I am now going to take a moment to thank EACH and EVERY person (that I'm aware of, anyway) who spoke up on behalf of women with postpartum depression and spoke out against the AOL News story today, either on Twitter (by retweeting "Hey @aolnews You suck. And we're not letting you off the hook. Fix this NOW. #AOLhurtsmomswithPPD"), Facebook, or on their blogs, or at the very minimum shared the stories on Postpartum Progress, Her Bad Mother, BlogHer, PhDinParenting and elsewherewith others.
You are all a true treasure. It warms my heart to see so many who care about the emotional health of mothers and are willing to use your voices against the stigma that still exists. It's because of you that AOL took the horrible quote off of its website — a quote that NEVER should have been published in the first place. Thank you.
For anyone who thought I was somehow misreading or misunderstanding the meaning behind Pat Brown's quote, here is her response to Amy at Pretty Babies about the uproar:
"Generally speaking, I don't buy the chemical imbalance theory for any depression; I believe people just don't want to deal with real life issues and the fact that sometimes life is simply depressing and damn difficult. It isn't about chemical imbalance but tough times and our own issues.
Investigative Criminal Profiler"
AOL should have offered a different opinion, or done some fact checking and perhaps never quoted Pat Brown at all. Postpartum depression is not always caused solely by chemical imbalance, to be sure. There are other risk factors that are social in nature, like domestic abuse for instance. But it's not because moms "don't want to deal with real life issues". Stuff it, Pat. And AOL, please take more care in publishing stories on this topic.
Also, may I say that this is why blogging and being on Twitter and Facebook is important. Because regular people like us have the power to make change. So awesome.
Also aBIG thank you to BlogHer for giving me such a wonderful additional outlet for this story, as they have so much wider reach than PP does. And aspecial thank you to Catherine and Annie, who also have much wider audiences than I, for helping make this viral.
Also a BIG thank you to all the commenters on my post and all the people on the Postpartum Progress Facebook Fan Page who spoke out against this as well.
Also, if you want to see a news organization handle this story with responsibility, stop in on Time magazine's interview with Diane Sanford. (Perhaps our influence on them last year made a difference!)
Also,Mom 101commented on my blog today. Just had to point that out. 😉
THANK YOU to:
Catherine Connors, @herbadmother, Her Bad Mother (read her piece on this)
Erika Krull, Psych Central (read her piece on this)
Pretty Babies (read her piece on this, complete with a response from Pat Brown, the woman who was quoted in the AOL article)
Annie, @phdinparenting, PhD in Parenting (read her post on this)
Sara, Urban Moms DIY(read her post on this)
Sarah, @goonsquadsarah, Sara and the Goon Squad
Ceri K., @womenwantwhat
Julia H., @lynchmama
Amber, @atlantamom, Beyond Postpartum (read her post on this)
Melissa A., @melissaforpeace
Ninotchka, @ninotchkab, NinotchkaBeavers.com
Denise T., @dtanton, Flamingo House Happenings
Bobbie C., @mymamaruns, My Mama Runs
Lisa, @workoutmommy, Workout Mommy
Julie H., @momslant, The Mom Slant
Jim T., @genuine,
"MommyGeek", @mommygeekology, Mommy Geekology 2.0
Matt, @dcurbandad
Denise, @dtanton
Roxane B., @roxane_bock, Roxane's Days
Brandi Weikle, @bweikle, Parent Central
@anderzoid
Laura F., @lozzi84
Lindsay G., @linzlovesyou, Birdsiviews
Ashlee, @shleemama, Everything About Shlee
Torrie, @torrie, Shifting Life
Corin Zander, @corinzander
Kat, @mrslltkings, LivingLike the Kings
Melissa D., @refashionista, Refashionista
Amy B., @amyrhoda
Ashley H., @ashhan123, Confessions Of a First-Time Mom
Walker K., @allbelly, All Belly Birth Services
A E Summers, @ausummers, Kusali to Pray
Maria, @amotherworld, A Mother World
