Cycle Breaker and Change Maker | “With That Pain, I Found My Purpose” | Renata Ortega Interviews Annalisa

Annalisa Vicente is a wife and proud mother of two amazing boys. She is an early childhood educator, motherhood coach, and best-selling author. Annalisa is a passionate maternal mental health advocate. She is determined to break the stigma around mental illness by normalizing vulnerability. Her journey has been deeply enriched by her work with children with diverse needs and their families, teaching her the profound impact of resilience and compassionate care. Annalisa’s mission is to inspire women in community, through meaningful connections, and creative expression to strengthen their self-compassion so that they feel seen, heard, and heal.

You can follow Annalisa at:

www.annalisavicente.com
www.instagram.com/annalisa_awakened
www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lisa-vicente-92831765

Transcript

Annalisa Vicente: Yes. Yeah,…

Renata Ortega: So today we have Anna Lisa on the Cycle Breaker and Changemaker podcast. Anna Lisa, could you please tell the audience what you do professionally?

Annalisa Vicente: Ranata. Hi everyone. my name is Anna Lisa. I've been an early childhood educator for the past 12 years. I still I still work in the field, but my main title now is I call myself a motherhood coach. So, I'm a certified life and wellness coach and I support moms that are feeling overwhelmed and…

Renata Ortega: Amazing. And…

Annalisa Vicente: help them shift from surviving to thriving.

Renata Ortega: how did you get on this journey? Are you a mom yourself? what motivated you to become doing what you're doing today?

Annalisa Vicente: Yeah, for sure.

Annalisa Vicente: it was born out of actually a painful experience with the birth of my second son. I developed postpartum depression and anxiety short after. And on my healing journey, I was rediscovering who I was and I was getting better. And I realized that moms need more support than just, a couple of doctor visits a year.  And I really was discovering that a lot of moms were kind of suffering in silence and accepting that life in motherhood is supposed to be hard and exhausting and overwhelming and we kind of just need to suck it up. and so I made it my mission to support moms that are struggling in motherhood.

Annalisa Vicente: not just necessarily new moms, but any mom that is trying to juggle and navigate their mental health, their career, their family, their social life, their relationships with their spouse. So, it was kind of born out of that pain and suffering. So, I guess with that pain, I found my purpose in life. And it's been kind of an uphill battle, this whole entrepreneur thing, but I'm always trying to remember my why,…

Renata Ortega: Amazing. …

Annalisa Vicente: why did I choose to do that? and that's why. So, yeah, that's pretty much it.

Renata Ortega: thank you for sharing that. I also suffered from postpartum depression with my second child and I didn't expect it because I didn't experience it with my first. I had a little bit of postpartum anxiety with my first, but it really felt like it came out of nowhere. And the best way I could try to describe it to people around me is I felt like I was in deep emotional pain, hung over and I was in a black hole all the time. It was really, really challenging. So, I'm sorry that you went through that and…

Renata Ortega: And I'm really grateful that you exist for other mothers out there that need help because it is a really tough time. I was wondering if you could share an example of a cycle or cycles that you have broken in your own life.

Annalisa Vicente: Thank you for sharing your personal experience with postpartum depression.

Annalisa Vicente: I really appreciate your vulnerability. an example of me being a cycle breaker …

Renata Ortega: So, anything in your life where you feel that you've made a positive change broken, it could be a generational cycle.  It could be helping someone else to break a cycle.

Annalisa Vicente: that's such a great question. I think I would say I was raised in a culture and also I guess a religion that mothers have to be the martyr in a family.

Annalisa Vicente: and I learned this the hard developing depression, anxiety after my second son was born. I was really trying to prove that I could meet those standards of being a martyr mom. always putting my family first, ignoring my needs. And, on this healing journey, I really learned that moms need to put themselves first.  we need to take care of our own basic needs first. And it's not selfish to prioritize self-care or whatever that may look like and time for ourselves. And so it's definitely been a long journey.

