What were your thoughts?
Did you think Discovery Health did a good job? Or was it just more sensationalism that hurt the public perception of Postpartum Mood Disorders?
What did you like?
What did you not like?
Let me (and Discovery) know what you thought of this documentary!
This past weekend I had an opportunity to view the entire program ahead of airing schedule at the invitation of Discovery Communications. And no, I’m not being paid to post about this. (Happy, FTC?)
Discovery Health is airing “Baby Week” this week. The second program is entitled “Postpartum Nightmares” and airs on March 2nd, 2010. Check your local listings for the time.
I will admit that I had my hesitations about this documentary at the outset. First, I was not aware of the program. Second, the first description I saw promised “experts’ and well, we know from the past how well that can go.
After a few emails, I discovered the experts they were able to get involved were none other than Shoshana Bennett and Pec Indman. Cool. Two amazing women who know precisely what they are talking about and are filled with compassion for the families fighting Postpartum Mood Disorders. Now – what about the re-enactments? What are THEY going to be like?
The re-enactments are not for the faint of heart. Just 90 seconds in and I was ready to throw in the towel – ready to write off the whole thing. I questioned if I was watching a documentary or a horror film. But I took a deep breath and continued to watch, shooing my children back to nap every five minutes.
Based on what I saw and managed to hear (in between shooing the kids back to nap), the overall narration was impressive. The three women in the documentary were treated with quite a bit of respect. They told their stories with amazing detail and explained the treatment through which they found recovery very well. Do note that their birth experiences were somewhat on the extreme side and I don’t remember hearing one I would term a “normal” birth experience (ie, no complications/surgery). At the end of the program, I was glad I hung tough. I am glad Discovery Health has put this out there despite the graphic dramatization of the re-enactments. Although, thinking back on my own experience, a lot of what was described eerily similar to what I experienced. The intrusive thoughts, the overwhelming anxiety, the desire to just not have to deal with it anymore – all of that is there. I just wish it hadn’t looked so much like a horror film.
If you are currently struggling with Postpartum Depression, have recently recovered or are emotionally fragile and haunted by images, etc, I would not recommend you watch this program as it may cause more harm than good.
Some of the important topics touched on during the program are:
Ultimately, I was happiest that there was a clear distinction drawn between Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis. And I was beyond thrilled that Postpartum OCD was discussed. It’s very rare for OCD to be discussed as it is quite often mistaken for Psychosis. I also thought it was really cool the way PSI was mentioned in the third story. (You’ll just have to see that for yourself should you choose to watch!)
I really liked that Dads were interviewed for all three stories in addition to the Moms. The dad’s give an additional depth to the story that just would not have been there had we only heard the story from the Moms. It is truly important to remember that a Postpartum Mood Disorder affects more than just mom. It ripples out and hits the entire family.
Discovery has a couple of pages set up for resources. You can find them here:
If you choose to watch this program and want to vent and/or discuss it afterward, please catch up with me on Twitter. My username there is unxpctdblessing. I’ll be available to talk and answer (to the best of my ability) any questions you may have. Use the “hashtag” #discoveryPPD or @ me so I can find you.
You are not alone.
If you are watching the program and begin to have issues and need to talk with someone, you can call the PSI Warmline @ 1.800-944-4PPD. There is a Coordinator checking messages daily. Your call should be returned within 24 hours. If it is not, email PSI to let them know you have not had a call back. You can also locate a coordinator in your area via by clicking here and finding your state or international location.
On April 9, 2009, I posted a moving story from Joseph Raso over at the Postpartum Dads Project. Susan Stone had originally posted this at Empowher.com and I reposted with her permission. The piece stayed with me.
On Wednesday night, I received an email from Joseph. It included a link to a video montage of his daughter, Crystal, set to the Rascal Flatts song, “Why.” Crystal tragically shot herself shortly after giving birth to her second child, Max. No one knew she had been struggling. They simply thought Crystal was being Crystal and worrying just as she always did. No one was let in to help her. Her world turned upside down, inside out, and the only way she saw out was to leave her family behind in the most tragic way possible. Joseph has worked courageously and tirelessly to share Crystal’s story with as many people as he can in order to raise awareness of Postpartum Mood Disorders. And for that, I commend him. It is difficult work to take such a dark event and turn it into something so showered with light nothing can touch it.
Today, February 27, 2010, marks the second anniversary of Crystal’s tragic passing. Please join me in respectfully remembering her life. Join me in praying for her family, her parents, her husband, her children – praying they will continue to find strength and that God will bless them each and every day. Join me in sharing her story to raise awareness of Postpartum Mood Disorders. Click on the candle picture to light a virtual candle which will burn for 48 hours in honor of Crystal and mothers everywhere who needlessly lose their lives to Postpartum Mood Disorders each day.
