Submitted by: Sarah
I am baring my soul to you today, sharing a snippet of the raw, unfiltered truth of my journey through postpartum depression. Pleas believe me, as a licensed medical professional, I honestly never thought I would go through this. As a licensed medical professional , I felt that not only was I equipped to help other navigate this, but to become apart of the statistic, caught me off guard. My name is Sarah.. and I am a black woman navigating the turbulent waters of motherhood, marriage, and mental health.
This is my #HERStory – a story of pain, of resilience, and of finding light in the darkest of places.
WELL WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS:
The birth of my daughter, Emily, should have been a time of joy and celebration. Instead, it marked the beginning of a period of darkness that seemed endless. Postpartum depression crept into my life like a silent thief, stealing my laughter, my peace, and my sense of self. Each day feels like an uphill battle, with no reprieve in sight.
I turned to my husband, hoping for understanding and support, but found him unequipped to grasp the depth of my current battles. His love was unwavering, but his inability to truly SEE ME.. to truly hear my cries for help.. left me feeling even more isolated.
My doctors, that I thought I could seek solace from offered quick fixes and empty reassurances, failing to look beyond the surface of my pain and only saw me as a woman of color that can take anything. I feel... like I am ghost in my own life, unseen and unheard by those who were supposed to help me find my way back to the light.
A single verse from the Bible is slowly becoming my lifeline: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." These words, whispered in moments of despair, and is carrying me through this storm, reminding me that I am never truly alone.
With each passing day, I am clinging.. holding on by a thread.. to this promise of strength, finding the courage to speak my truth, to seek help, and to advocate for myself in a world that seemed intent on silencing me. Some days, the weight of my pain is crushing me – but that flicker of faith keeps me going, keeps me fighting for a way out of the darkness.
I am finally seeking therapy (thanks to #WWHHW recommendations), a local mom support group, and the unwavering love of my little girl, I can slowly and hopefully start seeing a glimmer of light on the horizon. The road to healing is going to be long, marked by setbacks and tears, but I refused to give up.
My #HERStory is still being written, and I am determined to find my happy ending.
Today, as I sit down to share these words with you, I pray I continue to become a different woman than the one who first faced the shadows of postpartum depression. I want to...and will be stronger, more resilient, more compassionate towards myself and others.
My journey through the darkness has teaching me the power of faith, the importance of SPEAKING my truth, and the beauty of finding light in unexpected places.
To anyone out there who is struggling with postpartum depression, know this: you are not alone. Your pain IS valid, your story matters, and there IS hope waiting for you on the other side of despair. Keep holding on, keep fighting, and remember that you are stronger than you know.
With love and solidarity,
Sarah
Thank you Sarah for you vulnerability and I can 100% relate. As a mental health professional, I still suffered from perinatal and post partum depression; and it was heightened with emotional, verbal, financial abuse, and eventually physical. There is no manual to navigate these uncharted waters AS PROFESSIOANLS, because somehow we think that we are more equipped than the average person. But I am happy you've reached out and obtained services because that is truly the first step acknowledging there is a problem but it does not make you any less than. 29–44% of Black women experience postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS), yet few are properly identified and/or connected to mental care services. The intersection of Black women’s gender, race, racial identity, and class make them susceptible to various types of discrimination, including sexism, racism, and classism, which increase their mental and physical stress, possibly increasing their risk of experiencing PDS. Which may also impact maternal functioning, a woman’s ability to care for herself and infant, and resume their typical activities prior to giving birth. Stay the course Sarah.. ITS IS WORTH IT. I am a therapist with a therapist, and the amount of knowledge and healing gained along the way, I wouldn't trade it for the world.
M.B.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline can help. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. The Hotline offers callers:
Phone or text access to professional counselors
Real-time support and information
Response within a few minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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Counselors who speak English and Spanish
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PLEASE, feel free to locate our mental health resource tab to locate a mental health professional at a free or reduced rate, but also you can talk mental health assessments that align with your current symptoms.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or Text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
You can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
If you can relate to this submitted story, comment and share your own #WWHHW moment.
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