In this episode, we speak with Yalda Kazemi — mental health advocate, speaker, and author — as she shares the deeply personal and often unspoken truth of surviving severe postpartum depression, facing suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts, and ultimately finding her purpose through healing. If you've ever struggled with mental illness, questioned your worth, or felt misunderstood, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone.

We want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts or leave us a voice message here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Welcome to another powerful episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, the 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health and the 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner for Best Mental Health Podcast. With over 1 million downloads, we’re proud to bring you real and unapologetic conversations about mental health every week.

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Mental Health Quote of the Episode

“Mental illness has no face. There is no look to it. You can appear put together and still be fighting the darkest battles inside.” — Yalda Kazemi

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Episode Description

In this moving conversation, Yalda Kazemi shares her lived experience with postpartum depression, maternal mental health, and mental illness recovery. From being hospitalized in a psych ward to almost losing herself in the depths of postpartum psychosis, Yalda now uses her story to educate others, advocate for change, and empower families through their darkest moments. Listeners will gain powerful insights into the emotional complexity of postpartum mental illness and the importance of support systems, self-advocacy, and breaking stigma.

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Meet Our Guest – Yalda Kazemi

Yalda Kazemi is a Speaker, Author, Mental Health Advocate, Educator, and Policy Consultant focused on dismantling stigma around mental illness. She is the founder of Yalda Kazemi Consulting and the author of Unapologetic Truths: The Realities of Postpartum We Don’t Talk About. Yalda speaks widely on corporate wellness, resilience, and women’s mental health related to postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.

• Website: https://www.yaldakazemi.com
• LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/yalda-kazemi-2864b129

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Key Takeaways

1. Mental illness is not a personal failing. It's not a choice, and shame should never be part of the equation.
2. Recovery is possible. With support, medical care, and openness, healing can and does happen.
3. There is strength in vulnerability. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

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Actionable Insights

1. Learn the signs of postpartum mental illness so you can recognize it in yourself or support others.
2. Build open conversations around mental health in families, communities, and workplaces.
3. Normalize seeking professional help through therapy, medication, or hospitalization when needed.

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Episode Chapters and Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction by G Rex and Dirty Skittles
• 01:10 – Yalda's background and why she speaks so openly
• 03:43 – Her childbirth experience and immediate emotional disconnection
• 05:23 – The moment of diagnosis and fears about medication
• 10:03 – Intrusive thoughts and psychosis escalate
• 13:34 – Yalda checks into the psych ward
• 15:22 – Talking to her son about mental illness
• 17:56 – Postpartum tools prepare her for perimenopause
• 21:00 – Facing judgment and stigma head-on
• 26:35 – Teaching her son about mental health
• 36:39 – Losing support from close friends
• 40:08 – Gratitude, healing, and daily self-care

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References

• Unapologetic Truths: The Realities of Postpartum We Don’t Talk About by Yalda Kazemi: https://www.yaldakazemi.com/book
• Postpartum Support International: https://postpartum.net
• Mental Health Resource Guide: https://www.nami.org

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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #PostpartumDepression #MaternalMentalHealth
#PerinatalSupport #MentalIllnessRecovery #SuicidePrevention #WomenSupportingWomen
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#UnapologeticTruths #PodcastForChange#HealingJourney

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If You Need Support, Reach Out

If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

• United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
• Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
• Worldwide: Find a Helpline
• Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub

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Audio Editing by NJz Audio