I know you want to know that you are not the only one. It doesn’t matter whether you have postpartum depression or something else, what types of symptoms you have, or whether you are pregnant, have just given birth, are 1 year postpartum, have just adopted a baby or recently experienced perinatal loss. You want to see you aren’t a special case … the only one in the world who is like this.
Well, you aren’t! On this page, I’ve gathered some of the evidence for you, organized in groups, so that you can easily find stories, symptoms, struggles and feelings that are similar to yours. We address antenatal depression, postpartum depression and anxiety, psychosis, and so much more. I hope this helps you to see that you are not alone and that there are a lot of people who understand.
ILLNESSES
Depression during Pregnancy (Antenatal Depression)
* On How It Feels to Be Depressed During Pregnancy
* The Black Hole of Antenatal Depression
* On Being Depressed & Pregnant
* Robbed of the Joy of Pregnancy
Postpartum Anxiety and OCD
* The Endless What-Ifs of Postpartum Anxiety
* Does Having Scary Thoughts Mean You’ll Act on Them?
* On What She Wishes Someone Had Told Her About Postpartum Anxiety
* A Toolkit for Postpartum Anxiety & Panic Symptoms
* A Therapist Shares Her Personal Experience with Postpartum OCD
* Postpartum Anxiety & Intrusive Thoughts: One Mom’s Story
Postpartum Depression
* The Symptoms of Postpartum Depression & Anxiety (in Plain Mama English)
* How Many Women Get Postpartum Depression? The Statistics
* Do You Need to Have A Reason to Have PPD?
* The Six Stages of Postpartum Depression
* 20 Things I Never Want to Hear or Read Again, PPD Edition
* Coping With PPD: Do You Cry In the Shower or Hide in the Bed?
* Six Things That Affect How Long Your PPD Will Last
* The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Postpartum PTSD and Childbirth Trauma
* Postpartum PTSD & the Concept of Mental Defeat
* Mom Recounts How Her Childbirth Trauma Led to Postpartum PTSD
* Two Online Communities for Birth Trauma
* Postpartum PTSD Risk Factors and Symptoms
Postpartum Psychosis
* The Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis (in Plain Mama English)
* Naked on the Side of the Road: One Mom’s Story of Postpartum Psychosis
* Postpartum Psychosis Higher in First-Time Mothers
Post Adoption Depression
* Post-Adoption Depression: Adoptive Mothers Need Not Suffer in Silence
* Post-Adoption Depression: On What Stopped This Mom From Leaving Her Baby At Target
Depression After Miscarriage or Stillbirth
* What is the Difference Between Grief & Depression After Miscarriage or Pregnancy Loss?
* 3 Ways to Support Women Who’ve Experienced Pregnancy Loss
* Postpartum Depression After Miscarriage or Stillbirth
Dysphoric Milk-Ejection Reflex (D-Mer), or Depression Only During Breastfeeding
* For Moms Who Feel Bad Before Breastfeeding, This May Be Why
* Bad Feelings During Breastfeeding
SYMPTOMS
Feeling Overwhelmed
* The Overwhelming Feeling of Being A Mom With Postpartum Depression
Anger, Rage, Irritability
* The Rage of Postpartum Depression
* Uncontrollable Anger Can Be Part of PPD
Compulsions
* Obsessed With Cleaning & Organizing: Coping With Postpartum Anxiety
* Trying to Kill the Pain of PPD By Overspending
Difficulty Making Decisions
* Dads Must Deal with Indecisiveness During PPD
Disconnection/Lack of Bonding
* When Bonding Isn’t Immediate: Feeling Like You Don’t Love Your Baby Enough
* Postpartum Depression & the Feeling of Feeling Nothing For Your Baby
* Love in the Time of Postpartum Depression
Intrusive Thoughts
* A Primer on Intrusive Thoughts
* Postpartum Anxiety & Intrusive Thoughts: One Mom’s Story
* Does Having Scary Thoughts Mean You’ll Act on Them?
