
HG (Hyperemesis Gravidarum) is a debilitating condition that occurs in pregnancy that causes severe nausea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration and malnutrition which is dangerous for both mother and baby.
I got hit with HG in both of my pregnancies, it lasted the whole pregnancy in my first pregnancy as no medications would work, a lot of the time the medications would just come back up, I also had awful heartburn in the third trimester which made the vomiting even worse. In the early weeks of my first pregnancy I vomited so much that I started to vomit blood and that’s when I went to hospital, I definitely should have gone a lot earlier before I started bleeding from my throat!
In both pregnancies I went in and out of hospital for medications and IV drips to try avoid dehydration. In my second pregnancy the medications started working and I was still vomiting sometimes but not as often as my first pregnancy, it felt a bit more manageable in terms of the vomiting but I had constant fatigue the whole way through the pregnancy which made it very hard to look after my older daughter and keep up with the cleaning and I stopped cooking, my husband had to start cooking or we would have to order frozen pre made meals to get through the week.
I honestly genuinely hate being pregnant.
I love my babies and even want a third baby but the thought of being pregnant again turns me off from having another baby.
Alongside having HG I also had antinatal depression and anxiety. I couldn’t bond with my babies when they were inside the womb, I tried so hard to find ways to connect with them when I was pregnant such as buying cute baby clothes, playing them music and trying to talk to them but nothing seemed to work, I still felt disconnected and that disconnection lasted up until 3-4 months postpartum with both babies!
Not all pregnancies are sunshine and rainbows, sometimes it’s vomit storms and an extreme case of constipation.
Me 1% of my pregnancies:
Me 99% of my pregnencies
Mental Health
“Just pray and you will be healed”
“You need to build resilience”
“don’t see psychiatrists or psychologists, pray and you will be healed”
These phrases are well meaning but not necessarily helpful when you’re dealing with chronic mental health issues, as someone who is struggling with mental illness I used to get very confused and upset when hearing these things as I didn’t understand what they really meant and no one really would explain or go into the details of how sometimes Gods healing power isn’t instant and it takes effort from our part for us to get better.
Battling against depression, anxiety or any other mental illness can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to know where to start in terms of becoming mentally well especially if you have lived your whole life in traumatic environments and surrounded by bad influences or maybe the pain you have endured has been dismissed so you haven’t had the opportunity to even start your healing journey in the first place. I hope that through Gods will that I can point you in the right direction towards recovery.
Personally I have had my own experience with mental illness and have struggled with mental health and hope I can help you to overcome the struggles that come with mental health.
I personally believe that we need more than prayers in order to heal, my journey to overcoming grief, anxiety and pain still continues to this day andI have seen different psychologists and psychiatrists over the past 5 years and have been diagnosed with CPTSD, BPD, depression and anxiety and I also have taken different medications to help me cope with mental illness and the stressful situations I still am trying to overcome today.
Because I have been using medication and seeking professional help I have thought maybe I’m not praying enough or maybe I don’t understand God in the way you’re supposed to because there is a never ending cycle of healing. A friend once told me that we don’t put our faith in medication, instead we put our faith in God that He leads us to the right medication that will work for us and be lead to the right people so that you get the right treatment that will slowly help you overcome depression, anxiety or what ever it is you’re struggling with. Taking medication and/or doing therapy doesn’t mean you don’t put your trust in God.
Setbacks
Everyone says that healing isn’t linear and that can be such a hard pill to swallow when you have setback after setback and it feels like it’s never going to end.
I have noticed in my own journey that I have some triggers that can almost always lead to a setback.
One of my triggers is the memory of people I’m no longer in contact with, I’ve had to say goodbye to so many relationships and I have moments where I completely forget about the unhealthy and possibly toxic parts of those relationships and it makes me spiral in my mind, I start thinking that I should just contact them or start wondering if I am the one in the wrong and sit in my own negative thoughts and feelings. I have to remind myself that I need to protect my peace in order to continue healing.
Going backwards or slipping into old bad habits can feel like you don’t have control, this can lead to making impulsive decisions and doing something you regret like worrying or hurting the people you love, even though it’s not intentional you still need to be accountable to your actions.
