About Aasaa
Mental health
I am a mother to beautiful seven-year-old boy, and I work full-time in London within the Lloyds market. As a result, some people see me simply as a ‘working mum’. However, there’s so many different branches to that title. There is so much more than just “I work and I’m a mum”.
Beyond the portrait
Sometimes I wonder if people created this perception of me based around happiness and joy. I was a young working mother early in my career, and it’s easy to assume I didn’t have many worries. However, behind my big smiles and my big personality is a turbulent journey that seems to take people by surprise.
Mum guilt was always a thing. I would always try to stretch myself to be in two places at once, so I wouldn’t miss anything at work or miss any time with my son. But as you do that, you learn that you can’t be everywhere all the time.
In December 2020 I was diagnosed with depression and high functioning anxiety. That was a real turning point in my life. It led me to deal with things in different ways. I had to be mum and work so that I can run my household but also get well - that was all I saw.
Embracing the power of my difference
After a long and hard journey, and by working with people who genuinely cared about work-life balance, I was able to come through that dark period of my life. I took back control of my identity at work, and I still having an amazing relationship with my son.
Building #BraverCultures
I see everything I have been through as a blessing. I reconnected with myself and I learned more about myself. I work smarter now, in a way that means I can do the things that I need to do for my family and return to work keeping the two separate.
Everything added to my purpose and it almost became more of a motivation, teaching me that there is nothing that I cannot do if I put my mind to it. My experience led me to accept that it does take a village – not just to raise a child, but to get you through your good and bad days and to be able to successfully own who you are. I’m not just Mum, not just an employee, and not just somebody with depression & anxiety. I am an incredibly strong person.