05/14/2026
Me, age 22 with my first daughter. I was looking through old pictures and came across this pic, and the look on my face here is one I have seen so very often on many new mothers. I was so young, no family around, and past trauma from my childhood that I had yet to process, was creeping in leaving me completely blind sided.
I was told by more than one doctor, that I would never have children, so this child was a freaking miracle. Truly a miracle, 4 years later I would have 2 kids and a full hysterectomy. Menopause with toddlers at age 26 was a whole different level that I never saw coming. So how could I look at this sweet face, my miracle baby, and be sad. Why was I so tired yet could never sleep? Why was I always crying? And even more (this is where the theater training came in handy) why was I doing everything in my power to hide what was happening and “act” like everything was perfect and okay?
It would be years later when I came out of that postpartum haze that I was able to see what was happening and actually do something about it. No one talks about postpartum depression or anxiety, yet it happens to 1 out of 7 new mothers and 50% of the time it goes unnoticed and untreated. It can last months and at times for years. So why aren’t we talking about it??? With counseling, support and sometimes medication 80% of new mothers diagnosed with PPD can recover. Postpartum mood disorders are rarely discussed and taboo, but what people need to know is that so much of PPD is physical as well as mental. Our bodies are depleted and we need a village. For me it was Prozac and Jesus, and finding my voice to heal and help other women not go through this. If you are in the thick of it, comment below. Let’s talk about it. Everyone deserves a village and I am happy to be part of yours.
