My interview with Mental Health Warriors TV

I was invited to be interviewed by Dorota Chioma from Mental Health Warriors TV at the beginning of January. I know Dorota well as she used to be a participant in my MumsAid: The art of Self Expression Workshops. Please tune in and have a listen to this open conversation about art, mental health, motherhood, the process of creativity, the workshops I run for MumsAid and much more.

During this interview, we discuss my personal journey as a person, a mother, an artist and an art facilitator and how I deal with ongoing mental health issues such as grief, self-worth and older trauma from pregnancy, childbirth, and the stress of caring for a very unsettled baby. How life has a habit of throwing you curve balls that you aren’t prepared for. No one prepares you for the possibility of a difficult pregnancy or birth.

I have always been passionate about art and becoming an artist, or working within the discipline of art. I studied Graphic Design for my BA in Iran and I came to London to study further in a new environment for my MA in Illustration. Most tutors agreed that I would do better as a Fine Artist as my ideas were more philosophical. I am interested in portraying the mystery of a human soul and the depth of emotions rather than stories and images usually associated with illustration.

Throughout my life’s journey, with all its unexpected events, I have found the process of art making so liberating and healing. A new language that minimises the misunderstanding that can come with words, you simply take or interpret what YOU can see or take from an image, it’s a very different way of communicating

When my son was born prematurely I stopped drawing or using my creativity in the ways I knew and poured all my energy into caring for him. I truly believed that I had lost the ability to draw or paint.

After losing my dad unexpectedly, and not having the opportunity to see him and say goodbye, I experienced the full spectrum of grief. I had many layers of grief relating to my abrupt pregnancy and traumatic childbirth as well to manage. I was consumed by my grief and the only way I could find to express it was to put black ink on paper and through reading poetry. I didn’t have the words to describe how I felt, but once more I was drawing, I started to make little black drawings in memory of my dad and I haven’t stopped drawing since. That was nine years ago.

I am delighted and fortunate enough that I have been able to develop these ideas into workshops for women and mothers like myself to re-introduce to them how to be creative in their own way and how to access that spark of joy inside themselves.

I provide the space and encouragement for them to be creative. It’s like taking a fish to the sea, they swim eagerly once they are released from their little bowl of limited beliefs around creativity.

Please also share this recording with anyone you may think needs to hear what I have to say about this topic. Spread the word…

Should you like to take part in my workshops please do get in touch I am organising in-person/one to one or zoom sessions very soon.

Creativity can truly help and support us in processing difficult emotions.