SHERMIN LEE

  Free young children from strollers and prams. Let them walk until they are tired. Carry them when they are tired. Let them walk again, once rested. This is so that you will never need another screen or screen-time to distract and tire your child out. Let them walk with you. Engage their legs to engage their health. Healthy feet, healthy hearts, healthy societies. Let them walk again.

The intersection of faith and mental health is a complex and often contentious area. While psychiatry aims to provide comprehensive care for mental health issues, it sometimes falls short in addressing faith-based illnesses appropriately. Here are some ways in which psychiatry may treat faith-based illnesses wrongly: #### 1. **Pathologizing Religious Beliefs** Historically, psychiatry has often viewed religious beliefs through a pathological lens. This perspective can lead to the misdiagnosis of deeply held spiritual convictions as symptoms of mental illness³. For instance, intense religious experiences or practices might be mistaken for delusions or obsessive-compulsive behaviors, rather than being understood within their cultural and spiritual context³. #### 2. **Ignoring the Positive Role of Faith** Faith can be a significant source of strength and resilience for many individuals. However, psychiatrists, who are generally less religious than their patients, may undervalue the positi...

Abstract: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 13% of women globally 1 . While hormonal changes play a role, there’s growing interest in the spiritual dimension of childbirth. When the spiritual process of birth is interrupted—often due to medical interventions like cesarean sections—mothers may experience a profound sense of loss. This disruption can lead to PPD, as mothers struggle to connect with their newborns. In this article, we delve into the impact of medical interventions on the spiritual birth experience and explore coping strategies for holistic well-being. Introduction: Childbirth is a transformative event that encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. The spiritual aspect involves a deep connection between the mother, baby, and the universe. When this connection is disrupted, mothers may experience spiritual postpartum depression (SPD). SPD differs from conventional PPD, as it centers on the loss of a sacred bond during childbirth. The Exper...

 

It's good to see KKH beginning to support women and children through their experiences of trauma, but is that enough?  What about going to the root of the problem in the first place - the interrupted birth process, and unnecessary medical interventions during birth, from invasive procedures like ultrasounds , c-sections, inducing birth, etc, the very things causing trauma to mothers (and perhaps even babies) in the first place? One of the ways women are healing through birth trauma is through birth reclaiming ceremonies . According to Dr. Isa Gucciardi in this article , ' a lot of women are undergoing incomplete initiations when giving birth. The result is a spiritual crisis that can leave us feeling confused, lost, and extremely disempowered. While not often understood, an unsuccessful childbirth initiation can be linked to the common mood disorder “postpartum depression.”' Knowing this, wouldn't you agree that it is high time for women to reclaim the spiritual, natura...

Mindfulness has become a buzzword in recent years, with many people advocating its practice as a way to live a more present and fulfilled life. The idea of mindfulness is to be fully present and engaged in the moment, without judgment or distraction. However, for many people, the concept of mindfulness can be difficult to grasp, and can even lead to frustration and anxiety. In this article, I want to challenge the notion of mindfulness and suggest that we should focus less on trying to be mindful, and instead, simply feel our emotions and allow them to flow. The problem with the concept of mindfulness is that it implies that we are supposed to use our heads to be present. We are told to focus on our breath, to observe our thoughts, and to be aware of our surroundings. While this may work for some people, it can be challenging for others. It can be hard to stay focused on the present moment when our minds are constantly racing with thoughts and worries. Moreover, it can be difficult to ...