Years ago we started the Six Things series here on Postpartum Progress to provide you with concise and easy to understand information about postpartum depression. This past Mother’s Day the New York Times encouraged readers to write six words about their mothers.
Let’s have fun and pretend we started the trend, somehow. 😉
Anyway, I was thinking it would be interesting to ask you to tell a six-word memoir or story of your experience with postpartum depression, depression in pregnancy or any of the other perinatal mood or anxiety disorders. This challenge will be inspired by SMITH Magazine’s Six-Word Memoir project and bestselling book series, where thousands of people continue towrite the short story of their lives, many of whom are featured in books.
So, the Postpartum Progress Six-Word Challenge is on. Without further ado, and with SIX WORDS ONLY, describe what it was like or tell us your story about postpartum depression or a related illness in the comments section!!
I’ll highlight some of your submissions in a new Six Things series feature.
A dark place I won't miss.
Deep Dark Hole In The Ground
a place still unknown to humans
A sneaky, toxic thief of light.
Dark, immobilizing, secretive, painful, dangerous, scary
Waves of rage and foggy mind.
A living hell in your mind
Time stealing, joy delaying, evil asshole.
Never ending roller coaster from hell.
numbness, anger, time lost, guilt forever
out of my own skin afraid
I don't understand why I'm crying.
numbingly repugnant vortex swallowing my soul.
Downward spiral into my own hell
stole the light, left guilt behind.
engulfing fear – desiring my own death
guilt caused most of my pain
Once was lost, now am found
Stifled, swallowed, suffocated. Everything felt flat.
Confusion, denial, anger, misery, numbness, hope.
NOT forever…but feels like it.
In darkness, I mourn. Nobody understands.
When I needed to, I left.
Must kill myself to save Jacob.
Where has the real me gone?
Okay, I know this isn't fair – but as soon as I hit "post" I thought something that I felt expressed my experience even better:
Can't be real. Isn't. Is it?
(PPP survivor)
Terrifying, dark, guilt-ridden, isolated, excruciating, hell.
A racing mind, thoughts of doom.
Angry. Sad. Alone. Heartbroken. Terrible mother.
Rage? Didn't know symptoms. Long recovery.
Please give me back to myself.
Confusion and anxiety reign supreme here.
Where is this baby's real mother?
guilt-laden, self-deprecating utter misery
drowning in unknown emotions and feelings
I hate my life. Press rewind.
oppressive weight of unhappiness crushing me
depression, anxiety, terror facilitates tortured soul.
In a plane about to crash
Why so angry? Someone help me.
anxiety.rage.bad mom.guilt.repeat
where did joy go, big mistake
happily recovered but will never forget!
pure hell dark hole disconnected fear…blaaah
Tortured. Traumatized. Shameful. A cruel joke.
hollow worthless unfair hopeful hopeless terrified
The place I will NEVER miss
Sisyphean struggle. But lightness follows, eventually.
Wish I never met Mr. Panic!
Intense panic and sadness engulf me.
Better now, never saw it coming.
Who stole my sister?…mourning…
(sister of a ppdepression mom)
hopeless, tense, cleaning, racing thoughts, doom.
I WILL love him. You promised.
terrifying, lost, dead, quiet, waiting, loving
oh shit, here we go again
(just had 2nd child a month ago and in the throws of PPD again!)
So lucky we had no PPD
life would be better without me.
wouldn't wish on my worst enemy
deep dark alienating and lonely place
Writhing Monster. Claws of Black Rage.