I still feel the need to defend my postpartum anxiety. After a three day long induction process, an emergent c-section and breastfeeding issues, the first few weeks were no walk in the park. I wasn’t sleeping (but what new mom does?), there were lots of tears and constant worrying. I dreaded when the days would turn into night because I would spend the entire night watching my son obsessively, fearing he would stop breathing in his sleep. I had no interest in holding him and I would cry every time I had to breastfeed him because I absolutely hated it but I chalked it all up to the baby blues and being new at this motherhood thing.
It was at my two week check up that I realized I was suffering from postpartum anxiety and depression. My sister came over to watch the baby so that I could go to my appointment and I remember feeling so relieved for the break from the constant breastfeeding and pumping. I broke down in tears in the car to my husband. This was supposed to be such a joyous, happy time. After going through infertility I was over the moon when I found out I was pregnant yet here I was thinking “What have I done? I hate being a mother. I don’t have this immediate love for my baby like everyone else does, I’m not cut out for this. What is wrong with me?” I made the difficult decision to stop breastfeeding and once I went back to work I started feeling like my old self again.
10 months postpartum and the demons crept in again, this time worse than ever. I felt like things were spiraling, I had lost control of everything and I literally wanted to escape my body. I walked around in a fog and felt so selfish for what I was feeling. “What do I have to be so depressed about? I have a beautiful, healthy family I should feel grateful.” I felt shameful for the way I was acting but I had no control over it. I wished I could feel happiness when my son smiled at me. I remember the day I was driving to get my hair done and I felt like I was having a heart attack. My heart was beating out of my ribcage, my arms and hands were all tingling, my lips were numb and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I pulled into the urgent care that was in the same parking lot as my hairdresser, convinced I was having a cardiac event. I am a nurse after all. I can recognize the difference between postpartum anxiety, panic attacks and a heart attack when I see it.
Well I was wrong. The thing is postpartum depression and anxiety looks different on everyone. Depression doesn’t always look like an unkept, person who hasn’t slept or eaten in weeks. Anxiety doesn’t always look like fear or panic attacks. Successful, put together people can suffer in silence as we’ve recently seen in the tragic cases of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate.
I’ve learned there is nothing wrong with reaching out and asking for help from family or friends, going to talk to a counselor, or taking something to help ease your anxiety or depression. You are not illogical in what you are feeling and you are not “burdening others with your problems.” I wish it didn’t feel so embarrassing and shameful and I hope that one day it won’t. So until then I will keep sharing my story and I hope that I can encourage you to reach out to someone you trust and ask for help.
(For more information on ways to cope with postpartum depression and anxiety check out this article I wrote for Consumer Health Digest.)
For more health/wellness related posts check out
How to remember to do self breast exams
8 tips for preparing for your c-section and recovery
6 Comments
Teresa- Momma Luvz
June 11, 2018 at 2:14 pmI am so proud of you for recognizing the signs! I hope your feeling better now and just remember your a grear mom 💕
Sarah Muoio
June 11, 2018 at 2:31 pmThis is so true! And hits so close to home. I've suffered from depression and anxiety as a Mom and people definitely have no idea. But I needed to learn that it's ok to need help and it's made all the difference!
Cin Tavarez
June 11, 2018 at 2:37 pmYou said it perfectly- we should be ashamed or afraid to say that we are struggling through this parenthood obstacle. So many suffer in silence from this. You are so strong for even putting this out there. You owned it and fought through it! That is such a HUGE deal. My hat goes off to you mama. I know you aren’t looking for praise but I just had to let you know that I admire you for this one. Thanks for sharing this. So many needed this.
Kayla Dyer
June 11, 2018 at 3:49 pmI think the fact that you are sharing is going to help so many women! It is nothing to be ashamed off, and you are clearly doing an amazing job! Thank you for being an advocate for other mamas.
Echo Shehadeh
June 11, 2018 at 8:38 pmI am so happy you are sharing this! I suffered from postpartum anxiety, in fact, I am pretty sure I still do. But I am able to manage it better. You are making a big difference in other people's lives by sharing your story.
glassesshop coupon codes
June 13, 2018 at 6:38 amSo nice article, glad to read this post, thanks so much!