“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
~Luke 2:9-12~
On the twelfth day of Dismissmas,
Postpartum sent to me
Twelve ladies praying,
Eleven instant cures,
Ten women drifting,
Nine ladies grinning,
Eight maids no longer nursing,
Seven sins a-lurking,
Six women a-denying,
Five hours of sleep,
Four Just Snap out of Its,
Three perfect babies,
Two depressed parents,
And a wailing mess in a pear tree.
Prayer is a powerful tool for any deeply religious person. I believe deeply in the power of prayer. The past year has taught me to rely upon God for all things and to trust Him for all my needs. He has provided every single one of them.
There’s a story I would like to share with you that I use as an example for people who tell women with Postpartum Depression to just pray harder and they will be healed.
Once there was a great flood. A man, who had faithfully sandbagged his home, witnessed the flood waters rise over his meticulous sandbagging efforts. Forced to abandon the first floor of his home and eventually the second floor, this man became trapped on the roof of his home.
He began desperately praying for God to save him.
Shortly thereafter, a police boat motored up to his home.
“Sir, come with us. We can save you.”
“No thank you, I’m just fine. God will save me.”
With that response, the boat left.
A fire boat soon came by as well.
“Sir, you really need to come with us. The flood is only getting higher and will not recede any time soon.”
Again, the man answered with a calm, “No Thank you, I’m just fine. God will save me.”
With that, the fire boat left as they had several other families to save who gladly accepted their help.
A few hours later, with the flood waters now lapping at his toes, a helicopter came by, winch lowered. The crew madly encouraged the man to grab on in a last ditch effort to save his life.
The man refused and was swept away in the flood just thirty minutes after the helicopter left.
When the man reached Heaven, he had a question for God.
“God? Why did you not save me?”
“Son? I sent two boats and a helicopter. You didn’t really expect the Heavens to open and scoop you off the roof, now did you?”
God’s response to our prayers may not be in the form we desire. They may not be within the time frame we desire. All answers are His and His alone, within His time frame. Our answers may come in the form of therapy. Or medication. Or social connections. Or herbal supplements. Whatever path you choose, whatever faith powers your life, do not turn your back upon it when you are struggling. Lean hard upon your core values, trust them, pray if you so choose, but do not let anyone at all tell you that praying harder alone will save you from Postpartum Depression. Postpartum Depression is not a sin for which you must ask forgiveness. It is not a punishment for a prior sin. It is a mental illness from which you can recover through the aid of the approach of your doctor and your own personal beliefs.
Earlier this week, Walker DM’d me with this link on Twitter. I immediately clicked and knew it would be my Postpartum Voice of the Week. It is not often we hear from Dads in the Postpartum Tapestry. Any chance I have to share the other side of the Postpartum Glass is one I NEVER pass up.
In this very insightful post, Walker interviews her husband about his perspective of her own struggles with PTSD as well as PPD after the birth of their child, Ziggy.
So very often, communication between couples is shut down completely when a partner struggles with any form of Postpartum Mood or Anxiety Disorder. It can break a marriage to pieces, smashing it against the rocks of miscommunication, doubt, anger, and mistrust. Those who have managed to weather the storm successfully have come through hell. To do so intact is no easy feat. Even then, intact does not mean they are the same as they were when they first entered the PPD tunnel – we all emerge changed. It’s whether or not you allow yourself to embrace your change as well as that of your spouse’s which determines your success rate.
Ladies, it is SO SO very important for us to try to remember that our husbands and partners are just as scared as we are when it comes to PPD.
This quote by Walker’s husband sums it up perfectly:
There’s no need for further introduction. Go. Read this week’s Postpartum Voice of the Week. Then email the link to your husband.
On the eleventh day of Dismismas,
Postpartum sent to me
Eleven instant cures,
Ten women drifting,
Nine ladies grinning,
Eight maids no longer nursing,
Seven sins a-lurking,
Six women a-denying,
Five hours of sleep,
Four Just Snap out of Its,
Three perfect babies,
Two depressed parents,
And a wailing mess in a pear tree.
Over the course of the past year, several websites have cropped up much to the dismay of those of us who advocate for and with women struggling from Postpartum Mood Disorders. These websites claim the ability to cure Postpartum Depression for a low price. 50% off if you sign up as a friend.
Ahem.
Postpartum Mood Disorders are not something you are able to instantly cure.
It takes time.
For some, it may take Therapy, medication (natural or pharmaceutical), exercise, or other various approaches.
Rest assured though, reading an E-book will not make your depression dissipate overnight.
As always, be wary of any medication or supplement promising to easy your Postpartum Depression instantly as well. Always ALWAYS ALWAYS discuss any new approach with a doctor. Especially if you are already taking a medication or on a prescribed routine for therapy.
You can read more in depth of my feelings in regards to Instant Cures here.
Bottom line here?
If it sounds too good to be true? It probably is. Walk away. Quickly.