Menopause is often associated with negative perceptions, such as a lifeless area signaling the end of fertility, youth, and sexuality. Women may mourn the end of a stage of life when their biological value is over - menopause is regarded as a "marker of aging" and is translated into Arabic as "Age of depression."Menopause is frequently associated with a number of unpleasant symptoms such as anxiety, depression, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, sleeplessness, difficulties concentrating, and vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats). These symptoms may stay for years after menopause.However, the lack of awareness and misunderstanding around this topic made it difficult for women to address their concerns with their healthcare provider and continue their life normally.Based on that, we invited Dr. Deemah Salem, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OBGYN) whose passion is to educate and empower women with knowledge about their health, to tell us more about this stage in a woman's life and demystify the information that surrounds this topic.Special أمParenting podcast directed to all mothers who speak arabic, discussing all parenting...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Working mothers are subject to "the maternal bias," which is the conscious or unconscious perception that a working mother cannot be effective in both career and motherhood.When a mother excels at work, people wonder how she manages to do so while simultaneously being effective at home. When a mother excels as a parent, others may assume she does not thrive at work. This bias has the potential to be undermining and demoralizing.Moms can respond to these challenges effectively by practicing self-care, setting boundaries, and communicating their needs to their partners or supportive family and friends. They can also discuss their difficulties with their children. Working mothers confront additional challenges in terms of their mental health and jobs. And, while these challenges are numerous, the benefits to employment, including financial rewards, meaning, community, and a sense of contribution drive moms to continue in their career and thrive. However, moms sometimes need to redefine their own expectations and priorities. After all, children don't want ideal mothers; they want mothers who love them.During this episode we are welcoming Ghazal Baghdadi, an educational Consultant, Founder of “علمتني كنز” and an activist in the support of women and children. She will speak about her experiences as a mother and a successful entrepreneur, as well as how she managed and balanced her job and motherhood. 

When a woman gets married, divorce is usually not her mind. When problems arise between spouses, women are forced to choose between speaking up for themselves and their rights or continuing to suffer and maintain a good family reputation.Even if both partners consent, the divorce process is stressful for both. Either person may be furious, guilty, upset, doubtful, and believe that promises were not honored or that the other did not try hard enough. What if we include society and the reactions of those who will pity the woman and her children in this process? Divorced women endure harmful rumors and difficulty in establishing new relationships. They are embarrassed and often hesitant to go out in public following the divorce because of social prejudice and stigma. In most cases, they do not have the emotional or psychological assistance they need to continue and establish their new life.It's not simple to start over after a divorce. Many women found this to be a very lonely period in their life, not only because they had lost their partner or marriage, but also because their other social relationships start to break up since the common people they know tend to take sides.Yasmine Madkour, a Somatic Therapist and Sexologist, will be with us to discuss how to begin your healing journey, regain and redefine your life, get in harmony with your body, and heal yourself after a traumatic experience so you can turn the page, set your values and beliefs, and create the life you want.

Being a mother is a wonderful journey that every woman looks forward to. And we all know that parenthood is fraught with difficulties. But what if the child is special? What if the child is diagnosed with a disability?Raising children with special needs presents huge psychological challenges for parents, which are frequently associated with anxiety, stress, isolation, and, in some cases, shame and depression. Many parents are unaware of the challenges that come with raising a child with special needs, which adds pressure and stress to a couple's lives. Not to mention the societal obstacles and opinions that lack helpful and understanding traits, also contributing to the couple's stress. Many of us have witnessed a child's "meltdown" in a store or restaurant, as well as how others judge or look at the mother. Many mothers had to explain what was "wrong" with their child aloud to other parents in order to persuade them that their child is defined by a long list of deficiencies and need specialized care. These obstacles have a huge impact on the mom’s mental health, the couple's life, the relationship with the siblings, and their anxieties for the future. Tanya Hamdan, a Parent Coach specialized in coaching parents of children with disabilities, is with us to speak on this episode about the challenges that every mom faces when raising a child with a disability and how to overcome those challenges in order to build a happy life with her partner, children, and family.