Sally, @bluekstudio, The Blue Kimono
@barelymommy, Barely Mommy
Alena, @alena29, Charmingly Chandler (read her post on this)
Kimberly M., @momgosomething, All Work & No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something (read her post on this)
Ivy, @ivyshihleung, Ivy's PPD Blog (read her post on this)
Miranda, @notsuperjustmom, Not Super Just Mom (read her post on this)
Lauren H., @unxpctdblessing, My Postpartum Voice (read her post on this)
Sera, @chaoticmama, Laughing Through the Chaos
Andi S., @judgmntlhippy, Confessions of a Judgmental Hippy
Ariel S., @arielsandifer, Nothing Witty
Erica W., @momsurvival, The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms
Schwandy, @schwandy, It's Not Me It's You
Pualani S., @puasaurusrex, Dino Momma
Sidnie, @greenenough4me, Green Enough For Me
Melissa, @PBinmyhair, Peanut Butter In My Hair
Sarah S., @schubie71, Mama Sarahndipity
"Gardenmom", @gardenmom29, Garden Mom
Christina D., @mz_duck
Emily E., @designhermomma, DesignHER Momma
Maria M., @mariamelee, Mommy Melee
Growing Your Baby, @growingyourbaby
Samantha H., @shines
Sam, @temptingmama, Temporarily Me
John Grohol, @docjohng, @psychcentral
Heather H., @skinnysushi, Skinny Sushi
Iva T., @iva_tanackovic
Catherine, @daydreamymama, Daydream Parenting
Jamee, @517butterfly, A New Kind of Normal
@themommymarch, The Mommy March Blog
Greta B., @gretablau, Middle Aged Jock
Victoria M., @veamason, The Mummy Chronicles(she's in LABOR and took the time to use her voice!)
Vinajoy B., @mamavina, A Nourishing Home
Liz, @ehiwv, Perilous Domesticity
Heather, @heada,
A, @thebluemoongirl, One Foot Stuck
Rachel B., @boldrach4x, Not Just A
Lisa C., @lisacurcio, Our Happy Nut House
Aurelia C., @aureliacotta, No Matter How Small
@themommymarch, The Mommy March
@d20Blonde
Kim, @kimworld, The World According to Kim
Tammy P.. @rntammyp, Nurse's Notes
@thefeministbreeder, The Feminist Breeder
Arwyn, @raisingboychick
@rebehonig
@JLYoungsma, The Doe or the Deer
Paig, @vpbaker, Prone to Wander
Tamara, @unexperiencedmom, Blog Conference Newbie
Mandy M., @mandymooreblogr, The Real Mandy Moore
Sara E., @smola04, The Covered Wagon (read her post on this)
Kristen L., @kristenliberty
Joia F., @joiafarmer
Katie F., @kfoutz
Andrea, @goodgirlgonered
Cassaundra B., @radicaLactivist
Adrienne, @nostylepoints, No Points For Style
Kim, @glitterandgray, The Glitter and the Gray
Deb, @misssueburbia, Missives From Suburbia
Kate, @beantownkate
Jen, @theremotejen
Amie B., @zurimama, Izzie and the Beast
Kathy M., @kathyamorelli
Emily, @theEmily_B, Aprons & Heels
Chris, @tessasdad, Stay At Home Dad in Lansing
Lori, @icangrowpeople, I Can Grow People
Katie, @ksluiter, Sluiter Nation
Rachel, Racheous
If I left you out, it's not on purpose. It's just that my Tweetdeck was a bit overloaded today.And if you wrote a post, I can link directly to it if you send me the link. Thanks.
Have I said thanks?
Happens often when I read things on your blog, but again, I've got goosebumps reading this. Just AMAZING the outpouring of support and outrage over the story. Thank you for taking such a huge role in spearheading it. I was just in awe of all the women who were tweeting and blogging. It's been a crazy day around here today, but my plan during the munchkin's nap time tomorrow is to blog about it. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being such a strong voice for awareness for PPD.
I've been tweeting but haven't blogged yet. Twitter was not nice to me today and I'm coming up dry with a post but am hoping for inspiration tomorrow morning, after sleep. Thank YOU for spearheading the fight today and getting them to remove that horrid quote! You rock.
Thanks Katherine for being on top of all this. I am abroad and haven't had access to the internet til today. I would have joined in if I could, but glad that we have so many warrior moms out there who did add their voices to yours.
I kind of feel like AOL solicited the most ignorant opinion they could on this one. Shame on them.
