My name is Laura and I’m a mum of two, a 2.5 year old and a 7 month old.  I have lost 34 kilos on the lose baby weight challenges. Recently I started medication to treat anxiety and depression and this is my story.  

I have suffered from some form of anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember. As a young child and through my early teens I was bullied badly.  Through those early years I remember crying all the time, self harming and running away from home. I come from a family that don’t believe in mental illness, at least where I’m concerned. They thought it was just that I was a ‘loser’ and swept it under the rug.
I moved away from home the second I could and turned to alcohol and men to battle through the feelings of self hate, at my lowest points I’ve tried to end it all but they were half hearted attempts and I was really just looking for anything to help me feel better.
When I met my husband at 23 the severe, severe depression episodes backed off and even though I still battled to keep my head above water it was less intense and I had learned to live with what I thought was my personality.
After having a very difficult pregnancy with my daughter, I felt isolated with little human contact and what had started out as mild anxiety became full blown. I couldn’t sleep at night fearful of heinous things happening to my kids and family, I couldn’t leave the house, heck I couldn’t even take my kids in the backyard. I constantly felt like I couldn’t breathe, everything was wooshy and I was in a permanent state of fight or flight. I had lost all sense of who I was and couldn’t have been more miserable.
I knew what I was feeling needed help and my husband encouraged me to speak to someone about it but I kept making appointments and cancelling them. Surely exercise, healthy eating, mindfulness and supplements could cure me?
I finally went to see a GP feeling like the worlds biggest failure, everything natural that was supposed to make these feelings go away wasn’t and more and more I was feeling like my family might be better off without me. Seeing my GP that day saved my life and saved my family. She put me on a low dose of Zoloft and the positive changes that came out of that can’t be measured. I finally felt like I could be me without struggling to keep my head above water, I got my life back and my kids finally got the mum they deserved all along and my husband his wife.
Seeing so much talk about natural approaches to mental illness set me back so far, feeling like a failure on top of everything else is the last thing you need. I want to tell you there is no shame what so ever in needing medication to help with mental illness. It can be a wonderful treatment option when under the right caring gp. I know going on it changed me in the most positive way forever.
Laura Flanagan xxx
If you are reading this and think that you or your partner may be suffering from Post Natal Depression than please visit or call PANDA (http://www.panda.org.au/)on 1300 726306 

Every month on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge, we run a BRAND NEW 28 Day Menu with a different theme so you NEVER get bored!
Next months theme is the WINTER! – Perfect for the chilly weather, SUPER easy to whip up and still just as healthy.
If you are curious about the 28 Day Challenge recipes then we have a 28 Day Challenge recipe pack for you to try HERE.  
Find a delicious range of healthy recipes, packed full of energy boosting ingredients and nutrients together with easy to achieve exercise.

About the 28 Day Challenge

A few key things to note are:

• The Challenge menu is FULLY customisable
• You have access to over 1700 exclusive recipes
• You have access to over 300 exercise routines
• Meals are family friendly and are made in under 10-20 minutes

For a limited time, we are offering you a HUGE DISCOUNT on the lifetime membership discount on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge – you can see this awesome offer here.

Here are some INCREDIBLE results from mums on the 28 Day Challenge.

Samara lost 15kgs* on our 28 day weight loss challenge

Samara says:  “I have lost 12kgs on the Healthy Mummy plans and smoothies! The Healthy Mummy has helped me to take control of what I can. I am getting happier and more confident with each passing day! I’m not at my goal weight yet – my body has hit the pause button – but I will not give up.  My advice – start TODAY! Don’t wait for next week or Monday, start your journey today. You will thank yourself in a week, a month, a year!

If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got! Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end”

You won’t regret it!
Join the challenge here