Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diana (Di) Bamford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Diana (Di), thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

When I was in the depths of my postpartum journey, feeling the most alone I’ve ever felt in life. By this time I have been diagnosed as having Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and OCD with soft symptoms of postpartum psychosis. I had the support of a therapist, psychiatrist, medication, my family and a group of women who saved my life.

I remember one day in a park, there were about 6 of us with our babies and our postpartum journeys all of us had been diagnosed with severe postpartum mood disorders. We used to go to a postpartum support group, that’s how we met and soon enough we stopped going to the group and we met on our own in nature, it was blind leading the blind.

That day at the park we took a picture of our babies, and we were all chatting about how different it will be in 20years. I remember thinking, I can’t wait. Because my postpartum journey had been so scary and challenging that I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I felt guilty for having that thought, what kind of mother can’t enjoy her baby.

One of the mamas leaned in and said me neither, I looked at her wide eyed since she just read my mind! She said I know what you’re thinking because I feel the same way. We both laughed and she said WE ARE NOT BAD MOMS, we are just taking a little longer. And that was the sweetest thing I needed to hear, I didn’t feel alone, I felt heard and seen.

It’s been 20years and till this day I think of her and all the women in that group that really saved my life. It takes a village they say. It takes the right kind of village with a little edge of crazy.

Diana (Di), love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Diana Curiel Bamford. Most know me as Di. I am a Maternal Mental Health Advocate, Postpartum Energy Therapist, Certified Peer Support Specialist and 200Hr Yoga Instructor. I have the honor to serve on the board of Thrive Wellness Collective as the Outreach Director and Grant Administrator. Thrive Wellness Collective is a 501c3 organization that strives to make midwifery and holistic healthcare accessible to everyone, no matter their economic status. These services are partnered with the education needed to assure better birth outcomes and lifelong wellness. I serve as a member and volunteer with The Postpartum Health Alliance .

I am a proud mother of 3, happily married to a talented Luthier, Musician and patient loving husband. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), formerly known as Postpartum Depression, SURVIVOR!

My passion to empower mothers and break the stigma around Maternal Mental Health (MMH), arises from my own journey experiencing PMADs.

My Journey began November 2003 when my first son was 2 months old. I couldn’t place why I was feeling more depressed by the minute with anxiety rising, thoughts flaring and feeling like I didn’t fit in my own skin. Unaware, I was suffering from Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and OCD with soft symptoms of psychosis and I was feeling extremely overwhelmed. This experience almost took my life and the life of my baby.

Being Latina I kept quiet about what I was feeling for a long time, due to the fear of being judged and the guilt that consumed me. Unfortunately the culture taught me that if you are pregnant you should feel happy, if you have a baby, you should be happy. A baby is a blessing and any negative thought around the baby will have an effect in a negative way, so I suffered in silence.

The journey was long and the recovery was even longer.

In 2006, still not fully recovered from PPA, PPD, OCD and PTSD, I gave birth to my second son.

This time, aware of what to expect, I built a better force around me. While OCD and PTSD were no longer an issue, I was still suffering with PPD and high Anxiety.

I found my recovery process getting lighter this time by joining a postpartum support group here in San Diego . Mommy and baby activities, during and after the group helped, made me feel like I was not alone.

I was able to find my breath, my voice and a space to connect with my baby, which allowed me to feel grounded and no longer lost. This gave me a sense of empowerment that I was in control of my thoughts and feelings. The Journey was long in my case, but like the lotus, I grew through muddy waters and in the end I BLOOMED!

My passion is to empower moms and break the stigma around Maternal Mental Health (MMH). I now dedicate my life to bring awareness to Perinatal Mental Health Disorders and Maternal Mental Health through presentations, conferences and workshops. Partnering up with those who are involved and deeply connected to improve the wellbeing of mothers and their babies. Working with Thrive Wellness Collective has given me the opportunity to work with those with a common goal and to be one step closer to build the very first Intensive Outpatient Clinic (IOP) for Maternal Mental Health in San Diego. Which we so desperatly need.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I will go with SURVIVING my postpartum journey, with the type of diagnoses I had and how the system failed me. I count being alive now, not giving into the intrusive/terrifying thoughts 20years ago and trusting that I wouldn’t feel that despair forever gave me hope and allows me to do the work I do now.

To remind other mothers that are suffering in silence, that they are not alone, and that the horrible way they are feeling won’t last forever.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Lesson: Ask for help. Backstory: Old conditioning.

I had to learn to trust and lean on other’s through my postpartum journey, to ask for help even when I felt I could do it all on my own,

Why was it so hard? Because I was raised as a strong Latina woman, from a very young age I was told I could do it all, I did not need a man by my side to save me or do anything for me. (Not that women need saving, but it feels good to be cared for) I didn’t need to ask for help, strong women can do it all and more. Incapable women ask for help, and I was raised capable and more. So I wouldn’t ask for help, I will struggle all on my own and get through the day beat to shreds and a fragile mental state but I would not ask for help, in this case in the form of can you come over take care of my baby so I can shower.

It took the best part of my postpartum journey to reprogram the belief that women/mothers were weak if they asked for help. It was countless hours of therapy that allowed me to put my life in perspective and see where I was, what my environment was like and to appreciate how far I’ve come and all I’ve overcome with the support of people in my community who believed I will get better and love me. But most importantly I begin to love, accept and appreciate myself not only for me, but for my baby.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thejourneyofthelotus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diana.c.bamford/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianacurielbamford/
• Other: https://thrivewellnesscollective.org/

Image Credits
Sierra Alford, Ellie Coburn