This is a fantastic essay on the postpartum depression experience by the blogger at Down-to-Earth Mama. Here’s a highlight, where she writes about how hard it is to talk about PPD with others:
In my personal experience, talking about it was extremely hard. I talked to Ben about it, as with him, I can fully let down my guard. But he was an overwhelmed first time dad too. I really couldn’t get across much to my family as they were states away at the time. Being so far away, it would have stressed them too much as well, yet they would have been able to do little about it (again, the genetic component). I didn’t need extra guilt their stress would have caused me (oh, and that guilt wouldn’t have come from them. It is just par for the course growing up Catholic).
We were living with my in-laws at the time, so I felt like I was a bit under the microscope. While my mother-in-law and I have an excellent relationship (I consider her a second mother), I really didn’t feel like I could completely open up to her about all that I was feeling either. I mean, risk looking completely insane? To your mother-in-law? To whom you have just given a grandchild? Well, I really didn’t feel comfortable doing that. On top of that, I have this need to maintain control (not of others, but myself and my personal situation). If I don’t have control, I feel the need to maintain this facade, for better or worse. I did not feel secure in letting anyone into the madness brewing in my brain.
You can read the whole post here.
