PPD

About three months after my son was born, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD.)  I had experienced severe clinical depression earlier in my life, but I thought postpartum depression wouldn’t happen to me.  I was the happiest I have ever been during my pregnancy, but when my son arrived at 35 weeks things slowly began to spiral out of control.   First I thought it was the “baby blues”–I thought I had a handle on things but once I went back to work full-time I was overcome by feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, failure, exhaustion, anger, fear, hopelessness and loneliness.

The hardest thing I have ever done was admit to my husband that I needed help.

But I am so glad that I did.

His support along with talking to my doctor, prescribed medication and counseling helped me to find my way again. If you are experiencing similar feelings, I strongly encourage you to seek help from your doctor.  It is very hard to talk about, I know, but it is so worth it in the end.  You just need to take that first step to communicate.  You can also find support groups in your area.  Please visit Postpartum Support International to look for support near you.

I have found Katherine Stone’s site Postpartum Progress incredibly helpful.  I feel she is truly an advocate for moms like me.  Her site is full of useful information.  Feeling alone?  This page on her website will link you to stories from women going through the same things you are.  You can also sign up for Daily Hope–a service that delivers words of encouragement, wisdom and hope from mothers who have made it through the other side as well as medical experts.

Lauren Hale of My Postpartum Voice hosts a PPD chat on Twitter every Monday at 1pm and 8:30pm EST.  Just follow the hashtag #PPDchat

Other PPD resources online:

Looking for a story to relate to?  You can do a search for PPD here on my blog and follow my personal journey.  You should also check out these other blogs* for inspiration:

You can make it through this.

With hugs and hope,

Lori @ I Can Grow People

*If you would like your blog added to this list, please contact me with a link via the Contact page.