Insomnia/Sleep Problems
* Moms Need Sleep to Help Stave Off Depression
Mania
* The Difference Between Hypomania & Mania
* The Enticing Euphoria of Hypomania
Panic Attacks
* Postpartum Panic Attacks Give Way To Postpartum Joy
* Postpartum Panic Attacks: One Mom’s Experience of Full-Scale Fear
Perfectionism
* Postpartum Depression & the Pain of Perfectionism
* How Perfectionism Can Be a Sign of Postpartum Depression
Self-Doubt
* When PPD Beliefs Become Truths: On Self-Doubt
* The Unrelenting Self-Doubt & Second-Guessing of Postpartum Depression
RISK FACTORS
Diabetes
* Women with Diabetes Twice As Likely to Suffer from PPD
Infertility Treatments
* Postpartum Depression After Infertility
Childbirth Trauma
* Emergency C-Sections & Pre-eclampsia Increase Risk for PPD
* Pregnant Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum at Risk for PPD
Childhood Trauma
* Helpless & Small In the Dark: Childhood Trauma & PPD
Difficult Relationship With Your Own Mother
* How Your Own Mother & Childhood Can Impact Postpartum Depression
* Childhood Trauma & Finding Elusive Mother Love
Eating Disorders
* Study Finds History of Eating Disorders A Risk Factor for PPD
Miscarriage or Perinatal Loss
* Previous Perinatal Loss Is Predictor of Postpartum Depression
Mothers of Multiples
* Mothers of Multiples Have Twice the Risk of PPD
* Mom of Twins Gets No Help From Her OB for Postpartum Depression
Past Physical or Sexual Abuse
* Resources for New Moms Who’ve Suffered Past Sexual Abuse
* Abused Latinas Have Higher Risk of Postpartum Depression
Thyroid Problems
* Is Your Thyroid Making You Depressed?
* Thyroid Problems in Women & Postpartum Depression
TREATMENT
Alternative Treatments
* Study Shows Acupuncture Works to Relieve Depression During Pregnancy
Finding A Doctor or Therapist
* Told It’s a 5-Month Wait to See A Psychiatrist? Tips on What To Do Next
* Need Help Finding A PPD Specialist?
* Tips on Low and No-Cost Treatment for PPD & Anxiety
* 5 Reasons Why Asking for Help Sucks
Inpatient Hospitalization
* Opening Up About Hospitalization for Postpartum Depression
* Tips on Inpatient Psychiatric Care
* Straight Talk About Hospitalization and Postpartum Depression
Medication
* No Judgment Allowed: What Saves One Mom May Not Save Another
* Postpartum Depression & The Stigma of Happy Pills
* Your Questions Answered About Being on Medication for Postpartum Depression
* Postpartum Depression With A Side Order of Side Effects
* Practical Advice on Antidepressants & Weight Gain
Therapy
* What To Do When Your Therapist Isn’t Working For You
* Is Therapy A Crutch? (video)
MAJOR ISSUES
Breastfeeding
* Toughing It Out With PPD to Breastfeed: An Expert Weighs In
* Letting Go of the Guilt of Not Breastfeeding
* From Boob to Bottle: The Unnecessary Shame of Quitting Breastfeeding
* Which Psychiatric Medications Are Safe During Breastfeeding?
Insurance
* How to Get Help if You Have PPD & No Insurance
Religion
* Islam & Postpartum Depression
* Postpartum Depression Resources for Different Religious Faiths
* How Spirituality Can Impact Recovery from Postpartum Depression
* Mormon Mom On How Faith Helped Her Through PPD
RECOVERY
Going Back to Work
* How to Handle Going Back to Work with PPD
Parenting
* Have I Wrecked My Child’s Life?: Parenting After PPD
* Tips on Parenting Well While Suffering A Mental Illness
* What Have I Wrought? Postpartum Depression’s Impact On Our Children
* Parenting with A Mental Illness
Having Another Child
* Having A Child After PPD (Video)
* This Valentine’s For You (What I Want You To Know About Having Another Baby)
* To Have or Have Not: Should You Stop Having Children After You’ve Had PPD?
* How To Prepare For the Next Baby
Relationship/Marriage Issues
* Keeping Your Relationship On Track During Postpartum Depression
* How PPD Affects Your Marriage or Partnership
* Postpartum Depression’s Impact on Marriages & Divorce
* When Dads & Partners Don’t Seem To Get It
Setbacks
* How Recovering from PPD Is Like Playing Chutes & Ladders
* Relapsing on the Road to Recovery from Postpartum Depression
* Postpartum Depression: The Fight Isn’t Always Pretty
Self-Care
* Finding Balance Between Body, Mind & Social Network During Post partum Depression
* Why Mindfulness Should Matter to Moms With Post partum Depression
* The Ands & Buts of Post partum Depression
This page is a work in progress, so if you feel like there is a section missing or something that really needs to be addressed here, let us know at postpartumprogress@gmail.com. We want to make sure you feel represented here!!!
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