Postpartum Depression Happened to Me (What You Need To Know)
“The slow emotional decline began. It was very slow ... it was a series of small moments layered on top of each other.”
— Allison Villa
Today’s episode tackles a difficult but important topic. In it, I share my postpartum depression story.
It’s a difficult story to tell, but I share it with the hope that it will help you feel understood and show you that you CAN find your way back.
My midwife and I discussed the possibility of postpartum depression before the birth of my second child. Neither of us expected that it would be an issue, as I’d felt fine after the birth of my first daughter.
Right after giving birth to my second daughter, I felt AMAZING. I was high on love and full of awe about what my body had just done.
But that didn’t last.
My decline into postpartum depression was gradual but devastating.
Small things took on new significance. I remember trying to take my older daughter on the ten-minute walk to daycare in the snow. She balked at the idea.
The loss of that simple exercise of self-care felt huge. Much bigger than it should have.
Postpartum depression makes small moments or situations feel intense and overwhelming. Over the course of a year, I started to feel more angry and impatient. It affected my physical health and relationship.
Eventually, I knew that I needed help. And I want any listeners dealing with postpartum depression to know that there is a way out.
Listen to the episode to discover:
The terrifying depths that postpartum depression can take you to — and why it is SO important to ask for help
How societal expectations and beauty standards can mask legitimate health issues
3 simple action items to take if my story resonates with you
“There we were: these two mothers experiencing the exact same thing, but not able to recognize it or even say it out loud.”
— Allison Villa
Highlights:
00:32 Why I’m telling my story
01:44 Becoming a mother of two
04:45 The decline
07:03 Postpartum intensity
08:12 Shellhood
09:24 The ramp-up & bodily changes
12:36 The wine
13:59 My expectations v my reality
16:06 The breaking point
18:28 The recovery
20:04 Be ready & able to receive
21:54 It can happen to anyone
23:12 Action items
Links:
‘What I Wish Every Mother Knew About Postpartum Depression’
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