THE BUZZ May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month O


ne in seven women meet criteria for a mental health diag- nosis within the fi rst year postpartum and many of those women experienced emotional complications before their


baby arrived. This is the most common complication of childbirth and resources are scarce, many providers are uninformed, and women are left isolated.


Many women come to me feeling as though they have lost them- selves. They recognize their former self and they acknowledge they expected to feel a certain way about their baby, but suddenly they have no idea who they are or how they got here. Some moms harbor guilt or shame about their ambivalence regarding mother- hood; they may not feel connected to their baby from day one. Knowing that this experience has happened to other moms and that they can grow and develop love for their child while redefi n- ing themselves is a process that requires time and support.


Motherhood is tough. Sometimes the challenges women [and men!] face are beyond ‘normal’ and it’s okay to get support. Feel- ing tearful, sad, angry, disconnected from your partner and/or baby, having scary thoughts or intense worries, or feeling numb are all signs that something is not quite right. In my counseling practice we work on enlisting the support of others, supporting mom’s sleep hygiene and getting her rest, supporting her nutrition- ally and integrating helpful supplements where appropriate. If mom is still not feeling like herself or having symptoms, we can explore chiropractic care, breastfeeding support, naturopathic treatments and holistically-minded psychiatric providers. It takes a village to raise a child, and a village to nurture a mom, too. You deserve it.


Catharine McDonald, MS, NCC, LPC is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Growing Well Counseling. She specializes in motherhood transitions, perinatal emotional complications and wellness. Her private practice is located at 131 New London Turn- pike, Suite 323 in Glastonbury, CT and insurances are accepted. For a free consultation please call (860) 837-0204, or visit www. growingwellcounseling.com for more information.


Wolfspirit Acupuncture Ancient Healing with a Modern Approach


New Office Opens May 1st! Experience our new Community Acupuncture Program $30-$40 per Session


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8 Natural Nutmeg -May/June 2017


The Life Center of Connecticut Welcomes Dr. Shannon Homkovics


she demonstrated her passion for her career by writing a 50- page thesis on how naturopathic medicine can help treat almost any disease or imbalance seen in the clinical setting today. Dr. Homkovics has a focus on women's health care. She identifi es and addresses any underlying hormonal imbalances that might contribute to an array of ailments including irregular menstrua- tion and painful menstruation, PMS, infertility, and menopause as well as the accompanying fatigue, migraines, insomnia, weight gain, and acne. Her tools include diet and nutrition, nutritional supplements, botanical medicine, acupuncture, counseling, hydro- therapy, homeopathy and lifestyle changes. Outside of work, Dr. Homkovics is a proud mother who enjoys living a holistic lifestyle and conducting research on the latest health trends. Her favorite activities are Bikram yoga, CrossFit, and hiking. On Instagram she is known as “The Modern Doctor,” where she shares health tips and inspirational posts.


D


Please call (203) 239 3400 to schedule your visit. She is now accepting new patients at our North Haven and West Hartford locations. See ad on page 31.


r. Homkovics received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medi- cine in Tempe, Arizona. Upon graduating with this degree,


1414 Tues., Wed., Fri. 10-6, Turs. 10-7, and Sat. 10-5


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