Annalisa Vicente: I wouldn't say that I'm I figured it out, but it's really letting go of that guilt that and giving myself permission to take that time away from my family, whatever that looks reading a book, going to a cafe, meeting a friend, all those little things that I stopped doing for myself in that time when I was really suffering in silence. because I really wanted to prove to my friends, I guess even society that I could, juggle motherhood with two really young kids and go to school and grow my career and all those things. And I think it left me s really empty and feeling like I'm drowning in all the responsibilities. And so breaking that cycle is definitely going to always be a journey.

Annalisa Vicente: I don't think it'll ever really go away all the duties and…

Annalisa Vicente: responsibilities that I am responsible for. But I think breaking that cycle of just self-sacrificing and overgiving

Renata Ortega: I think that's really admirable and…

Renata Ortega: it's really challenging when you're dealing with generations and generations of expectations that are put upon new mothers and it really is not possible to do it all. It's just we're humans and we have strengths and weaknesses and we also have our limits. So there's only so many hours in the day and…

Renata Ortega: so much energy that we have. So why was it important to you particularly to break the cycle of being the smarter mom as you described?

Annalisa Vicente: Yeah, it was important I think for my mental health specifically.

Annalisa Vicente: It was so tough to let go of the unlearning that I've kind of been trained to be very passive with my own needs. and to just unselfishly always give to everybody and not willing to accept help was huge for me.

Annalisa Vicente: and just keeping silent about it. I felt like I wasn't allowed to complain, cuz I did have support. but it was still hard. I was still struggling with the support of my parents and my in-laws.  And so, yeah, I think it was most important for my mental health because when I was in it, struggling in that anxiety and depression, it made me really resentful and angry, but also really sad and empty. And I just didn't know what I was like, why I was feeling those things. And then, I finally got help for it.

Annalisa Vicente: And yeah, it's changed my life. remembering myself and…

Annalisa Vicente: putting myself first in times of when I really need it the most has helped me. I don't know. I hope I answered that question.

Renata Ortega: Yeah, you did a great job.

Renata Ortega: And it's one of the things that's so important to remember, but it's easy to forget in those dark times is it's not your fault and you can't ask for help. and there's reasons why there's teams, medically trained professionals that focus their entire careers on a mother's mood after having a baby. excuse me. So it's definitely not your fault and it can feel overwhelming and surprising when it happens and unexpected even if you have help because it' It's an internal thing that you struggle with.

Renata Ortega: So I was wondering if you could now share an example of an action where you've taken to make meaningful change. So we've talked about a cycle that you've broken…

Renata Ortega: which is very admirable and now I'd love to focus on meaningful change that you've made.

Annalisa Vicente: I guess in my personal life or…

Annalisa Vicente: just I guess in general Yeah.

Renata Ortega: It can be in general. for example, I think that the fact that you're coaching other people and you've gone through the work to get there. I think that's an example of meaningful change. You're welcome to talk about that or anything else that you're comfortable with.

Annalisa Vicente: Yeah, definitely like investing in my own being personally and professionally has really helped. and…

Annalisa Vicente: yeah, sorry, I'm just trying to think. There's so many things that I've done like that have really helped me. sorry, can you repeat the question again?

Renata Ortega: Yeah, absolutely.

Renata Ortega: So, an example you've taken to make meaningful change.

Annalisa Vicente: Okay.

Annalisa Vicente: I was thinking of something else. meaningful change. yeah, one of the things was getting certified in life and wellness coaching. that was the first step because in the program there's a slogan that says the first life you change is your own. And I just fell in love with the coaching model. I love how it's not just a conversation like you're helping people change their life and that's such a huge reward and responsibility as a coach to do that.

Annalisa Vicente: And another thing I think in making meaningful change is I'm a huge advocate for mental health and more specifically maternal mental health and it's just always been on the work I do it's not just a title because I know a lot of people say I'm a mental health advocate and that's great and I respect anybody that's in that passion in that realm but being part of postpartum support international Canada has really opened my eyes to how the perinatal mental health is so it's really an un underserved demographic and being part of the team and helping them advocate for awareness and spreading the word about these services that they're offering.

