My Blog

Have you seen the film ‘Sliding Doors’ where the story line has two alternatives based on the results of a single moment and action? I find it fascinating how our lives can be presented with a new opportunity simply by making a decision to begin a conversation with someone.

Last September I had one of those moments, sitting by a pool on holiday with my parents in Lanzarote.  (See my blog here ).

I began to speak to a lady and we soon realised that we had a connection in that her daughter Catherine had also suffered from postnatal depression and had written a book about it to help others.

We made contact and I was thrilled that Catherine told me that her husband had heard me speaking on a radio show many years ago (we think it was LBC in February 2005, not long after my book came out) and she had bought it as a result. It had given her hope at a time when she was struggling. I always feel so pleased to hear such impact, as that is why I do what I do! Catherine also wants to help others ‘see the sunshine again’, and as she already was a writer, succeeded in her ‘Need 2 know Essential Guide to Postnatal Depression’.

Catherine Burrows and Elaine Hanzak

Since last September, Catherine and I have been in touch and finally had the opportunity to meet at an event I was speaking at last week at Wembley Plaza hotel.  Do you ever meet someone new and feel like you have known them for years? That was how we felt! It does help when you have read the story of each other first, yet this feeling was deeper than that.

It never ceases to amaze me the directions my life has taken since suffering with postnatal depression. I will always feel robbed of those early months as a mother and sorry for the impact it had on my family. Yet from it whole new worlds of opportunities and connections have been made and through them I have been able to help many others in different ways.

Catherine and I chatted about many aspects of life and cemented a desire to explore opportunities to do further writing and presenting together.  She then joined me as my guest as I addressed around 100 health professionals about mine and other’s journeys through poor maternal mental health and ways to support families affected by it.

In my new keynote I now ensure that it is packed with sources of further information for delegates to explore, such as the fantastic tool to recognise women at risk.

I am always pleased when, as a result of me being open about my journey, others feel able to share theirs with me. I always feel most humbled by this, especially when it is perhaps the first time they have expressed it to anyone. One lady said she felt I had taken a huge weight from her by enabling her to feel that it was okay that she had been poorly and she had realised that her experience enabled her to be more empathic with others. Thank you Carol and your team for inviting me to speak – we have had three incredible events! I look forward to more! Also to the other connections that were made that night – I wonder where they will lead?

Today I have had the pleasure of meeting up with Delphi Ellis. Again, an opportunity to chat presented itself when we were at The Baby Show at Earls Court in London a few years ago as part of the team of Greatvine Experts.  Delphi is a Stress Consultant & Therapeutic Counsellor who also specialises in Dream Analysis. She presents from time to time on This Morning.  Our main interest is around maternal mental health as she suffered from antenatal depression and has also gone onto help others. Her website is the best I have found  http://depression-in-pregnancy.org/

We are making plans to work together too!

So I challenge you to strike up a conversation with someone – who knows what opportunities may come your way in this exciting life we are blessed with!

Elaine

http://www.greatvine.com/elaine-hanzak