Postpartum Depression Doesn't Discriminate

When my son was born in 1998, I was warned at the hospital that my hormones were fluctuating, and I might therefore experience some sadness over the following several days. But I fought for over a year to regain some sense of emotional stability. Already a hyper-vigilant person, my anxiety and panic became intolerable. Depression drained me completely. I wrestled through a cloud of apathy, fear, and what I can only describe as grief every day, so that I could care for my son. I didn't know I was suffering from postpartum depression(PPD) and anxiety, and all the doctors and therapists I saw told me I just needed more exercise. I don't know who those practitioners had mind when they thought of postpartum depression, but it sure wasn't me.

Postpartum Depression Can Happen to Any Woman

Postpartum depression is an equal opportunity mental illness. It doesn't discriminate between women who are:

• single or married
• low income or high income
• from supportive, loving families or more unstable environments
• highly educated or illiterate

Our guest on this week's episode of the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show, Amanda Edgar, discovered this five years ago when the birth of her twins left her struggling to understand what was happening to her.

I am 34 years old, married, working full-time, a college graduate, with amazing family support - all the "right" conditions for success. But even though I have/had these things in place, I was still affected. I think people still have this notion of what a depressed person looks like, and I feel that my story might be able to help folks understand it can happen to anyone, at any time.

Unable to work or even eat at times, Amanda says having her twins turned her world upside down. She was able to get treatment and has been stable for about two years. Today, she's pregnant again and still dealing with depression. But armed with knowledge about postpartum depression and anxiety, continued treatment, and lots of support, Amanda feels prepared to venture into motherhood again.

Video on Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Watch our video interview with Amanda on Postpartum Depression and Anxiety, and learn more about her struggle with PPD, anxiety, and what she's doing now to cope as she looks forward to the birth of her third child.

You can find all mental health video interviews from the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show in the table of contents.

Share Your Postpartum Depression Experiences

Have you been diagnosed with postpartum depression? We invite you to call us at 1-888-883-8045 and share your experiences and insights. (Info on Sharing Your Mental Health Experiences here.) You can also leave comments below.