I charge you with a simple task today. If you know an expectant or new parent, male or female, make a point of asking how THEY are doing. Encourage honesty. Don’t judge. Listen with compassion. Educate yourself and expectant/new parents about Postpartum Mood Disorders. Feel up to more? Challenge your local L&D to educate new moms if they aren’t already doing so. Please don’t let any more mothers suffer so alone and so silently. It’s just not okay.
(Before you click on the video below, please know that it made me bawl like a total baby after having read Joseph’s piece. And I don’t cry or bawl. Often. If you are not emotionally stable right now, you may want to skip the video. There is nothing graphic in it at all. It’s just very very moving. Kudos to Joseph for putting together such an amazing montage.)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYIRZbyXnu0]
The following is what Joseph shared with me via email when he sent me the video:
“This Saturday (02/27/10) is the second anniversary of Crystal’s passing. Mary, I, and the whole family miss her so. Seeing her children, Hannah and
Max, almost daily is double edged sword. On one hand, being a huge part of their lives brings such joy, but on the other hand, every time we see them we are reminded WHY we are such a big part… it is because Crystal is gone. I thought you might want to keep this video in your library. Someday you might want to forward it to someone who could be at risk of postpartum depression. This song “Why,” by Rascal Flatts, not only tells the story of how our actions can affect others, it is also so beautiful, anybody could enjoy it. When I first heard it, I was reminded of what we went through after Crystal died. God Bless You.”
If you, a loved one, or a friend are coping with the recent loss of a loved one to suicide, please read this from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
If you are contemplating suicide, there IS hope. There are people who love you. People who care and want to help you heal. Need someone to talk to right now? Click here for a comprehensive list of resources in the US.
If you are struggling with a Postpartum Mood Disorder, contact Postpartum Support International‘s warmline at 1.800.944.4PPD. (I may just be one of the people to return your call – I’m a volunteer for the warmline in addition to providing support in my home state of Georgia)
Bottom Line here? There is hope. There is help. And above all, you are absolutely NOT to blame. And above that? You WILL be well.
Please feel free to share any of the above information on your blogs or within your networks. In fact, I encourage you to do so. Below is a button for you to place on your blog in remembrance of Crystal. The only rule is that if you download it and post it, it must be linked to Joseph’s YouTube video.
Here is a list of blogs participating in today’s remembrance event. A big Thank You goes out to all of them for great posts! (If you posted and you’re not listed below, please let me know so I can add you to the list!)
This past week saw Germany mourn the loss of one of their own football (that’s soccer to us American folks) players. Robert Enke tragically took his own life earlier this week as his depression became too much to bear. The Postpartum Dads Project has written a terrific article about this tragedy. You can read it by clicking here: Shaken by stigma: A father’s tragic escape « Postpartum Dads Project. Robert Enke leaves behind a bereaved wife and an 8 month old adopted daughter.
If you or a loved one are contemplating suicide, please seek help. Postpartum Dads links to suicide warning signs as well as a suicide hotline page. There is hope. There is light. There is another way out. It’s only a phone call and a question away.
Original Photo taken by tranchis @ flickr
This site was started to help me re-frame an unexpected pregnancy after two rather nasty experiences with Postpartum OCD. Turns out that by doing so I not only helped myself but managed to help a lot of other women along the way.
There was a point during my suffering when I dreaded having to retell my story. Looking back I should have just typed the whole thing up and kept copies on hand – kind of like a resume. (Hey – not a bad idea if you end up having to hunt for a decent doctor!) But there came a turning point where my story began to foster a sense of strength and self. Finally I began to bloom.
We’re all at different points on our journey. Some of us are right in the thick of it, some of us a bit further out, others are fully recovered, some have relapsed and are struggling right back out thanks to the path we carved out the last time we fell down. But we are all in it together.
Rather than retype my entire story here (cuz that would take some time!), you can click here to read about “The Day” I was admitted to psych ward. And if you’re brave enough (ie, preferably not in the thick of it or relapsed) you can read another piece I’ve written here about some of the thoughts I had when things were so dark I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face.
For me and for many others, telling our story or even venting has become a powerful source of personal therapy. It’s a way to just get some of the stress out of our body, our mind, and even possibly work through issues.
So let’s get to just talkin’ here. I want to hear your stories. I want to know what you’ve gone through/are going through. Speak up. We’re here to be supportive, compassionate, and lend our hearts.
I can’t wait to read what you have to share!