She Won't Feel Like This Forever. A Book for Children with Mothers Suffering PTSD.

by Lindsey J. Crockett, Francesco Orazzini (Illustrator)

The book aims to support mothers with PTSD in discussing what they're feeling and also to reassure children that their mother wont feel like this forever, that they're not to blame for mums symptoms and that they're still very much loved. It can be difficult for mums to express themselves when they're experiencing the full force of PTSD symptoms, so this book is aimed to be used as a tool for mum to make reference to, to help communicate and reassure her child, in a gentle and memorable manner. The book therefore uses fun similes to describe symptoms in a way that is lighthearted but easy to remember for mum and child to refer back to whilst in the moment. Research shows that when we discuss mental illness with children in an appropriate manner this actually helps build resilience. Feedback so far from children, has been that it was fun to think of their mummy as the simile used. The book aims to make a difficult situation feel less threatening and less confronting, and it provides the opportunity to try and laugh and connect about a sad and stressful situation. The underlying message for both mum and child is of hope, recovery and love. The book has been written in a way that it can be used for PTSD triggered by any event, not just postpartum PTSD.

34 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

Lindsey Crockett is a mental health nurse, perinatal counsellor, family therapist and the director of 'Held' and The Australian Birth Trauma and PTSD treatment Centre. She is also a survivor of PTSD, birth trauma and PND with her first child, severe pelvic instability with her second and Hyperemesis gravidarum with both.

She works as a therapist with women and families through all stages of pregnancy, birth and parenthood and has recently trained in EMDR therapy. She is about to begin her research thesis focusing on postpartum PTSD and is part of the paternal perinatal depression initiative advisory committee.

Lindsey is extremely passionate about perinatal mental health and also about working with trauma. She strives to reduce stigma about mental illness and this is why she is open about her own previous struggles with PTSD 12 years ago and birth trauma 6 years ago. Its these experiences of post-traumatic growth that drive her to support others on their journey