Choosing the top writers on postpartum depression each year is one of the hardest jobs I have. There are so many courageous mamas out there writing beautiful things. When I started doing this a few years ago there just weren’t that many of you writing about antenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety. Now there are so many, sprinkling every corner of the internet with inspiration and understanding for pregnant and new mothers. It makes this nearly impossible!
In the past, I have chosen ten writers or thereabouts. But now? How can I choose just ten? So I’ve expanded to 20 this year. And please know that when I select just these 20, it’s to honor the beauty and honesty of these 20 mothers’ words but also to represent every single one of you who is saying out loud what so many feel they must keep silent.
Here are Postpartum Progress’ top 20 writers on antenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety in 2011, in no particular order:
1. Jill Williams Krause, Babyrabies, Acceptance: Postpartum Anxiety & Me
2. Erin Margolin, Postpartum Hell or Where Are My Pills?
3. Susan, Learned Happiness, Antenatal Depression: Part 1 and Part II
4. Cristi Comes, Motherhood Unadorned, I’m Not A Bad Mom Because I Take Medication (this post started her awesome “I’m Not A Bad Mom” series)
5. Kimberly Morand, All Work & No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something, Just What the Psychiatrist Never Ordered and Tales from the Plaid Couch and A Smile That’s Worth 1000 Words
6. Yael Saar, PPD to Joy, The Opportunities in Setbacks, And Rainy Day Letters (this post started her awesome “Rainy Day Letters” series)
7. Lexi, MammyWoo, A Whole Lot of Nakedness & the Odd Truth,
8. Robin Farr, Farewell Stranger: The Circle of PPD
9. Addye, Butterfly Confessions, An Initial Diagnosis
10. Katie Sluiter, Sluiter Nation, I Won’t Be Like Her and Dear Me
11. Lauren Hale, My Postpartum Voice, An Angry Sea
12. Becky Harks, The Stir, Barely Surviving Prepartum Depression (about antenatal depression)
13. Amber Koter-Puline, Beyond Postpartum, On Being Depressed vs. Suffering from Depression
14 Grace, Arms Wide Open, It’s In the Details
15. Nish Weiseth, The Outdoor Wife, An Unwelcome Visitor
16. Alena Chandler, Charmingly Chandler, What It Looks Like When PPD Attacks
17. Miranda Wicker, Not Super Just Mom, Haunted
18. Suzanne Stanard, Pretty Swell, Scared
19. Jaime, James and Jax, I Barely Remember My PPD
20. Casey Mullins, B-Day D-Day
If I left a deserving person off of this list, goodness knows it wasn’t on purpose. It’s just nearly impossible to keep track of you all. So who did we miss? Link up your favorites here as well, in the comments, so that we can read even more great posts on PPD.
Photo credit: © Maksim Samasiuk – Fotolia.com
Thanks, Katherine. Such a bittersweet list to be a part of. Of course, I hate that any of us listed have to struggle with this, but at the same time, it's such an amazing, strong, courageous group of women to be grouped in with. I have so appreciated the support this community has brought me this year.
I feel exactly like Jill feels.
And through being on this list I just discovered Jill and her amazing blog — which is exactly the reason to have these lists in the first place — so we discover each other and become a part of each other's healing journey. Thank you so much Katherine, and a big hello to you Jill.
The list you published last year saved me! Thank you for all you do, finding others was one of the best gifts for me. Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to share my story with the internets more openly.
Hope you like the links this year too, Laura!!
Katherine, this list features so many talented, courageous women, and so many of my favorite bloggers. I'm honored and proud to be listed among them, and by you! Your list & your words made my day and reminded me that what we are all doing is important and meaningful.
Katherine, I am so honored to be a part of such a talented group of writers. I wish none of us knew this pain so well, but if I have to be grouped with anyone, I would choose no other than these. Thank you!
I am so honored to be on this list of AMAZING women and writers. Wow. thank you Katherine.
You're all SO deserving! Thank you for all you do to shed light on PPD and for your honest, raw and beautiful view inside it. I'm so proud to know so many of the women on this list. xoxo
What an amazing group of woman, writers and posts. Thanks for sharing them K. xo
http://birthfaith.org/nutrition/antepartum-depres…
A fantastic post about antenatal depression at Birth Faith.
Thanks for sharing Sarah. 😉
Birth Faith actually has several posts on antenatal and postpartum depression. The one linked above is only one of them.
Great list! Here's a post I wrote. http://my3littlebirdsblog.com/2011/08/two-thought…
Thanks for sharing your link, Mary!
A wonderful list of some of my favorite women who, although I don't have PPD, draw a huge amount of comfort and inspiration from when depression doesn't allow me to see straight.
Awww, congratulations everyone! You're all my favorites! (And an extra congrats to Susan because she is HAVING A BABY RIGHT NOW!)
So grateful for you, the space you've created here… the way it brings hope in the dark places. The way it brings community & healing. Honored to be in this list, my friend. Thank you for all you do.
I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to keep on writing, more than 4 years and one healthy postpartum later. Thank you for including me in this list. Sometimes just knowing that what you are writing touches people is better and more motivating than any other payment or affirmation in the world.
Thanks to you for TEN years later keeping on keeping on. You are the best!
I am so incredibly honoured to be among these amazing strong and courageous kick ass women.
This community has held my hand tightly for the last few years and never let go. The beautiful thing is, that no matter where we are in our fight, there is always someone out there writing beautiful words of survival, strength and hope.
Thank you so much Katherine for this honour…and for being awesome.
Katherine, thank you for all you do. You are an inspiration to all of us.
Ladies, it is an honor to have met you, though I'd rather that the circumstances were different. Thank you for keeping me going on the bad days, and trusting my words when I'm having a good day and you allow me to support you. You are all amazing!
I'm so thankful for this community because without this community, I never would've been brave enough to get better. Thank you, Katherine, for the work you do, and thank you to the other fabulous women listed here for sharing your stories.
Love to you all.
Thank you for giving us the space and encouragement (always encouragement) to share our stories, Katherine. I'm honored to be part of this amazing group of warrior moms and so very grateful for Postpartum Progress. XO
What an incredible list and how amazing to be on it. Thank you, Katherine. When I found your site just over a year ago I never could have imagined that I'd be included here, but it's because of these amazing women – and because of you – that I've been able to write my story. xo
Thanks for having this blog. It is such an amazing resource. I always wanted to be honored for being mentioned somewhere on your website so I hope you don't mind if I blatantly self-promote my blog on postpartum:
http://www.zoloftgirl.blogspost.com.
Congrats to all the women on the list!
Val
http://www.zoloftgirl.blogspot.com OOPS TYPO in the last one!
Thanks for sharing!
Here are:
My posts on PP-PTSD
http://kyfirewife.blogspot.com/search/label/ptsd
My posts on PPD
http://kyfirewife.blogspot.com/search/label/post%…
There is some overlap, but I think it's important to label them separately.
I am honored to be a part of this amazing group of women who are helping themselves, helping each other, and advocating for mothers all around the world.
I don't know where I would be today without Postpartum Progress. The resources and connections here are an invaluable resource. It has helped me put shame in its place – and to feel brave enough to be vulnerable and authentic.
XO to you, Katherine.
This list is amazing! So many of these women have given me strength this year just by sharing their story. I'm busy linking up and following the others I hadn't been aware of yet.