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Although my pregnancy started off as planned, it quickly went off course due to all the chaos within my personal life. For years I battled with anxiety disorder and depression, but I was really struggling with all of the changes and overwhelming emotions in my life plus I was feeling very isolated. Around…
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Depression or anxiety that occurs during pregnancy is called perinatal depression or perinatal anxiety. Perinatal depression can include symptoms such as; frequent crying, mood swings, irritability, extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, loss of sexual interest, anxiety, appetite changes, negative scary thoughts, feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness and despair. Perinatal anxiety includes symptoms similar…
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One of the most common fears that prevent new mothers from seeking mental health support is the fear that their child (or children) will be taken away from them if they reveal that they have “dark” or intrusive thoughts. As a woman and a mother who sits in a position of privilege -white,…
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As we wind down 2022, I want to take time to reflect on the best present that we can give this season and that is the gift of hope. On so many occasions in this past year, I have been asked to explain Hopeful Beginnings – our work as an agency – and…
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Hi, my name is Jessica, and I’m one of the teen parenting interns for the 2022-2023 school year. I’m a first-year MSW student at Loyola University Chicago. In May 2022, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in psychology and a certificate in criminal justice. Before I tell you about…
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Not every story at Hopeful Beginnings ends on a joyous note but when they do, we celebrate those moments with our clients. Here is one of the incredible stories that we were so grateful to be a part of: Aubrey came to Hopeful Beginnings seeking counseling for postpartum depression that had become consuming….
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“We chose our adoption with Hopeful Beginnings, because they made us feel comfortable from the first time we met them. Everyone was approachable and kind through the process. It helped to have friends and families support, but it also helped to have an agency who listened and answered our questions and concerns. Adoptive…
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I have never been much of a “beach read” type of woman but I would like to share a wonderful book that I did read this summer. The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan is a heart-breaking tale of “a bad mother trying to be good.” It is a work of fiction,…
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Hopeful Beginning’s Teen Parenting Program and how you can discern if this program is for you and your school, community, or church. First of all, it is important for you to speak with the teachers, social workers, and nurses at your school to look at the numbers of students who are pregnant and…
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Hopeful Beginnings can help you if your baby is in the NICU at the hospital after birth. For those of you who don’t know, the NICU is the neonatal intensive care for babies who are ill that have just been born. Hopeful Beginnings is very helpful for mothers that have their babies…
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