winding path through trees Last week was a big week here at Postpartum Progress. It was the site’s 10th anniversary, and therefore the 10th anniversary of Katherine’s start as a powerful advocate for women with postpartum depression and similar mood disorders. In celebrating that anniversary, you may have seen stories from a whole list of women who credit Katherine and her work with saving their lives and getting them to where they are today.

But what if you’re not better? What if you’re still fighting PPD?

Being exposed to a slew of stories from people who did recover and who are better while you’re not can leave you with questions of, “Why me?” Or, “Why not me? Why are they better when I’m not?”

You may feel as though you have done everything you’re supposed to and it hasn’t worked. You might wonder why it’s seemingly easy for some people but not for you. And you might look at all that celebrating and feel like giving up.

What I want you to know is this: You will get better.

What I can’t tell you is when that will happen or what will work or how you will know you’re past the worst of it.

All of us who have struggled and who can now say things like, “You saved my life” walked a long road to get there. We had good days and bad days and a glimmer of light before the darkness enveloped us again. We tried things that didn’t work and then found some that did. For some it may have been relatively easy,while others fought hard and long.

None of that may be reassuring for you, I know. You might be tired of fighting. You might feel bitter that life has tossed you something that requires so much work and energy and effort to get past. Or you might just not be able to see your own glimmer of light.

You don’t have to just trust that it will eventually be okay. I guess what I want you to know is that it’s okay if you look at the happy stories and want to throw something against your screen. It’s okay to be angry that your story is not among them, at least not yet.

So keep going, dear Warrior Mom. Keep fighting. Ask those of us on the other side for help, and we’ll be waiting here with open arms when you get here and are ready to share your own success story.