Annalisa Vicente: It's a nonprofit and it's really changed my life. I've had opportunities that I probably would have never had to be part of the change in creating some sort of mental health care system in Canada. and so it's been a wonderful journey working with them and volunteering my time creating social media for them as well.  So, it's just been really so impactful and I feel like I'm actively a maternal mental health advocate. it's not just a title for me and it is a lot of work but it's the work I love doing.

Annalisa Vicente: So, I'm just very grateful for all of that.

Renata Ortega: That's amazing and…

Renata Ortega: such an great example of change and such a great example of change and you're helping not only the women that are currently dealing with mental health struggles after having children, but you're helping generations to come. I honestly believe that because a mother that's supported can be a better and more present parent to their children, which in turns fosters children that grow up with a sound sense of self and security and safety. And as my final question for today is,…

Renata Ortega: what piece of advice do you have for others that are facing the same challenges you faced? And yeah, if you could please share what advice you have for them.

Annalisa Vicente: Yeah, for sure.

Annalisa Vicente: I think for me it was the self-awareness piece that I was struggling with my mental health specifically. and I mean everything kind of trickles down there with physical and emotional and spiritual and all that stuff, but I think really reaching out for help.

Annalisa Vicente: I always talk about it in my book but also with other people that I called 811 and that's just tellahalth Ontario and I spoke to a nurse that was so kind and supportive and really held space for me because I was just balling on the phone I was crying so much and she just was so quiet and she's like no take your time and I told her that I had symptoms that I was really suffering  and she gave me resources and gave me advice as what to do next. And so it was really being aware of what my body was telling me and really being intuitive in that sense and then having the courage to ask for help cuz I think for a long time I wasn't even talking to about it with my husband or my friends or anybody.

Annalisa Vicente: I really kept it in. And I think when you keep it inside it can only last there for too long until your body starts to tell you kind of push you to get help anyway. But I would definitely say is the self-awareness piece. Be aware of what you're feeling, how you're thinking. and the second step is to reach out and ask for help. and then the third step is to accept help and to kind of let go of control. I'm definitely a control freak sometimes. So, letting people help you is the best thing you can do for yourself if you have the opportunity to.

Annalisa Vicente: I know some moms don't, but there's so many resources, support systems out there that are yeah,…

Annalisa Vicente: specific to supporting moms, parents. it's just finding the right resources.

Renata Ortega: Wonderful. And so you said you called,…

Renata Ortega: was it 811 that you called?

Annalisa Vicente: Yeah, it's 811. And it's just I guess like the teleaalth Ontario helpline. So you automatically get connected to a nurse and…

Renata Ortega: And you also mentioned a book.

Annalisa Vicente: then that nurse will kind of guide you based on what needs you need in that time.

Renata Ortega: I would love to hear more about your book.

Annalisa Vicente: So it's a co-authored book. It's called The Lighthouse Project Volume 2. And so it's part of a series called The Lighthouse Project.

Annalisa Vicente: And yeah, it was launched last September 2024. And yeah, it reached Amazon's bestseller list. So it was such an exciting experience cuz yeah,…

Annalisa Vicente: I just never thought my first book would go to best seller. But it was such a wonderful rewarding experience to be able to share my story. Yeah. …

Renata Ortega: Wonderful. And so…

Renata Ortega: where can listeners pick up that book? On Amazon Amazing.

Annalisa Vicente: you can purchase on Amazon and in stores as well. I think as an ebook and I also sell copies through Instagram my website, but it's just kind of word of mouth right now. U but you can yes buy it on Amazon.

Renata Ortega: Wonderful. Thank you so much for your time today,…

Renata Ortega: Analisa. I've really appreciated having you on and getting to know more about you and your businesses as well.

Annalisa Vicente: Thank you so much,…

Annalisa Vicente: It was nice meeting you too and chatting with you today. Thank you for this opportunity.