I have had depression since I was eight years old. It is something I have learned to live with as an individual. However, as I get older I think about my ideal future and what I desire it to be. Eventually, I want to add more to my life, whether that be a significant other or a child, or both. In the life I see myself having, some version of it always has me with a kid or several, but sometimes I think that maybe I am not cut out for parenting.
I know that postpartum depression exists, and sometimes I feel that if I had kids in the future, I would not be able to show up for them every day like I would want to. I wish I had the facts, but, honestly, I do not know what would happen. If I add depression on top of depression, does that double it, or does it cancel out? I really was never great at math. My understanding of postpartum depression as a whole is limited right now, so instead of living in ignorance, I want to find out.
Over the next few months, I am going to be doing research on postpartum depression. In our society, I think it is something that should be talked about a lot more. Mental health seems to always be a stigma, especially in black and brown communities. As a black woman, I want to be a part of dismantling this notion that mental health should not be talked about. Stigmatizing things does nothing to help the situation; it only creates cycles of misunderstanding and fear. With proper education on the topic of mental health, I believe that true understanding and acceptance can grow. I am looking for postpartum research for my own understanding, and I want to talk to mothers to get their insights on this topic. There is no one better to explain the emotion behind postpartum than someone who has gone through it themselves.
I know that there are many people dealing with postpartum depression, more than most realize. I know that there are some mothers who have gone through postpartum and did not even realize that they had it. According to information on National Institutes of Health.gov “around one in seven women can develop postpartum depression”. And, mothers aren’t the only ones affected. On UTSouthwesternmedicalcenter.org it says, “Studies show that 1 in 10 dads struggle with postpartum depression and anxiety as well” (Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, M.D.).
As part of this project, I want to raise and answer questions that I am curious about. What causes postpartum depression? What are the signs and symptoms that a mother has postpartum? Are there treatments or resources to help parents? How long does postpartum last? And how does it affect the children that are being raised?
I hope the curiosity I have will be quenched with information and that more people will become aware of and acknowledge this topic of postpartum depression.