The birth of a baby can evoke a range of strong emotions for both parents, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. Yet, it can also lead to something unexpected: Depression.Many women enter this stage with no or little knowledge. Since the wedding, the only thing we hear is, "When are you having children?", but no one tells us what it entails. The only thing we know is that there are lovely images and stories on social media of pregnant women after birth and how they reshape their bodies and live in harmony with themselves, their partner and their baby.But there aren't many discussions, images, memories, or written records of what happens in reality right after delivery. It is not necessarily beautiful or appealing. And many first-time mothers have no idea what they're putting themselves into, how their bodies will alter, and how they may never completely "go back" to their pre-pregnancy lives.Aside from the challenges that a mother faces after delivering, postpartum blues, which usually include mood swings, crying episodes, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping, is one of these challenges that both partners must face and overcome. It usually starts two to three days after delivery and can last up to two weeks, disrupting mom's life and the couple’s life. In addition, some moms suffer from a more serious condition known as postpartum depression. Postpartum psychosis is an uncommon serious mood disorder that can develop after childbirth.You should understand that postpartum depression is neither a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's merely a consequence of childbirth. Getting therapy may assist the mom and the couple to manage together the symptoms and reconnect. In this episode, Diala Itani, Counselor in Mental Health,  will share her professional experience with us to talk about the signs and symptoms that women might encounter after childbirth and encourage them to seek aid for support during this journey.

The birth of a baby can evoke a range of strong emotions for both parents, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. Yet, it can also lead to something unexpected: Depression.Many women enter this stage with no or little knowledge. Since the wedding, the only thing we hear is, "When are you having children?", but no one tells us what it entails. The only thing we know is that there are lovely images and stories on social media of pregnant women after birth and how they reshape their bodies and live in harmony with themselves, their partner and their baby.But there aren't many discussions, images, memories, or written records of what happens in reality right after delivery. It is not necessarily beautiful or appealing. And many first-time mothers have no idea what they're putting themselves into, how their bodies will alter, and how they may never completely "go back" to their pre-pregnancy lives.Aside from the challenges that a mother faces after delivering, postpartum blues, which usually include mood swings, crying episodes, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping, is one of these challenges that both partners must face and overcome. It usually starts two to three days after delivery and can last up to two weeks, disrupting mom's life and the couple’s life. In addition, some moms suffer from a more serious condition known as postpartum depression. Postpartum psychosis is an uncommon serious mood disorder that can develop after childbirth.You should understand that postpartum depression is neither a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's merely a consequence of childbirth. Getting therapy may assist the mom and the couple to manage together the symptoms and reconnect. In this episode, we welcome Alaa AlChaar, Content creator and entrepreneurial consultant, founder of “Feelwellmama” and a mother of a lovely child who experienced postpartum depression and found her way out, and is now using her social media channels to raise awareness about this issue among other women. 

We are taught that life is divided into two parts: before and after marriage.Crossing to phase two, on the other hand, can be tough for both men and women, especially if they are poorly informed of what is to come. Isn't the couple's status already complicated? What if we add children into the mix?In this coupled life, society has set certain expectations, some are specific to the husband while others are specific to the wife. Although each couple's experience is unique, many similar challenges emerge among couples such as changes in relationship dynamics and anxiety that leads to conflict. However, we can easily say, that expectations and challenges that are set for the wife, the woman, the mother-to-be are much more than the man, the husband, the father-to-be, in the Arab world to say the least. For women, motherhood is culturally connected with happy feelings and fulfillment, and it is seen as one of the most important goals of every woman's life regardless of her work, status, or degree of education, yet the changes and challenges she faces in this phase, as a wife, mother-to-be and a mother are not always clear, expected or even told of. Zahra Nafaily Psychotherapist And couple therapist, joins us today to discuss life before and after marriage and how it influences women's journeys. She will talk about the difficulties of partner relationship dynamics, the shift of identity from couple to married, parenting, societal judgment, and how to stay in harmony with your own body through it all.