An Honest Look at Perinatal Depression & Anxiety: The Realities of Motherhood and the Growth It Can Bring S9 | E236

Becoming a mother can be one of life's greatest joys, but it can also bring unexpected grief, anxiety and a profound loss of identity. And sometimes, the hardest part is admitting that motherhood isn't feeling the way you imagined it would.

In this episode, Meg Faure chats to South African actress, writer and producer Lara Toselli about her deeply personal journey into motherhood, her experience of perinatal anxiety and depression, and how it inspired her one-woman theatre production, Mother Load.

With honesty, humour and a healthy dose of perspective, this is a conversation about the parts of motherhood we don't always talk about, and a reminder that you don't have to suffer in silence.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• Why becoming a mother can bring an unexpected sense of grief and loss of identity.
• How losing her own mother as a child shaped Lara's experience of becoming a mom.
• Why being told to 'count your blessings' can make struggling mothers feel even more alone.
• How social media and unrealistic expectations can influence our perceptions of motherhood.
• Why seeking professional mental health support, including medication, is nothing to be ashamed of.
• How humour can help us process difficult experiences once we're through them.
• Why partners and family members need to understand the realities of perinatal mental health.
• Lara's advice to mothers: be honest about how you're feeling, ask for help early and remember that nothing lasts forever.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Lara Toselli: From YoTV to motherhood and the stage

01:05 The story behind Mother Load

03:25 The grief and identity shift that comes with motherhood

04:02 Becoming a mother without having a mother

05:14 Recognising the signs of perinatal anxiety and depression

08:07 The pressure of social media and perfect motherhood

10:14 Turning a deeply personal experience into a theatre production

12:31 Bringing the raw reality of motherhood to the stage

14:42 Finding humour in the darkest moments

15:11 When 'count your blessings' isn't helpful

17:28 Why professional mental health support matters

19:58 Using comedy to open up difficult conversations

20:58 The hidden realities of perinatal mental health

21:28 What is Mother Load and where can you see it?

23:10 A message of hope for mothers who are struggling

24:14 Lara's advice: seek help, allow yourself to grieve and embrace change

26:08 Losing your old identity and accepting the new you

27:16 Learning that difficult feelings are temporary

ABOUT THE GUEST

Lara Toselli is a South African actress, writer and producer, best known for presenting on YoTV for 10 years and for her role as Gabby in Tali's Wedding Diary. Her international acting credits include productions alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.

Beyond her acting career, Lara is the creator of Mother Load, an autobiographical one-woman theatre production exploring the realities of becoming a mother, including perinatal anxiety and depression, grief, identity and the unexpected challenges of early motherhood.

Follow Lara:

Instagram: @laratoselli

Instagram: @motherload.play

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST

Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.

With more than 20 years of experience in occupational therapy and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.

The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.

Download the Parent Sense app and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

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