You wouldn’t guess by looking at this picture that I was severely depressed.
That’s the funny thing about postpartum depression. It can be so hard to detect in women, friends, co-workers.
When I googled “postpartum depression help” to gather resources for this page, a HUGE list of websites popped up. It about brought tears to my eyes. While I am happy there are so many resources available now to help women with postpartum depression, seeing this list on google brought a sense of grief. It left me wondering how my story might have played out if there were resources then like there are now, like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. If there was anything of the sort twelve years ago, I didn’t know about it or it wasn’t easily accessible.
The purpose of my site is to share with you my story and what helped me. I hope it will give you encouragement to keep going as well as offer spiritual help. So, instead of reinventing the wheel, I decided to rely on those with much more knowledge than I have and give you a list of helpful websites on postpartum depression.
I know it can be hard to even think about mustering up the energy to get help. But please, be brave and take that step. Make that phone call. If you can’t make the call, tell your closest loved one and have them do it. Don’t be afraid or feel shame if you need to go to a treatment center. Postpartum depression is an illness and one that can be treated. You wouldn’t feel guilty for going to the doctor for pneumonia or diabetes. This is even more important because not one but two lives are at stake–yours and your baby. You are both worth fighting for!
Read more about my experience and how we knew I had postpartum depression.