It is important to learn about postpartum mood and anxiety disorders because knowledge is often the best defense.  Our society, unfortunately, still stigmatizes these experiences, causing new parents to be afraid to talk about them and seek help.

Today is my firstborn’s 16^th birthday.  I am reflecting on my story of motherhood. It is amazing how time flies, yet his first year of life felt like it dragged on forever.  I remember people telling me to stay in the moment because time will pass by so fast.  That felt so invalidating and only made me feel worse about wanting it to move more quickly.  And I was miserable, and desperately wanted to be happy.   I felt absolutely terrified, completely ill-equipped, and disconnected.  (more…)