New Beginnings of the Old Ends: Reconnecting with Substack and Perinatal Mental Health

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Fresh Starts

This is a free newsletter about perinatal mental health, motherhood, and matrescence authored by a BABCP Accredited CBT therapist. Sign up now to stay in the loop!

Greetings,

It feels great to be back here with you.

It feels like a real return to something deeply meaningful. Before diving into what’s been happening and what’s next for this newsletter, I just want to start with the most important thing: a heartfelt “Thank You”. Your patience and support during my unexpected break have been incredibly meaningful. It’s touching to see that many of you stayed subscribed, even when the updates went silent. Your presence here means the world to me, and I’m genuinely grateful that so many of you chose to stick around.

So, what’s been going on?

As some of you, particularly those following my Instagram journey, might know, I’ve been in the exciting process of opening my private practice—a dream I’ve held for a long time. This transition has been both thrilling and demanding. Substack and this community have been a crucial part of my journey, allowing me to experiment with my voice, share my reflections, and connect with an amazing group of readers.

With my eldest starting school this September and my youngest’s hours at preschool increasing, I’ll finally have a whole day (!) to dedicate to my work. This also means I’ll be able to offer a couple of online therapy slots and continue nurturing this space we’ve built together.

Starting a private practice has required significant time and effort—developing a niche, crafting a marketing strategy, working on a website (still a work in progress), and handling legal details. The days have flown by, and amidst family visits and holidays, it’s become clear just how much I’ve missed being here with you all. While Instagram has been useful for quick updates, I’ve realised that Substack’s deeper, more thoughtful engagement is what I truly value.

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Returning to writing has been a bit daunting. I’ve been grappling with feelings of self-doubt and the fear of not being “good enough”. The longer I stayed away, the more intimidating it seemed to come back. But I’ve decided to embrace these feelings and move forward with what I believe is important, regardless of the inner critic (even though it still sits beside me).

What’s next?

I’m excited to continue sharing content on perinatal mental health and to keep “unscrewing” the stigma surrounding it. With my new focus in my private practice, I’ll also be addressing specific challenges related to pregnancy after loss and birth trauma. I know these topics might be triggering for some, so I’ll include a “trigger warning” section before these posts, giving you the choice to read or skip as you feel comfortable.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be revamping the Substack newsletter a bit, though the core focus will remain the same. For now, I’ll aim to post once a month, with the hope of increasing to a fortnightly schedule as time allows. I’m being realistic about my time commitments and ready to adapt as needed.

Photo by Deepak Rastogi on Unsplash

I’d love to hear from you:

1. What topics related to perinatal mental health or pregnancy after loss are you most interested in reading about?

2. Are there particular challenges you’re facing where you’d like more support or information?

3. How can this newsletter best support you during this time in your life?

I hope you’ve all been well. It feels so good to be writing here again 😊

Warm wishes,
Aleks