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  • Serena Williams Gets Candid About "Postpartum Emotions"

    Serena Williams Gets Candid About "Postpartum Emotions"

    By being open about her issues, the tennis star is bringing awareness to postpartum depression that she says is needed.

    Tennis champ and new mom, Serena Williams, is shedding the shame of struggling with “postpartum emotions.”

    The 23-time Grand Slam champion is in the midst of a rocky comeback after giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr last September.

    In July, Williams lost the chance to win her 24th Grand Slam title after ending this year’s Wimbledon tournament as runner-up. And she pulled out of the Rogers Cup in Canada (August 4-12) citing “personal reasons.”

    But in a Monday Instagram post, the tennis star shared that she was struggling with postpartum depression (or PPD).

    “Last week was not easy for me. Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom,” Williams wrote in the caption.

    “I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with. I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal.”

    PPD is a type of depression that occurs in women after giving birth. According to one study, postpartum depression affects about 1 in 7 women.

    “It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby,” Williams continued on Instagram. “We have all been there. I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be.

    “However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes.

    “I’m here to say: If you are having a rough day or week—it’s ok—I am too! There’s always [tomorrow]!”

    Williams has been candid about the challenges of being a new mom. Many of the commenters on her Instagram post are fellow moms who can relate.

    By talking through her issues, the tennis star is bringing awareness to postpartum depression that she says is needed. In a June interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, she said, “I think people need to talk about it more because it’s almost like the fourth trimester, it’s part of the pregnancy.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Demi Lovato Releases First Statement After Overdose Reports

    Demi Lovato Releases First Statement After Overdose Reports

    “This illness is not something that disappears or fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet.”

    After 12 days in the hospital following an apparent overdose, pop star Demi Lovato finally released a statement regarding the incident.

    “I have always been transparent about my journey with addiction,” the 25-year-old recovery advocate said on her Instagram on August 5. “What I’ve learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet.”

    Lovato was released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night. She was admitted to the hospital on July 24, after EMTs were called to her Hollywood Hills home. TMZ reported that she was revived with Narcan, the drug that is administered to reverse opioid overdose.

    Lovato has since been recovering from health complications following the reported overdose.

    “I want to thank God for keeping me alive and well,” the singer continued in her recent statement. “To my fans, I am forever grateful for all of your love and support throughout this past week and beyond. Your positive thoughts and prayers have helped me navigate through this difficult time.”

    Lovato has become a prominent voice for the recovery and mental health support community. The singer celebrated six years of sobriety in March, before releasing a new single titled “Sober” in June, in which she apologizes for a recent relapse. 

    “I want to thank my family, my team, and the staff at Cedars-Sinai who have been by my side this entire time. Without them I wouldn’t be here writing this letter to all of you,” Lovato continued.

    A source told People that Lovato will receive “continued care at an in-patient rehab facility.”

    The singer ended her Instagram statement with a promise to continue working on her recovery.

    “I now need time to heal and focus on my sobriety and road to recovery. The love you have all shown me will never be forgotten and I look forward to the day where I can say I came out on the other side. I will keep fighting.”

    Lovato’s impact on mental health and recovery awareness is revealed in a simple search of the social media hashtag #HowDemiHasHelpedMe.

    After news of the singer’s hospitalization, fans have used the hashtag to pay tribute to the positive impact that Lovato’s dedication to reducing the stigma of living with substance use disorder or mental health issues has had on them.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Kat Von D Celebrates 11 Years Of Sobriety

    Kat Von D Celebrates 11 Years Of Sobriety

    The Los Angeles-based tattoo artist took to social media to celebrate her sober anniversary.

    Tattoo artist Kat Von D celebrated over a decade sober by sharing her milestone on social media.

    “Today, I celebrate 11 years of sobriety,” she wrote across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. “Every year I look forward to posting about my sober anniversary, in the hopes that someone out there in need of a way out from addiction might see this, and realize that you’re not alone. Sending you extra love today.”

    The Los Angeles-based tattoo artist, famous for appearing on Miami Ink and then her own show LA Ink, is vocal about her sobriety. She hopes that by putting herself out there, she can show that recovery is possible.

    “If anybody out there feels that they relate to me in any capacity and happen to be struggling, perhaps I can lead by example by showing that if I can do it, you can do it too,” she told The Fix in 2016. It’s her way of being of service.

    Here’s what she’s said about sobriety in past Fix interviews.

    Becoming sober in the limelight

    “I am grateful that I was on TV during the tail end of my drinking; the first season of LA Ink. I am glad that happened and that it was public because it shows people that you can change.”

    Change is possible

    “I definitely was a mess, but as human beings, we are all capable of change. We need to give ourselves that credit. I don’t look at a drug addict or somebody who has a drinking problem as hopeless. I believe everybody can evolve and find their path.”

    On creativity 

    “One of the biggest reasons for me to stop drinking was to preserve and protect my art… More than just having the chemical addiction, I was addicted to dysfunction. A lot of musicians and writers and poets from back in the day until now have used dysfunction as a muse. I don’t want to be that person anymore.”

    What it means to be sober

    “Looking back at my wild drinking days, I really never imagined that I would be excited about being sober. When you are on the other side of things, you have such a profoundly different perspective on life… Personally, being sober means that I operate better and I function better; I believe I am meant to be that way.”

    View the original article at thefix.com