Comments on: Suriving Postpartum Anxiety and Depression … Twice

By: Marissa

Marissa — Wed, 17 May 2023 18:20:03 +0000

In reply to Lisa.

Hello, Lisa! Thank you so much for writing and for sharing your experience. I’m SO sorry for all you went through, and I’m also so happy you were able to get help and feel better. I totally relate to the feeling of being worried someone would take away the babies… it’s awful and so emotionally painful. Sending you so much love, and I’m with you 100 percent — let’s decrease the stigma. xo

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 17 May 2023 17:54:40 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing, Marissa! I relate so much… My postpartum depression turned into lifelong condition. My twins turned two and I’m still taking Lexapro. It was horrible during the first year and I was so afraid that my babies would be taken away if I told anyone what’s in my mind. After hospitalization and therapy, I realized that I’m not alone and I’m not my thoughts. Hope more people could see your experience and let’s try to remove the stigma around maternal mental health issues.

By: Marissa

Marissa — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 18:14:49 +0000

In reply to Natasha. Absolutely!!! You're definitely not alone. Hugs to you, Natasha!

By: Natasha

Natasha — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 06:35:37 +0000

Thank you for this! I suffer from pregnancy postpartum depression and anxiety as well as PTSD. I took me months to get help after my daughter was born and like you said, I thought that’s what all moms go through. It was such a difficult and dark time. I too . couldn’t get out of bed and couldn’t eat; every thought went catastrophic. Reading your words definitely makes me feel like I’m not alone. I’m still doing therapy I medication 22 months later but I’m in a good place now and finally feel ready to have more children. Seriously, thank you. This meant so much to see another mom get through it.

By: Good Mommy – Marissa Bader, Writer

Good Mommy – Marissa Bader, Writer — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 20:27:42 +0000

[…] story goes on — I’ve written about it several times before, like here, and here. Postpartum anxiety and depression is a real […]

By: Getting off the Train – Marissa Bader, Writer

Getting off the Train – Marissa Bader, Writer — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 20:08:16 +0000

[…] I’ve reflected often about my postpartum experiences, both after the birth of my oldest, and then after the birth of my twins. I’ve recently come to understand how dramatically this need for “doing”, “accomplishing”, “being perfect at”, and “never getting off the train” contributed (among several other factors, of course) to my two-time postpartum anxiety and depression. […]

By: Marissa

Marissa — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 19:28:52 +0000

In reply to Elaine.

Thank you so much for sharing YOUR experience here — enduring PPD and PPA at a time when it was not commonly talked about or socially accepted must have been excruciatingly difficult. But you’re absolutely right — the light at the end of the tunnel is real and there IS so much joy to be found in parenthood. Thank you for your comment!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 07:39:48 +0000

Can you believe – I am in my 90’s and reading your experiences with PPD and PPA made my own seem like just yesterday. Yes, the weeping when you know you should be happy: the curling up in such distress and your husband not knowing what to do to help: the sheer despair and death wish – oh, such a terrible time! Back then (in the ’50’s) nobody dared to admit what they were going through for fear of being considered incompetent as a mother and so, you never heard about it from others.
Doctors seemed unable to help other than a pat on the head. There is more treatment available now and the best help is for new mothers to read a story like yours and to know she is not alone. There really is “light at the end of the tunnel” once you get those hormones
under control and joy to be found in parenthood. Thank you for your honesty and frankness.

By: A Hepple

A Hepple — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 23:59:22 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story. It’s very similar to what I am going through just now. I have a 5 year old daughter and 6 month old twins! I’ve just taken the step of seeking counselling for the first time. The realisation that I was struggling… my thoughts were heading in a very morbid way too. This was scary to admit to myself. I’m thankful to read your story and how you’ve made it out the other side!

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 14:12:56 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing your story. A lot of people still don’t understand or get it which makes getting through PPD/PPA more difficult.
I didn’t get treatment until my daughter was almost 18 months old. My husband was always against medication which was hard for me since I was a psych major and I knew I should have been getting help. Now I see a therapist, I take Wellbutrin and Zoloft, and take yoga a few times a week. I ended up going part time then leaving my job to be home.
It’s constant work to take care of your wellbeing AND someone else’s. I’m also pregnant with #2 which, as you know, has it’s own anxieties. Good luck to you and all others!!