I had heard about postpartum depression before. I knew, or at least I thought, it meant being sad and wanting to harm your baby. I didn’t know all of the symptoms. I didn’t know there were different types of postpartum disorders. It wasn’t until I went to see my doctor that I realized how different postpartum is in each woman. I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety. I was sad and anxious, but those things didn’t disrupt my day to day. More than anything I was angry. I didn’t know it was possible to be this angry. I actually yelled at my newborn and felt such rage. Like what? Raging at a newborn? This wasn’t normal. I wasn’t an angry person. I loved my son. I had no idea anger and irritability are common symptoms, or manifestations, in postpartum disorders. This isn’t something we, as mothers, hear about. If I could tell new mothers anything about postpartum, it’s that symptoms are important, not the overarching disorder, which can be misleading.
– Anonymous
Postpartum Support Yukon 