It’s important in those moments to recognise that what you’ve done is wrong, if other people were involved that you apologise sincerely and tell them exactly where you went wrong and why you’re sorry.
Moving forward from a setback can take time, giving yourself time to recover and doing something to take your mind off the situation until you’re in a stable position to go back and deal with what ever the situation is in a healthy way!
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2-3 NLT
Having a setback can be a chance to build your resilience and an opportunity to learn how to deal with tough situations.
Support People
Find your support people
Reach out for help
When I was 8 weeks postpartum with my second baby I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and a psychiatrist told me that I wont get my mental health needs met by the church as the people at church simply might not have the capacity or knowledge to meet mental health needs, I don’t know if I agree with what was said but it made me think about who I do have in my life that is trustworthy that does have the capacity to support me in the way that I need.
I encourage you to think about who is in your life that has shown you that they do have the capacity and understanding to support you when you’re having a season of bad mental health.
A few key signs that someone will be able to support you are:
They pray for you
They listen without judgment
They can sit with you when you feel stuck in dark feelings and thoughts
Help guide you to think about what you need in your dark moments
Knowing who you can go to helps because you will not have to try work through any hard situations on your own. You’ll have a second opinion on what could help you get through it!
I have had to accept that there are people that don’t understand mental illness and don’t know what it’s like to live with CPTSD or to live with overwhelming pain and that I need to be in touch with my own needs and do what I need to do to become well, you don’t have to ignore your own needs because of someone else’s opinion!
Going to church and praying does not mean you will suddenly be healed and no longer suffer, although I do believe that God can heal in miraculous ways when it comes to complex trauma or chronic illness it might take a lot of work in order to start seeing progress in your healing journey.
In my experience it takes a combination of being involved in church, therapy, medication, prayer, physical exercise and a healthy diet, good quality sleep and enough rest to have balance mentally and physically!
In conclusion, I encourage you to seek out people that can support you and understand you in the way that you need, and to Pray to God that he will lead you to the right friends, Drs and mental health professionals as well as getting the right medication if needed.
My Testimony
We are like butterflies, becoming new through Jesus Christ and God transforming us!
I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 14 but I didn’t understand what it really meant to Know and understand God, I didn’t understand why such horrible things kept happening to me, I felt lost and used alcohol to cope. I didn’t have good guidance or influences around me, I never had a “normal” father daughter relationship so I never knew how to have a father daughter relationship with God. All these things impacted my prayer life and faith.
I don’t want to dwell too much on what happened in the past, I definitely went through hardships as I was growing up and didn’t know how I was going to get out. But one day, 5 years ago I was going for a walk and while I was walking I was praying and seeking God and I remember I just suddenly felt like God was telling me that I was going to move. I wasn’t told where I was moving to or how but 3 months later I met my husband, a year later and I was married and moved to a different city.
I truly believe that God moved me, He moved me away from abusive and toxic relationships, He moved me away and out of alcoholism, He moved me to a loving, caring and supportive family and community, there is so much God moved me out of and I’m so blessed and grateful for the life I have today with my husband, our two daughters and our little dog Bluey and my lovely father, mother and sister in laws!
Now I want to know more about God and who he is as a father, I have an amazing support system both personal (friends and family) and professional (Support worker, Psychiatrist and GP) I prayed for the life I have now for years when I was a teenager and I know teenage me would be so proud and so in awe of God and his good work.
If you feel stuck in a situation I encourage you to pray in Jesus name that He will pave a path for you and lead you to a place where you can heal, grow and prosper.
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
Psalms 37:23 NLT
Welcome
Hello Overcomers,
Welcome to The Overcomer Blog, we will be diving straight in and discussing mental health, christianity, marraige and motherhood. We have a lot to unpack so bare with me and keep on reading!
Firstly I would like to pray over this Blog and also for you, whoever is reading this I pray in Jesus name that their ears will be open to hearing your word God, May God guide me as I write each blog so that I speak to each and every person who sets their eyes on this website, Lord I pray for clarity, peace of mind and that your truth will be revealed to all who are reading this blog. I pray that who ever is in a season of darkness that you draw close to them so that they may know that darkness is only for a season and light will come. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!