Today’s topic took second place in the last poll about #PPDChat topics. Next Monday’s chat will focus on Faith & Spirituality as a tool in recovery from Postpartum Depression. A new poll will be available on July 23rd. I look forward to seeing y’all at chat!
Earlier today, I watched a video of the disappearance of seven-year old Kyron Horman. It’s a sad story. Please don’t visit the link if you’re fragile and sensitive to tragic news.
The current speculation is that the step-mom struggled with Postpartum Depression or Psychosis and may be responsible for Kyron’s disappearance. Usually I get frustrated when I hear this because more often than not, the misinformation quickly follows. Psychosis symptoms get swamped in with those of Postpartum Depression and vice versa. The line is blurred and women with Postpartum Depression are automatically compared to Andrea Yates and other sensationalized cases of Psychosis. It gets me so angry.
GMA’s story involved the interview of a specialist, Dr. LouAnne Brizendine, author of The Female Brain. She blew me away. (Interview Link. Please don’t click if fragile!)
Not only did the GMA correspondent ask a lot of the right questions but Dr. LouAnne Brizendine clarified perfectly the differences between Postpartum Depression and Psychosis. The GMA correspondent followed up by asking if the Step-mom would even be suffering from Psychosis still as her baby is 19 months old now. Someone did their homework.
So thank you, GMA.
Thank you, Dr. LouAnne Brizendine.
THANK YOU for honestly discussing Postpartum Depression and Psychosis. Thank you for not lumping them together, for not sensationalizing them but for clarifying the differences, for calmly and rationally discussing this latest speculation.
My only caveat with this story is that the speculation has evolved to this point because of the Mom experiencing Postpartum Depression. And that is certainly not GMA nor Dr. Brizendine’s responsibility.
Granted, PPD and especially Psychosis take time from which to heal but just because a Mom has suffered does not mean they are prone to go off the handle at any second. I sincerely hope Kyron is found. I hope his stepmother had nothing to do with his disappearance. Please don’t judge her because she has this history – she did not choose this. It chose her. And we have no idea how it was treated, how her family supported her, etc. Frankly, at this point, I’m sure she’s not doing well with this added stress and attention. My prayers go out to the Horman family as they pray and wait for Kyron’s return.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7k0a5hYnSI]
The story behind this video:
This song came out about the same time that my fog lifted. The lyrics offer such hope and promise for the future while reminding you that YOU are responsible for being there, for living it – that no one else can do it for you. Enjoy today for you. Because no one else can.
This past week saw the best #PPDChat yet (I got tossed in Twitter jail – meaning I tweeted one too many times for Twitter within an allotted amount of time – WOOHOOO!), and now, I’m sitting here trying to decide between two absolutely amazing posts for Postpartum Voice of the Week.
You Mamas are rockin’ it this week. What’s in your Kool Aid???
I made up my mind – I’m not deciding.
This week there will be two Postpartum Voices of the Week.
Both of these wonderful posts offer up insight into what it’s like once the fog of Postpartum lifts. I think it’s important to discuss and share the depths of hell to which Postpartum Mood Disorders can drag you. But it is also very important to shine the light on the hope and happiness which awaits you on the other side of a Postpartum Mood Disorder.
I hate you for what you did to me. I hate that there was no rhyme or reason & at times, I still scream WHY ME?! when I think of how it could have been like this from the beginning had you not come knocking. But I also know that without those horrible, bleak, terrible days, I would not realize HOW DAMN GOOD I have it right now. I feel like I am seeing my son for the first time. Like I am seeing myself as a mother for the first time. & you know what? I am a good mother. & my son is amazing. I finally understand that love that parents gush about, that desire to wake up in the morning & see a toothless grin over the railings of the crib. To not only wish for that moment, but to desire it down to my core until it is the last thing I think about as I fall asleep – I can’t wait to wake up to him tomorrow. (via Blair @ Heir to Blair)
Then, Kimberly over at All Work & No Play make Mommy go Something Something broke out with a post entitled “The Bucket.” It’s so very poignant and offers such an amazing insight. Kimberly has been struggling lately through a severe relapse and through her 2-year-old, came face to face with a serious lesson about moving forward with life. Katherine Stone over at Postpartum Progress blogged about this post as well. Get the kleenex. It’s at least a Quadruple Tissue post, sniffles included.
