A mom on the website MomLogic has written a very poignant post called "I Am a Mom and I Am an Alcoholic". There is no name of the author listed, nor is the article open to comments, which is disappointing because I'd like to thank her for her honesty.

The woman who writes happens to be a psychotherapist. In heryouth shebecomesan addict, but gets sober at the age of 20 and remains that way for more than a decade. Her mother-in-law dies whenshe is pregnant with her first child, and she suffers a terrible bout of postpartum depression and anxiety, and begins drinking again. Her own mother dies 2 weeks before her second child is born, and her anxiety, and thus her addiction, gets worse.

"At 8 months pregnant, my husband's mom died suddenly, and it took much of his time and energy to process his shock and grief over this loss. After I had my son, my mom's cancer (which had been in remission for several years) returned full force and she was given 2 years to live. I was flattened by postpartum depression and anxiety, which despite my clinical background, totally pulled the rug out from under me …"

I spent the next few years battling alcoholism and addiction. I stayed sober during my second pregnancy and controlled my drinking while nursing. At 7 months pregnant my mom's cancer took a major turn for the worse. She died exactly two weeks before my daughter was born. After I brought my baby girl home from the hospital, the grief, pain, sadness and anxiety I felt was indescribable."

The author finally went to get treatment and is now 17 months sober.

This is a veryimportant subject to me as I know women whohave becomealcoholics to blunt the pain of postpartum depression. Some became that way a long time ago, back when there were no toll-free numbers or support groups and nowhere to turn to get help. Some become that way in this day and age because they are afraid to or don't want to seekprofessional help and theydon't know any other way tomake themselves feel better.The negativeimpact of mothers who drink alcohol and take drugs while pregnant or breastfeeding or raising infants is rarely discussed, but this is another reason why identifying women with postpartum depression and anxiety is so important.

I have great empathyfor women like this author. Itis a difficult and destructive road. As the author writes in the conclusion of her article, "If you are reading this and finding yourself relating to parts of my story, please know that there is a way out of this destructive cycle. You are not alone."

If you have postpartum depression or anxiety, you are NOT alone. You can get help and get better.