I have been fascinated with storytelling, and more specifically fairy tales, not only for the rich and indirect teachings they offer to people across ages and cultures, but also for their gentle and visceral access to issues and inner dynamics that we normally do not engage with via our linear thinking. Fairy tales, long told… Continue reading The therapeutic power of fairy tales
Category: lived experiences
The Unspeakables: On mothers (not)talking about depression
In my previous post I opened the topic of the "perfect pregnancy" myth with the concept of Unspeakability, a favorite of mine and for many reasons. Here, I will delve further into it sharing my thoughts around a paper I recently published in the Journal of Feminism & Psychology. Although mothers tend to be particularly vocal… Continue reading The Unspeakables: On mothers (not)talking about depression
Perfect Pregnant Woman, deconstructed
One of my favorite academic publications, that came out of my doctoral studies on women who experience psychological distress during their pregnancy, is the one on "Unspeakability". Un-speak-ability. This is a concept which highlights the inability for women to "speak" directly about their distress or about anything dark, depressive, problematic, scary or non-perfect in relation… Continue reading Perfect Pregnant Woman, deconstructed
On the problematic nature of Self-care for Mothers (reflecting on my experiences)
I always bookend posts, discussions and any advice-resembling conversations with the disclaimer that everyone is different. Everyone has different needs, at different times, and during different stages and transitions in life. Everyone has different levels of access to time and resources and I check in with a big P my massive privilege to have the… Continue reading On the problematic nature of Self-care for Mothers (reflecting on my experiences)
Pregnancy distress, all things considered (a summary of findings from my research)
A summary of all factors that contribute to experiencing depression, anxiety or distress during pregnancy (as identified by my research)
Motherhood, uncensored
Hi there. Below is my very fist blog post which contains rambles and quite unacademic (but fully lived) reflections on becoming a mother, fresh of the hospital. I wrote this about 16 years ago... I have to admit that mothering, the big M, transformed me in the most fundamental ways, not ever imaginable. It propelled… Continue reading Motherhood, uncensored
Aleksandra Staneva, PhD - Internal Family Systems & Jung 