On the last try, he made it all the way to the edge of the flower bed only making a few spills. As he excitedly dumped the water over my flowers and observed the pay off that his hard work had accomplished, he started to smile. He looked over at the pool and realized how far he had come with the bucket of water. Then he shouted “Yook Momma! Flowers wet!” When I smiled in approval and praised him for his determination, he threw the bucket and carried on with playing in the pool. That little man, a whole 23 months old, had taught me something very valuable in that moment. (via Kimberly @ Make Mommy Go Something Something)
Thanks ladies for such awesome posts. Keep the words flowing, keep the healing going, and keep on hanging on to the bright moments. They are amazing and get even better as you continue moving forward toward your flowers and full buckets.
I am SO sorry I’m behind on this. You see, back in late April my husband was laid off. Three weeks later school let out. And wham. Just like that, my alone time (ie, blogging time) went buh bye!
Lately I’ve been in a horrible cycle of staying awake until 3ish to get things in the bloggy world completed. I really need to stop that. But, life marches on and well, here we are.
Back on the 14th of June, Kimberly over at All Work & No Play make Mommy Go Something Something gave me a really awesome Bloggy Award. It’s a “Mind-Blowing” blog award. It meant so much to me and every night I kept telling myself I would blog about it the next day. Well, here we are, just a few days shy of a whole month later, and I am finally blogging it. As I watch The Fifth Element. At 1230ish am EST. I know, I know.
Here’s the rules:
– Display the award on your blog. (check)
– Mention the person who gave you the award, and provide a link to their blog. (check)
– Name 5-10 people to pass it on to.
I’ve met so many amazing bloggers recently. This is going to be hard. Especially given that Kimberly also gave the award to a few moms I would have given it to also.
So instead, I’m going to focus on some other bloggers who completely amaze me. I have no idea how they get the strength they have to blog about what they do. It’s amazing. And if you’re not already familiar with their blogs, go check them out ASAP.
1. Cora’s Story by Kristine Brite McCormick (@KristineBrite): This mama is amazing. Her dear Cora died in her arms at just 5 days old, due to Congenital Heart Disease. Kristine presses on with a deep passion to educate others about CHD. I admire her passion, her courage, and her compassionate spirit. Her heart blows me away.
2. No Points for Style by Adrienne Jones (@NoStylePoints): Adrienne blogs about her life as a mom. And her son Carter, who struggles with schizophrenia. Her open sharing of her son’s struggles is absolutely mind blowing. I applaud her for writing and sharing with others. Thank you, Adrienne.
3. Sneak a Peek at Me by Janis (@sneakpeekatme): A single mom raising a son who requires 24/7 supervision due to several medical reasons, Janis openly shares her life with us through her blog as well as at 5 Minutes for Mom. Janis, quite frankly, rocks. And blows minds on a daily basis.
4. Our Happy Nuthouse by Lisa Curcio (@LisaCurcio): Lisa is a mom of several nuts, one of whom is a CHD nut. Her dedication to all her children and especially her CHD nut is awesome. The fact that she blogs about it and advocates for education about CHD on top of it all blows my mind.
5. The Daddy Files by Aaron Gouveia (@DaddyFiles): Right now, Aaron is facing the diagnosis of his unborn child with Sirenomelia or Mermaid Syndrome. Sirenomelia is so rare it only happens in 1 in 100,000 pregnancies. Don’t click the link to his blog if you’re fragile. I’ve been in tears several times as I’ve prayed passionately for his family as they move through this. Aaron is bravely blogging his way through this and including everything. It’s some of the rawest blogging I’ve ever read. He’s blowing a lot of peoples minds as he moves through this. We are all praying so hard for Aaron, MJ, and their son during this difficult time in their lives.
Thank you to all of the aforementioned bloggers. You may not see it, may not ever know it, but through sharing your stories through the Internet, You are helping others. Keep up the amazing work and don’t ever lose your cajones. They’re saving lives, breaking down walls, and opening doors.