78: Mother Recovering - Momming Sober

Annika O'Melia breaks through stigma to share her story about alcohol use in early motherhood and increase awareness about the impact of substance use for perinatal mothers. Annika is speaking out about her experience and has created a podcast, Mother Recovering, that focuses on supporting these mamas. *She talks about the thought process that happens with substance use and how we sometimes can't see how bad things are getting. *Substance use is a way to cope, but ends up making things worse. *Health care providers aren't asking enough questions *What "normal" drinking limits are for women and how to notice when it's going beyond that limit. *The social messaging to mothers that drinking is what get's you through motherhood.  *Use compassion when talking with mothers, and mothers who are struggling with substance use.  *What we can do better to support mamas *Safety concerns that we should consider for kids *Getting past quitting and onto living *What coping in a new way can look like Connect with Annika: www.motherrecovering.com https://twitter.com/MommingSober https://www.facebook.com/motherrecovering/ Quad City Women’s Therapy, PLLC  www.qcwomenstherapy.comBooks & Resources mentioned in this episode by Annika: "Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol" "The Drunk Mom" "Drinking: A Love Story" She Recovers - http://sherecovers.co/ The Bubble Hour Podcast Annika O'Melia Bio   Annika O’Melia is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and runs her own private psychotherapy practice, Quad City Women’s Therapy, PLLC, where she specializes in reproductive & maternal mental health. Annika is particularly interested in the impact of trauma and addiction on pregnancy and motherhood and utilizes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to assist clients with trauma recovery. Annika is a mother of four, including twins who just turned one, and has been living in recovery from alcoholism for over six years. Annika is also a survivor of rape and sexual assault and has benefitted greatly from therapeutic and recovery programs in her own personal healing and return to wholeness. Annika hosts a podcast called Mother Recovering that focuses on what it’s like to Mom Sober!  For all Episodes, go to www.momandmind.com