Yes, you heard me right, Postpartum Depression is an Amazing Thing! If it weren’t for Postpartum Depression (PPD), I would not have had the opportunity to be on the radio this morning, being interviewed by the fabulous Katie Coombs on her show Uncommon Sense. If it weren’t for PPD, and the fact that I went through it (for nearly three years without even knowing it), I would never have had the experiences I did, and I would not be able to talk about it like I do today. If I never suffered, if I never fought, if I never got through it, I would not have this passion I have for the awareness of PPD, and helping women heal.
Think about it. Have you ever struggled through something, only to find in the end, once you overcame that challenge, a big “A-HA” moment and the reason why you had to have that experience? Maybe it was something big, a relationship that wasn’t working or supporting you, or a job that was making you unhappy. Maybe it was something little, like a math problem when you were a kid in school that just didn’t make any sense, and you tried and tried and tried but it still just wouldn’t click in your brain… until one day, when you got it, and the light went off and you said “A-HA!” Now that math problem is the basis for all the other, harder math that you had to learn as you progressed through school. The reasoning for what made that equation work, is the basis for everything mathematical.
It’s the same concept with me and Postpartum Depression. It didn’t make sense. I wasn’t supposed to get it. Nope, not me. Well guess what, PPD didn’t care that it wasn’t welcome. PPD moved right into my home, my body, my mind, and PPD stayed a long, long time. At first I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know what was happening to me. It didn’t click that I actually had PPD. Until one day, when I got it, and the light went off and I realized what was happening… and I got HELP. Now my Postpartum Depression is the basis for all that I do (even with my kids and my husband – it affected everything and everyone and it changed me forever). The reason I had to experience PPD is so that I would know what it’s like. Without knowing that, without having been there, done that, how on earth could I help other women going through it? I don’t think I could.
For any of you that know me personally or have been following me for any length of time, you know that my purpose and passion is to help women heal from Postpartum Depression.
Today, I got to do that! Well, it was a start at least. It was the first time I was given the opportunity to speak up publicly about PPD and share the message that it is an illness for which women need help. It is more common than we think, in fact it is the most common complication associated with pregnancy and childbirth – more than pre-term labor, more than pre-eclampsia, more than gestational diabetes. There is no test for PPD, and there certainly isn’t enough talk about it…YET! My hope is that today’s radio interview heightened the awareness around PPD, as well as give Mothers the courage to speak up and get the help they need and deserve.
A BIG shout out again to Katie Coombs of Uncommon Sense for hosting me on today’s radio show. I would love to hear your feedback of the show, and I can’t wait to get the recording so I can send out the link for people to listen again. It was so much fun!
In much gratitude, and with Love & Mommy Hugs, I hope you all have a beautiful day.