I am indignant about Pat Brown's misinformation. As a mental health professional, there is a body of research that indicates that depression indeed has mutlfactorial etiology, however it is a biologically-based illness. Diabetes can have a mutlifactorial etiology, yet it is a biologically-based illness as well. Yet depression still carries a stigma, even though it is an illness that has well-known treatment protocols.
I haven't been tweeting or blogging much lately, but I did take the time to link to your post from the I Can Grow People Facebook page. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
I've been tweeting too. You are right…we have the power to change people's perspectives. I've always felt that if I didn't at least try to instill change–whatever the cause–I was being an irresponsible citizen.
After battling the disease and suffering the stigma, I could never sit quietly and let others misjudge all those mommas out there–OR stay quiet and not get the proper help.
Goosebumps here, too. Amazing to see what happens when women band together to turn a wrong into a right. I was not aware of this happening yesterday (ignorance is bliss, right?) but am so thankful to all of you who took a stand. Bravo!
What a beautiful long list of beautiful, thoughtful people united in such a noble cause. And, you, the beautiful leader. I'm ever proud, Katherine. Truly. So glad you do what you do. 🙂
I am one of the names listed above.
I am British & live in the UK.
PPD or PND (post natal depression) is something I have just survived.
Pat Browns comments made me feel sick.
PPD is something that affects 1in 10 women in the UK.
How dare she suggest we are all "crocks".
I will stand up proudly in defence of PPD sufferers against uneducated, misinformed, over opinionated, so called 'experts' like Pat Brown.
Laura Finch (lozzi84)
& thank YOU <3
We need a voice. We need to be LOUD. We need to stop the ignorance.
P.S. You missed me = @racheous http://racheous.wordpress.com/ but I forgive you 😛
Katherine,
You are most certainly welcome. The whole thing was gag-inducing and inspiring all at the same time. Pat Brown's snarky disrespectful exchange on her Facebook page (I found on Pretty Babies) was the rotting cherry on top of the disgusting sundae.
She may have a little set of groupies that think she's really clever, but being a jerk only takes you so far. Genuine passion and compassion about others only brings you abundance in life. And I think we all got a great big scoopful of that yesterday 🙂
Added you to the list Lori!
Added you to the list Katie!
Thanks Laura!
Oops! Adding you to the list!
Thank you, NB!!
Isn't it just amazing? Thankfully there are some people with a big audience who are willing to stand up against stigma. I just love that.
Thanks IITD. Hope you are dong something fun abroad!
I am really proud of what we did yesterday.
Adding you to my feed reader. Wish I'd known about your site 5 years ago!
I'm @prettybabies on Twitter, by the way, and the author of http://prettybabies.blogspot.com
Hi Amy! Your email exchange with Pat Brown yesterday was great and really added to the discussion. Thank you so much for being part of this! Adding you as well!
I have a blog and I will be writing about this soon. I did post the initial link to my Facebook page but I didn't have time to do a full blog entry yesterday. Check out Pat Brown's Facebook page and her snarky comments. My feeling is that she's too far gone for us to change her mind, but that we can get the message out and maybe other people can get educated. Ms. Brown is a lost cause, I think.
Hi Katherine:
Also have it on my Facebook page: Understanding Postpartum Psychosis.
http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1530019541056&sk=mes…
BTW: Pat's replies remind me that some people seem to think that having an opinion qualifies them as an expert.
Thank you, thank you, thank YOU for providing this space in the first place.
I'd actually been doing a post about my own followup the day before (because it was a year to the day that I'd hauled my depressed self into my doctor's office for PPD) – and so I hung on to it when I caught wind of this and updated.
Here it is: http://resolvingtimelineissues.ca/2010/08/18/post…
Twitter: @Nicole013
welcome, mama. i survived 2 rounds of PPD in silence. no one who suffers through this should be told, in essence, that they're weak, or full of it. they need support. period.
It is so good to see so many people standing up and not letting people get away with such an offense. It was unacceptable.
Katherine- you are changing lives here. Know that.
I'd like to add my blog post from the other day to your list please: http://www.thebeedot.com/2010/08/suffering-isnt-a…
The more voices raised, the better. Thanks for what you've done.