Postpartum depression is more common than you think. There is a difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues. The Baby Blues are very common, the baby blues are- being just very sad and emotional after you have a baby. There will be moments where you will start crying when you normally wouldn’t cry. The baby blues are short term mental condition that happens right after birth. They shouldn’t last longer than a couple of weeks to a month or two.

Postpartum depression is – depression that occurs after giving birth. It is a mix of emotional, behavioral, and physical changes. The symptoms can last from a couple of months to a year after you have a baby.

Ill list the signs and symptoms below but just keep in mind that everyone experiences Postpartum depression in different ways. So you may have some of these or you may have all but together lets figure it out.

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

• 1. You feel overwhelmed. Not like a, “This is hard and I am tired.” It’s more like, “I can’t do this at all. I don’t think I will ever be able to do this.” 2. You may feel like you can’t be a mother and may question why you became a mom at all.
• 3. You don’t feel like you have bonded with your baby. And you may not want to bond with your baby.
• 4. You feel guilty because you feel like you are not doing a good enough job as a mother. You may think that your baby would be better off without you.
• 5. You feel irritable and angry
• 6. You have no patience
• 7. You feel nothing. Empty and numb on the inside. You are just going through life without feeling.
• 8. You may feel sadness like you have never felt before. You can’t stop crying even when you don’t know why you’re crying.
• 9. You can’t seem to eat or eating is the only thing that fills the void.
• 10. You can’t focus or concentrate. Your brain feels constantly scattered. Cant remember what you were doing or what you were going to say.
• 11. You can’t sleep. Not even when the baby sleeps. If you do sleep its restless sleep.
• 12. You feel disconnected. You feel this weird barrier between you and everyone else and there is no expiation for it.
• 13. You may think that something is wrong but you don’t know what it is. You feel like you’re going crazy.
• 14. You may think that you are doing everything right. Or everything you would do as a normal person. Like, eating healthy, exercising, going out with friends, being spiritually minded but you just can’t get over the deep feeling that you have.
• 15. You may feel like running away, taking pills, or crashing a car.
• 16. You are afraid that if you tell someone else that they will judge you.

Something you need to know about Postpartum Depression-

If you are feeling any of these things above it isn’t normal yes 1 in 7 women suffer with PPD but its not something you can wait out. There are so many resources that will help you.

Therapy and group support are the best things that you can do for yourself.

My Story with Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression after my first baby –

Postpartum depression runs close to home. I struggled with it after I had both of my kids. After I had my first baby I knew that I had it but I was in denial. I thought that a happy person like me would never struggle with something like depression. Everyday I felt like there was a dark cloud that loomed over me. It made it hard to get out of bed and to leave the house.

I was slow to do anything which wasn’t normal for me. I was unable to focus on the small conversations that my husband and I would have, I was uninterested in anyones life and could care less about how anyone felt. The days turned into weeks which then turned into months. I felt alone and disconnected. I forced myself to get out of the house and to connect with other moms. This helped me immensely. I felt connection and I felt like we all count relate to the hardships of early motherhood. I never sought help but looking back I severely needed it.

Postpartum Depression after my second baby –

We moved to Arizona right before we had our second child. My husband was in grad school and we were not close to any family or friends. I was alone. I was prepared this time about for what was to come. Or so I thought. My postpartum hormones got the best of me. I was darker than I had ever been. My toddler was a mess and always screaming and crying. My newborn had a tongue tie and a lip tie. All 3 of us cried everyday for 4 months. There was no light in my life. I didn’t have anyone to watch my kids so I could go see a doctor to get on medication and I couldn’t leave the house to see a therapist. So I just pushed through everyday feeling like an empty shell just going through the motions.

Postpartum depression is a thief!

I was unable to enjoy my time with my babies. I couldn’t love my life and I felt unable to love my husband. On the inside I felt bitter and empty. I had no one close to help and I just stayed inside.

My biggest mistake was not taking advantage of ONLINE THERAPY. I Have so much regret about not doing that. Even if my kids were watching TV in the background I know it would have been something that I needed. I found a program that is online that I think would help a bunch of women please click here to check it out. It is called onlinetherapy.com.

Let me help you with postpartum depression

If you feel like you are struggling with anything that I listed above PLEASE reach out HERE.

I want to help you find a therapist in your area or a support group. There are MANY free support groups in every state. Please reach out!

If you feel like you cant go to therapy like I felt but click this link to check out online therapy HERE.

Don’t wait to get help! Get help NOW! I promise it will be worth it.